An Exclusive Home Tour with Leta Austin Foster

Today’s home tour is one of my favorites to date, designed by Palm Beach-based Leta Austin Foster, of course! Located in Winchester, Virginia, it was built in the 1960s by the current homeowners, and Leta was hired to refresh the interiors. This home has it all – chintz, Gracie wall coverings, treillage, fine antiques… and the result is classic, timeless, and very VERY beautiful.  Leta is today’s leading expert on Traditional Interiors, and no one does “pretty” better than Leta. Did you know she was trained by Imogen Taylor, the “Crown Princess” of Colefax & Fowler, early in her career? Leta has fittingly been named one of America’s Greatest Interior Decorators by House & Garden, and I am delighted to have her join us today as she narrates today’s tour. Welcome, Leta!

Photography by Erik Kvalsvik. Images are for one-time use and may not be reproduced.

THIS IS THE LIVING ROOM—THE CURTAINS, WHICH ARE ACTUALLY MUCH ROSIER THAN THEY LOOK IN THE PICTURE, ARE TABLEAU MOUNTED (THEY OPEN BY PULLING ON THE CORD JUST LIKE TRAVERSING CURTAINS, AND THEN WHEN THEY ARE CLOSED, THEY HANG DOWN AS TWO PANELS WITH EMBROIDERY ON THE LEADING EDGE AND BOTTOM.) THEY WERE MADE BY PAUL S. MAYBAUM WITH EMBROIDERY BY PENN AND FLETCHER IN NEW YORK.

THE CHINTZ IN THE ROOM IS “AMBERLY” FROM COLEFAX AND FOWLER, AND THE GREEN FABRIC ON THE WING CHAIR IS FROM LEE JOFA. THE RUG IS THE SOFTEST LINEN VELVET FROM STARK.

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE LIVING ROOM WITH DECALCOMANIA LAMPS FROM MY BOUTIQUE AND SHADES FROM BLANCHE FIELD IN NEW YORK. THE STRIPED SILK ON THE PILLOWS AND THE GREEN FRINGE ON THE CHAIR SKIRTS IS FROM SCALAMANDRE. THE UPHOLSTERY WORK WAS DONE BY LATAIMAKI FURNITURE IN WEST PALM BEACH.

THE OTHER END OF THE LIVING ROOM WITH PLAID SILK SEAT CUSHIONS FROM PIERRE FREY.

A VIEW INTO THE SUN ROOM FROM A LITTLE HALL BETWEEN THE SUN ROOM AND THE LIVING (DRAWING) ROOM. THE FABRIC ON THE CHAIR IN THE FOREGROUND IS FROM COLEFAX AND FOWLER AND THE GREEN TOILE IN THE SUN ROOM IS FROM SCALAMANDRE.

THE SUNROOM WITH ARCHITECTURE BY JOSEPH E DIXON IN NEW YORK CITY AND FURNITURE FROM BIELECKY BROTHERS. THE EMBROIDERED PILLOWS ARE FABRIC FROM CHELSEA TEXTILES, WHILE THE CHECK FABRIC IS FROM PIERRE FREY. THE CHANDELIER AND THE TWO CHINESE FIGURE LAMPS ARE VINTAGE CHAPMAN (THE CLIENT’S OWN), WHILE THE SHADES WERE FROM ABAT-JOUR IN NEW YORK.

THE DINING ROOM HAS A WALLPAPER FROM GRACIE, WITH CLIENT’S OWN ANTIQUES AND RUG. THE STRIPED SILK ON THE CURTAINS IS FROM BRUNSCHWIG ET FILS.

THE POWDER ROOM WAS PAINTED IN A STRIPED TENT BY JAMES GARZA FROM PALM BEACH. WE USED PAINT INSTEAD OF PAPER TO HAVE THE STRIPES FIT PERFECTLY. EACH ONE COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 1/8″ TO 1/4” DIFFERENT, BUT THE EYE DOESN’T DISCERN THAT. IT WOULD DISCERN IF THE MIRROR OR THE WINDOW WERE “OFF”. THE MIRROR WAS FROM NICHOLAS ANTIQUES. JAMES GARZA ALSO PAINTED THE CHANDELIER TO GO IN TO THE ROOM.

NOTE THE LITTLE GOLD “SCALLOPING” UP NEAR THE TOP. THIS IS PART OF THE “CANOPY” WHICH IS PAINTED ON THE CEILING. THE WHOLE ROOM IS THE TENT.

THE MASTER BEDROOM WITH ANOTHER CHINTZ FROM COLEFAX AND FOWLER. THE LINENS WERE MADE BY MY BOUTIQUE TO GO WITH THE CHINTZ. THIS PATTERN, “LES OEILLETS,” WAS ACTUALLY A PATTERN FIRST DESIGNED FOR THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR—HORRIBLE WOMAN, BUT SHE HAD GREAT TASTE. HERE ARE TWO MORE DECALCOMANIA LAMPS FROM MY BOUTIQUE WITH DOTTED SWISS SHADES MADE FOR US BY BLANCHE FIELD IN NEW YORK.

