Stacia Smith has never been afraid of renovations. The principal designer and founder of Homewood Interiors was fearless in transforming a centuries-old church into the new location of her company. Providence Methodist Episcopal Church, built in Glenelg, Md., in 1889, was decommissioned in 1961 and transformed into an artsy home in 1974 by an architect and his wife, renowned potter Tatiana Hunter. Smith fell in love with the space when she bought pottery from Hunter in the ‘90s. When the couple moved to New Mexico over a decade later, a new buyer swooped in, but the unique property went to ruin because of poor maintenance.
“It was on its last leg,” says Smith, who purchased the 3,800-square-foot sanctuary in 2012. While she kept many original features—including the ceiling and original hardwood as underlay—she incorporated sleek fixtures and furnishings to modernize the space. Entering through custom mahogany double doors, visitors notice the juxtaposition of industrial chandeliers and antique finishes, as well as a giant glass dome and windows with handcrafted Gothic arches. Smith tried to be environmentally attentive, installing ecofriendly materials and energy-efficient glass. “I kept the original stained glass design and simply replaced the colors with Homewood Interiors’ colors,” she says. “My priority was architectural integrity.”
Resources:
Homewood Interiors
410-489-5600
homewoodinteriors.com
Lehman Associates Architects
301-854-1109
lapc.us
