My Houzz: Resisting Restraint in a Tampa Townhouse
Five years before she bought her home, antiques dealer and pharmaceutical representative Charlsie Shine was approached by a couple to see if she would be interested in purchasing a large mirror they were selling. Shine bought the mirror and headed over to pick it up. She immediately fell in love with the couple’s townhouse and told her Realtor to alert her if it ever came on the market. Years later it was for sale, and she jumped at the chance to own the home she’d been smitten with years earlier. “I fell in love with the open floor plan and quality of the detail work, coupled with the beautiful back outdoors area,” says Shine, who now shares the home with partner Lanny Tucker. “It is like having a slice of old Florida right in the hub of South Tampa.”
She channeled her passion for antiques, art and color to give the 1980s townhome a much-needed makeover. She replaced windows, rebuilt the deck and upgraded all the lighting. “Painting and tweaking added my personality to the space,” says Shine. “My philosophy is, ‘Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.’ So being minimalist is not an option for me.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Charlsie Shine, Lanny Tucker and their Siamese cat, Romeo
Location: Tampa, Florida
Size: 2,354 square feet (219 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Year built: 1987
Vibrant red walls and a mix of eclectic and one-of-a-kind finds make up the living room. “I constantly draw inspiration not only from being in the world of antiques and design, but also from fabrics, color and even nature,” says Shine. An antique Asian screen breaks up the red hue on one wall, while an animal-print rug is used as a runner on the stairs.
Horn chairs: vintage Karl Springer; wall paint: Ravishing Red, Benjamin Moore
“My design hero is the late Tony Duquette,” says Shine. “I had an opportunity to tour Duquette’s home, Dawnridge, and was instantly inspired.” The fireplace is decorated with blackamoor sconces found at the Scott Antique Market in Atlanta. The homeowner’s favorite color palette is blue and red, as you can see here in the choice of wall paint and art.
The “turquoise room” was painted and named as an ode to Shine’s maiden name, Blue. The antique turquoise leather chair inspired the room. “I get a vision for a room that usually begins with one item. It gives me a clear picture of where I want to go,” she says.
Wall paint: Seaside Blue, Benjamin Moore
“I buy things that I love and somehow make them work together. I rarely measure for size or consider the practical,” Shine says. “My friends say that I do not buy anything that is not big or extremely heavy.” She picks up many items along her travels, like the foo dog here, which once decorated the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.
Wall paint: Seaside Blue, Benjamin Moore
“My house is an eclectic mix and has Asian as well as African and Indian elements,” says Shine. “I think different genres are better when they’re mixed.” Here is a glimpse of her turquoise pottery collection. The antique Buddha piece was scored at a garage sale.
The kitchen is centrally located, with the dining room on one side and a breakfast nook on the other. Shine added the antique oxidized chandelier to lend interest. The hardwood floors with mahogany trim are original to the home.
Shine’s love of turquoise and red is seen in the dining room, which appears bigger thanks to a mirrored wall. Against the wall is an antique sideboard purchased on a trip to England. “We eat in this room every night. In fact, there isn’t a room in the entire house that goes unused,” she says.
The yellow wall paint is a custom mix.
Driftwood mirror: Anthropologie
Shine replaced the sink, flooring and hardware in her bathroom. More Asian accents decorate the space.
Antique drapes and elegant upholstery create a warm and welcoming seating area in the master bedroom.
An antique nickel bed is dressed in red linens. The nightstand on the right doubles as a writing desk.
A framed African medicine bag is in the upstairs sitting area, where red continues to be a prominent design element.
“The outdoor space is vibrant, and I love waking up to all the beautiful things that make me happy,” says the homeowner. “Having coffee outside in the morning is peaceful while spending time with nature.” The patio is furnished in a cheery color palette of blues and yellows.
Patio umbrella, accessories: Pier 1 Imports
A vibrant mix of reds and blues contrasts the greens of the nature preserve behind the patio.
The deck includes an eating area used for entertaining guests during Florida’s mild spring season.
Floral Pagoda Umbrella: Pier 1 Imports
Shine, shown here, is happy about all of the “fantastic deals over the years of fanatical shopping,” she says. “I have been collecting since I was 18, so a few great opportunities have come my way.”
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