The Vision for the Villas Introducing the “Annie” Villa

The journey to realize the vision for the villas of our 2022 Project House and get them ready for guests has been full of ups and downs, but these sparkling results—full of vivacious wallpapers and vintage elements— show just how far a dream can take you.

Mixed wallpaper prints and bright colors fill the “Annie” Villa (named as a salute to designer Annie Selke, one of our generous sponsors), giving it a vintage exuberance that will stay with guests long after they leave for home.

Although the joyful interiors have an effortless quality to them, they’re the result of the nitty gritty work of realizing the vision for the villas: several months of all-hands-on-deck, muscle-and-hustle, pedal-to-the metal work, all orchestrated and overseen by Sara McDaniel of Simply Southern Cottage.

**Serenity Now.** Peace abounds in the “Annie” Villa. “It has that contemporary, yet whimsical, feel that’s synonymous with the designer,” Sara says. In quirky and fashionable Annie Selke aesthetic, it only made sense to style the space with three large vases of foliage stems from her neighbors’ yard, along with a bright, happy bowl of lemons.

“I knew renovating these villas and the property would be a lot,” Sara says, “but you can’t fully understand the magnitude of the project until you’re in the thick of it. Because there are eight separate villas, it’s basically like renovating eight different houses simultaneously!”

Supply issues, together with trying to stay on schedule for the villas’ reveal shoot, have plagued the progress.

mint green vintage table — Winsome Wallpaper. Two printed Annie Selke wallpapers delightfully dominate the visuals of the villa. “I found the ‘Lovely Lemon’ wallpaper first and then the ‘Botanical’ wallpaper,” Sara says. She loves how the two look together, especially because the greens in both wallpapers coordinate; yet, there’s only yellow in one, giving just the right amount of contrast.

In addition to setting the villa’s vision and overseeing the renovations, Sara manages the villas’ Internet presence to tell their story and spread the word about them to future guests (keep an eye on Mindenstays.com)—all while trying to have a semblance of a personal life.

“Some days, I think I’m in over my head, but then I look at how far we’ve come,” Sara says. “It’s unbelievable.”

stripped teal and mint green dining table and yellow and green accents in restored kitchen — High Arch. A clear sight line flows from the dining room through the galley kitchen and ends at a small alcove that holds the fridge. Each arch is highlighted with a different wall treatment. One has paint, and the other has the happy lemon wallpaper, giving them their own accents.

before photo of the Annie Villa in the Villas at Spanish Court — BEFORE

Back From the Dead

Indeed, the evidence is in the villas themselves. The structures, which were ridden with termites, lead paint and asbestos, had been on the cusp of being demolished. Now, they are “back from the dead.” Thanks to the vision for the villas and lots of hard work, they are completely restored and full of imaginative designs from some of the best names in the industry, such as Laura Ashley and Annie Selke.

“When guests walk in, I want them to feel transported—both to another time and by the joyful designs,” Sara explains.

lemons on vintage kitchen table in Annie Villa — Perfect Proportions. Because the galley kitchen is delightfully cozy, Sara made sure everything was proportional to it, including the appliances. “Tinier appliances from Forte Appliances were selected to fit the overall size of the space,” she says. In addition, the light, bright and airy nature of the colors and cabinetry also makes the kitchen feel intimate, not cramped.

Intelligent Design

Natural elements are captured in a variety of cheery wallpapers in zesty lemon prints and wispy botanical patterns in the dining rooms and kitchens. There are sight lines via arched passageways through the kitchens to the dining rooms, and Sara embraces this, adding in details with Woodgrain molding, light fixtures from Barn Light Electric and, of course, a variety of additional glorious wallpapers and paint colors. Even the fridge, from Forte Appliances, has its own delicate, unexpected hue.

leaf and lemon wallpaper and mint green accent wall in Annie Villa — PEACE LIKE A RIVER. The color of the kitchen cabinetry is aptly named “Peace Yellow” (by Sherwin Williams). Unfortunately, the original cabinets were covered in lead-based paint and couldn’t be salvaged. Nevertheless, Sara’s go-to craftsmen, Webster Millwork, replicated them. Cabinetry hardware is on the way and will add that final touch.

“Over the years, I’ve come to embrace color, patterns and lots of details,” Sara notes. “Before, I was more into neutrals. But for the villas, I’m setting aside tonality and enjoying the happy beauty of these elements combined together.”

It’s easy to imagine whipping up a dish in one of the serene, pastel kitchens and then joining hands over a rustic, one-of-a-kind table in the dining room to enjoy a meal together after a busy day of sightseeing.

yellow cabinets and lemon wallpaper in Annie Villa — A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place. The villas are short-term rentals, so Sara outfitted them with that in mind. There’s ample countertop space for cooking simple vacation-friendly meals and everything guests will need—from cutlery to pots and pans. You definitely want a hot cup of coffee to start the day before sightseeing, so Sara installed a coffee rack opposite the sink as a homey and thoughtful touch.

Each of the villas will also feature “before” photos, which capture just how far the structures have come.

“I don’t think the guests will be able to believe how much the villas were transformed,” Sara says. “It’ll be so fun to have the photos there to show the progress.” It’s a special way to include the guests and show them that they, too, are now part of the Villas at Spanish Court’s journey.

vintage style fridge and lemon wallpaper in the Annie Villa — In the Fridge. A Forte Appliances fridge is not only the perfect minty-green hue, it also has the perfect retro style. “This fridge instantly makes you feel nostalgic,” Sara says. She treats it like the statement piece it is by putting it into an alcove and framing it with the smaller arch.

To follow Sara and the progress of the villas, visit @simplysoutherncottage on Instagram and Facebook.

To see the living and bedroom portions of the “Annie” Villa, grab a copy of our sister publication, American Farmhouse Style.

“Lovely Lemons” wallpaper from Annie Selke (annieselke.com)

“Sunny Stripe Lemon” rug from Annie Selkie (annieselke.com)

Flooring from Mullican Hardwood Flooring (mullicanflooring.com)

“Botanical” wallpaper from Annie Selke (annieselke.com)

Vintage-inspired lighting from Barn Light Electric Co. (barnlight.com)

Freestanding bottom freezer refrigerator from Forte Appliances (forteappliances.com)

Trim from Woodgrain adds a perfect finish (woodgrain.com).

Pattern Play

Sara fearlessly mixes wallpaper patterns in the villas for breathtaking results that show true design “moxie.” Here’s how to get the look yourself … and don’t worry! With these easy guidelines, it isn’t as intimidating as it seems.

Size Chart. Pair different-sized prints and patterns. “This gives diversity to the overall effect,” Sara says. “You don’t want everything to feel too matchy-matchy.” The contrast will also give dimension to the space.

Base Point. “Use colors with a similar base tone,” Sara suggests. Use warm tones together and cool tones together. You can use different shades; and, as long as the bases are the same, the design will be consistent and elevated.

Blend It. Blend together both simple and intricate patterns. A wallpaper covered in dramatic florals will be wonderfully offset by a simpler repeating wallpaper with a pattern such as checks or stripes.

Want to see the Villas at Spanish Court before Sara’s vision transformed it? Take a look at our first installment of the Project House 2022 series. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!