Tuckahoe Home: Mixing Old and New
Behind the Design: Tuckahoe Home
This month, we could not be more excited to introduce you to Caroline Agee, owner and lead designer, of Tuckahoe Home. A Virginia native, Caroline describes her style as traditional with a modern sensibility. Her designs are the perfect balance of sophisticated and livable.
Drawing inspiration from the unique tastes and needs of her clients & applying her own classic spin, Caroline creates the most gorgeous, curated spaces. Her skills in layering old and new pieces add a timeless dimension to her designs, and the spaces she builds will never go out of style. Caroline is full of wisdom - from career advice to tips for styling your own home, we are so happy to share her insight with you all in this month’s Behind the Design guest feature!
Founded in 2020, Tuckahoe Home offers a curated selection of fine art, furniture, & home accessories that celebrates a new traditional style & allows customers to bring a “collected” feel to their own homes.
Caroline and I have gotten to know each other over the past year through Instagram, & I loved getting to know her more through this fun Q&A! Check out the interview & additional images from her portfolio and boutique below - I know her collected aesthetic will make you a fan as well!
“ I think having a few beautiful antique pieces of furniture can ground a space and add so much character, and mixing in updated or contemporary lighting and art makes the space feel current and fresh.”
Q&A with Caroline Agee
We had so much fun interviewing Caroline & can’t wait to share her expert advice with you when it comes to creating a curated space & collecting artwork (and trust me, she has a large collection, so her tips are worthwhile!)!
CZ: Where do you find inspiration?
TH: I find inspiration all over the place! One source of inspiration is the work of other designers whom I admire. I’m always saving images on Instagram or looking through interior design books. I recently got The Well-Loved House by Ashley Whittaker and it’s filled with gorgeous spaces. I often have a few furniture pieces, rugs, lamps, or upholstery ideas that I can’t wait to use whenever they’re the right fit for a client.
I also draw inspiration from my clients who each have their own unique style and ways of living in and using their homes. Some of my clients prefer softer, subdued color schemes, whereas others want a bolder look and are willing to take some risks. Some prefer more elegant and formal spaces, while others are looking for casual yet refined spaces where their children can grow and play. It’s so much fun doing something different with each client and applying my own classic, timeless spin on each project.
CZ: Oh, I haven’t checked out that book yet and adding it to my list! Do you have any kind of "personal philosophy" when working on designs?
TH: I always want my designs to be timeless and to incorporate quality pieces that will last and won’t go out of style. I love mixing old and new pieces to achieve a layered, collected look. I think having a few beautiful antique pieces of furniture can ground a space and add so much character, and mixing in updated or contemporary lighting and art makes the space feel current and fresh. I also love to incorporate thoughtful details, like pieces of art that reflect my clients’ interests.
CZ: What is your favorite part of taking on a new project or starting to design a new space?
TH: I love envisioning the potential, compiling inspiration images, and pulling together all the textiles that I think my clients will love and will achieve their vision. I often start by creating a mood board with images of designs that I admire or reflect the style or mood that I’m envisioning. Each project is so different and is guided by my clients’ personal taste and lifestyle. Sometimes we’re starting from scratch in a space, and other times we’re looking for ways to freshen up a more traditional space by making a few small changes.
CZ: Do you collect anything?
TH: I have a few collections! One of my more recent collections is of vintage Architectural Digest magazines. I saved an inspiration photo of a room designed by Mark D. Sikes where his built-ins are filled with vintage Architectural Digest magazines. It looks so chic! I love that they’re off-white, so they fill space without being overpowering.
I have a growing collection of original art and art prints that I love! Some of my favorite pieces include a set of four abstract paintings by Alexis Walter, a bright and colorful abstract by Beth Robison from Liza Pruitt, a pastoral cow scene, an oil painting of a Charlottesville garden by Lee Halstead, a set of botanical prints by Mary Margaret Monsees, the sweetest pair of oil pastel daisies by Christie Macey, and an oil painting of an apple orchard by Julia Lesnichy. Each piece carries special meaning to me and speaks to me for a different reason, and I think the collection as a whole tells a lot about my interests.
CZ: Wow, what an art collection! I’d love to see these pieces in-person one day. Now to get into the nitty-gritty. What is the best career advice you've received?