THE CHECKED SILK IS FROM LE MENACH AND THE RUG IS BY STARK. ARCHITECTURE BY JOSEPH E. DIXON IN NEW YORK.

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE BEDROOM WITH UPHOLSTERY BY LATAIMAKI FURNITURE AND PILLOWS OF ASSORTED LE MENACH FABRICS. THE CURTAIN RODS AND RINGS ARE BY JOSEPH BUINNO IN NEW YORK.

A VIGNETTE OF THE MASTER BATH WITH WALLPAPER FROM BRUNSCHWIG ET FILS—IT IS A PAULE MARROT DESIGN. THE LAMPS HAVE PIERCED PAPER SHADES FROM ABAT-JOUR, WHILE THE DRESSING TABLE IS A SHEER EMBROIDERED LINEN OVER A PINK UNDERSKIRT.

I CALL THIS MY ROOM, BECAUSE I ALWAYS STAY IN IT WHEN I VISIT. BOTH THE FABRIC AND THE PAPER ON THE WALLS ARE FROM PIERRE FREY. THE TABLESKIRT WAS FROM A FABRIC HOUSE, S.A.T. IN PARIS, THAT HAS SADLY GONE WITH WIND. THE GREENON WHITE DOTTED CARPET IS BY STARK.

I LIKE TO MAKE MOST OF THE LINENS FOR MY CLIENTS SO AS TO GO BEST WITH THE ROOM. THESE ARE FROM MY BOUTIQUE, MADE FOR US BY BAGNI VOLPI IN FLORENCE. WE SMOCKED THE TOP OF THE BED CANOPY AND LINED IT IN DOTTED SWISS FROM KRAVET.

LOVE THE CHAIR; LOVE THE FABRIC; SADLY, DISCONTINUED.

THE LITTLE ROOM BETWEEN THE DRAWING ROOM AND THE SUN ROOM WITH FABRICS FROM COLEFAX AND FOWLER AND BRUNSCHWIG ET FILS.

A SILK DAMASK WITH A CUSTOM TRIM FROM PASSEMENTERIE IN NEW YORK.

THE CURTAINS IN THIS ROOM ARE IN FABRIC FROM CLARENCE HOUSE AS IS THE SILK DAMASK ON THE PILLOW. THESE ARE FLUTED CURTAINS BUT SINCE WE USED A STRIPE, WE HAD TO MAKE THE FLUTES SEPARATELY AND FIT THEM IN. THAT WAY THE STRIPE FALLS CORRECTLY ON BOTH THE FIELD OF THE VALANCE AND THE FLUTES THEMSELVES.

THE WALLPAPER IS FROM FARROW AND BALL AND THE SCONCE WITH A HURRICANE IS FROM PRICE GLOVER.

A ROOM FOR ONE OF THE CLIENT’S DAUGHTERS. WE USED A WONDERFUL PATTERN CALLED “PRISCILLA” FROM CARLTON V FABRICS FOR BOTH THE FABRIC IN THE ROOM AND THE WALLPAPER. IT IS DISCONTINUED; BEG FOR IT TO COME BACK. I LOVED IT IN BOTH THE LIGHT BLUE HERE AND THE PINK, AND I THINK THERE WERE OTHER COLOURS…

ANOTHER VIEW OF THAT ROOM WITH A PRINT LINEN FROM COLEFAX AND A BLUE LINEN FROM CLARENCE HOUSE PIPED IN THE SAME LINEN IN WHITE.

Thank you, Leta, for sharing this magnificent home and delightful tour! Only a few of the images had been previously published, and never before as a full home tour. What a treat! These are rooms that will stand the test of time, and the intricate level of detail is truly awe inspiring. To learn more about Leta Austin Foster, please visit her website, Instagram, and purchase her book Traditional Interiors. You may also enjoy reading the following features on Leta from The Glam Pad:

• LETA AUSTIN FOSTER’S 10 TIPS FOR TIMELESS INTERIORS
• A FLORIDA CLASSIC BY LETA AUSTIN FOSTER
• CLASSIC FLORIDA STYLE BY LETA AUSTIN FOSTER
• LETA AUSTIN FOSTER DESIGNS A 1930S OCEANFRONT MASTERPIECE
• LETA AUSTIN FOSTER REVITALIZES VIRGINIA’S HISTORIC MILBURNE
• TRADITIONAL INTERIORS BY LETA AUSTIN FOSTER
• PALM BEACH PERFECTION ON PENDLETON