176 JULY | AUGUST 2019
ancy and Owen Mayfield were living
in a stately early 20th-century Victo-
rian apartment in the Hayes Valley
neighborhood of San Francisco when
Owen casually showed Nancy a list-
ing for a lovely Greek Revival house
in their hometown of Jackson. Nancy,
an interior designer, was thriving in
the creative field, having worked for the last decade with
several well-established firms in Seattle and in the San
Francisco area. She also knew of the great opportunities
Jackson could present personally and professionally. While
the couple loved their West Coast life, the idea of a home
closer to family—complete with a pool and art studio in the
Fondren neighborhood—was intriguing. The older neigh-
borhood is rich with history and offers a strong sense of
community, and this character-filled home was the perfect
canvas for Nancy and Owen’s designing dreams.
The couple visited Jackson in July of 2016 and looked at
several homes in the area. “The Fondren home made our
hearts sing the moment we stepped inside,” Nancy smiles.
Elegant details, strong bones, high ceilings, and beautiful
moldings had not been disturbed since the home was built
in the 1960s, yet there was plenty of opportunity to create
spaces unique to their personal style. Nancy and Owen
knew they had found their new home.
The original design plan consisted of a major renova-
tion of the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as painting the
complete interior. “Then I got carried away,” Nancy laughs,
as no room was untouched. The designer took down a wall