TH: I’ve been listening to a lot of design podcasts recently, including Paloma Contreras’ The Style Files Podcast and Ballard Designs’ How To Decorate. A theme I’ve noticed while listening to these podcasts is that many of today’s well-known designers worked in other fields before pursuing design as a career. What I’ve gleaned from this, and the advice of these designers is that coming into the field of design later in your career is not necessarily a drawback. I gained a new perspective from Caroline Gidiere’s episode on The Style Files Podcast where she shared how her first career as a lawyer taught her so many skills that she carried with her into the design world. I can relate to this having worked as a school psychologist for several years, and now I appreciate that I learned so many skills, like communication and problem-solving, that I can now apply in my design business.
CZ: Both of those podcasts are constantly being played in my studio - I love how they too have resonated with you. My clients are always seeking advice on art lighting. Do you have any suggestions for hanging lighting above artwork? Or when it is necessary vs not?
TH: I love picture sconces that hang above art. The Frame Makers Picture Light by Chapman & Myers for Visual Comfort is a favorite. The hand-rubbed antique brass finish is beautiful, and it comes in a few different sizes. I think art lighting is a great idea when you want to highlight a special piece. I especially love art lighting in a hallway or foyer.
CZ: What is your best tip for those buying art?
TH:
Buy what you love! If you see a piece that makes you happy or you can’t stop thinking about it, you should get it! It’s fun to collect art as a souvenir while traveling. When I was on an anniversary trip in Lexington, Virginia, my husband and I visited Cabell Gallery. An oil painting of an apple orchard caught my eye – the colors were so pretty and it reminded me of my grandfather’s apple orchard that I visited as a child. We left to have lunch, and then went back and got it. It was a good price, and I knew I would regret not bringing it home.
Another tip is to think about variety! Buy art in a variety of mediums and with a variety of subjects. I like to mix types of pieces within each room, such as mixing framed botanical prints with a landscape painting and abstract art. I think mixing styles of art is a great way to freshen up a room and keep it interesting.
My last tip is to collect pieces by artists you love to follow. One thing I love about social media is feeling like I get to know artists from around the country and even in other countries. If there’s an artist whose work you admire, it’s fun to purchase a piece to support their art and bring it into your own home.
CZ: I couldn’t agree more. I love collecting artwork that vary in mediums and styles. What are you working on right now that you are excited about?
TH: I am so lucky to be working on a number of projects right now – many are local in Richmond, but I have ongoing projects in Charlottesville, Charleston, Atlanta, and Northern Virginia.
I have two projects that I’m especially excited about right now and they both happen to be in my neighborhood, which is fun! One is for a vibrant young couple’s sunroom-turned family room and entertaining space. We are going with punchy hues of blue and green, and a mix of prints including some fun ikats. The husband is hesitant about using floral prints, so I’m practicing restraint with my love for feminine textiles!
The other project in my neighborhood that I’m excited about is a traditional yet fresh full bathroom renovation. We are using a classic hexagon floor tile, Calacatta gold marble on the shower walls, a sleek frameless glass shower, and gold fixtures!
CZ: Oh, I can’t wait to see how both of these projects turn out - they sound fabulous! Do you have a favorite room in your home- which one and why?
TH: We are currently renovating our kitchen, and I think it’s going to quickly become my favorite room! We’re installing heart pine floors, recessed lighting, and -- my favorite of all -- Arbre De Matisse Reverse wallpaper in French blue by Quadrille. We’re also going to be adding a white oval tulip table, a banquette, and Bungalow 5 Chippendale chairs. I think it’s going to be a really fun mix of traditional and contemporary! Deciding on a wallpaper was tough, but it came down to which print brought me the most joy. Plus, I love that this wallpaper was initially inspired by a Matisse painting.
CZ: You definitely can’t go wrong with that selection! Last but not least - what is on your Holiday wish list this year?!
TH: Oooo, that is such a fun question! I feel like I have a very “grown-up” holiday wish list this year! Immersion blender, anyone? But on a more fun note, I asked for a pink Titleist golf bag! I’ve been getting into golfing with my husband recently and feel like my bag could use an upgrade. I’d also love some Juliska Country Estate mugs in Delft blue. I love that pattern, and I take my daily coffee very seriously!
I always love asking for small art pieces for the holidays, too – it seems like a fun way to collect art over time. I often pick out a few pieces that I like so that I can be surprised by whichever one I may end up receiving! This year, I think there will be a small abstract piece by Kayce Hughes on my list.
Shop Caroline’s Favorites:
I am just dying to make a trip to Virginia to see Caroline’s art collection. Thank you so much for your expert advice, Caroline! Follow Tuckahoe Home on Instagram here & be sure to check out their e-commerce boutique & website here.
Stay tuned for our next guest feature soon!
Until next time,
Know an interior designer that should be featured on ‘Behind the Design’? Please shoot us a message us at hello@cocozentner.com, as we’d love to connect!
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