Ashley Gilbreath - The Joy of Home

Contents

Foreword

I knew Ashley Freeman and Barrett Gilbreath at Auburn University. Ashley and I had some interior design courses together, graduated, and became design professionals. Ashley became Ashley Freeman Gilbreath and a rock star to mean inspiration and the hardest working professional in the industry. She and Barrett have designed, decorated, and transformed homes from Montgomery to the mountains to the Gulf for their family, let alone many homes designed by Ashley and her excellent team for their clients.

Chic and classic, precise detail, and a sensational mix of antiques and contemporary style come to mind when I think of Ashleys attentive design direction. Beyond the pretty pleats and handsome lines, balances of the old and new, a delightful complement of textures and tones, theres an element to my friends signature and skillfulness that extends beyond her expertise in the practice of interior design. Ashley is a true friend with a good heart, and that is evident in her work and relationships and intentions.

The ink was barely dry on our diplomas when Ashley and I had incredible opportunities early in our careers with trusting clients, publications taking a chance on a couple of young designers, and collaborations that made working together more like fun than work. One of the first projects we collaborated on was Barrett and Ashleys home in Montgomery. She had the interiors handled and I was shooting from the hip about some garden ideas. I remember we were standing in the yard of this home in the Old Cloverdale neighborhood and were finishing one anothers sentences about railings, shades of creamy white paint, boxwoods, and gravel and how we loved nothing more than a courtyard like Mr. A. Hays Town would design back in Louisiana where Ashley grew up, and the landscape plan began to take shape with a sketchbook.

But one question Ashley asked me was so touching. It wasnt concerning plant material, shutters, or paint colors. Intentionally and heartfelt, she asked how I was doing. A designers workday is rarely 9 to 5 and cookie cutter. We are involved in our clients homes and thus their lives. So, that day it struck me that my dear friend was asking me about my life. The Gilbreaths and I had shared seasons of familial loss, and grief can bond peopleespecially when a connection stems from genuine love for our families. That love fuels passion for our practice and art.

Collaborations inside and outdoors became truly delightful projects with Ashley because I am always amazed by her work ethic, organization, and ability to move mountains effortlessly! I always knew that if I needed to talk to her for wisdom and advice, the need would be met by simply asking what she would do. Ashleys style is admirable and authentic, and that derives from her good nature.

Now weve each been practicing design, building and renovating houses for almost twenty years. Magazines have photographed the ways we decorate our homes for the holidays, and we work with fantastic architects and tradesmen all over the country. I can call Ashley for advice on nearly anything, and I know shell impart said advice precisely and efficiently. From design service agreements, photo shoots, lighting companies, and even real estate, I have sought Ashleys advice. A professional colleague is helpful, but a friend is an outstanding treasure. And now, I am thrilled to call this college pal, design colleague, dear friend, and mountain neighbor a fellow author!

Heres to your new book, Ashley, and I look forward to all the great places it will take you. Im thankful that as your friend, I have a front-row perspective.

James T. Farmer III

Introduction

I grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the refrains of my childhood resonated with the ideals of living graciously and making the most of what you have been given. My grandmother and mother had high standards; both felt anything undertaken should be done to the best of your ability. My mother is a proper and polished Southern lady who focused on teaching her children to give their all, to have kindness in their behavior, and to be always mindful of Southern hospitality. But since she had traveled the world for eighteen years as a flight attendant for Pan Am, she also encouraged us to have a sense of possibility and adventure. Being content to sit at home was not part of her recipe for living the best life possible.

My father was raised in rural Tennessee in a third-generation farmhouse, and his views were shaped by Depression-era values. When he spent money, it was very intentional. He is from a quiet family, but when he speaks, its because he has something important to share. When I was a child, he would ask me if I could laugh at myself, if I had friends, if I could draw a picture; he viewed success in life through a different lens from my mother. They balanced each other well, and I have a deep appreciation for both their views.

When given the opportunity, my mother chose meaningful pieces for our home, touchstones in her memory. Reared to make a home as beautiful as possible by using available resources, my mother often asked me to restyle the bookcases and rearrange the furniture to bring out the best. As many Southerners do, she also had great respect for the treasures of the past imbued with family sentimentality and memory. My mother knows the provenance of every piece of furniture in our home, whether it came from my fathers farmhouse or was handed down from a member of her family, or where and why it was purchased. In fact, my daughter, Liza, sleeps in her great-great-grandfather's brass bed (also my childhood bed) from my fathers farm.

Photo 2023 by Jeff Herr.

My parents values have certainly shaped my approach to decorating a home with a respect for tradition and an eye on practicality and warmheartedness. Now, with a family of my own, I strive to provide my children with the same gracious environment and instill in them an appreciation for our time as a family. Personal style is often rooted in childhood memories, and those memories and feelings will shape a familys experience. Evocative remembrancessuch as the sound of a crackling fireplace, enticing aromas from the kitchen, grandmothers needlepoint pillows, mothers dressing table, and certain colorsinfluence how we want to live in our homes. I aim to create casual spaces with an elegant ease, where families gather to celebrate the same joy in everyday living that I experienced growing up.

For every project, I focus on creating a home tailored to each familys needs and to stand the test of time. I tap into my clients histories and memories to understand what resonates with them. Weaving together their past and present allows me to create spaces not only to evoke past happy family memories but also to lay a foundation for the future. All my thought and planning are infused with functionality, comfort, and beauty in mind. It is such an honor to be invited into peoples lives to help shape a little piece of what we take with usour memories. I view my role as an opportunity to guide the daily experiences of each family. Design is about more than just colors and objects, but rather about emotion; home can be a joyful stage set for the memories of life.