Page 139 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2018

Vintage Charm
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Katherine Sowers
Sharon and Robert Gargiulo’s home shows how vintage charm and modern convenience can be combined for gracious living in a cottage built in 1927. There’s a calmness with a bit of an eclectic edge in the Gulfport home that’s a reflection of their personalities and professions. Sharon is a yoga instructor and has worked as an interior designer and Robert is a safety engineer at Stennis Space Center.
It begins with the front lawn where plants and colorful flowers offset the iron gate and brick walkway. The home is entered through a screened porch with a table and chairs that are perfect for breakfast or evening cocktails. “It’s our favorite spot in the house,” Sharon said.
Most of the home’s wooden floors and doors are original. The color palette
of gray and crisp white is a soothing background for all the artwork collected by the Gargiulos. Many of the paintings were created by Robert’s mother, who drew for Better Homes & Gardens magazine. White wooden blinds are used on all the interior windows.
The elegant living room is punctuated with unusual finds, including two copper fire tanks and a wrought iron column displayed as art.
Attention points in the dining room are large ceramic pots with bamboo stalks and industrial type shelves displaying white serving pieces. The table, which extends to seat 12, and chairs were in Robert’s family.
The rooms flow from the living room to the dining room to the kitchen where brick flooring and a large island are
the centerpieces. The painted cabinets and granite counter tops are modern updates. The kitchen opens into the family room, an inviting, happy room with art and family mementoes. There’s a Hoosier cabinet, which was one of five that Mrs. Katherine Gargiulo bought for each of her children, along with some
of her paintings and sculpture. She also purchased a clock for each of them. All the clocks were different and Robert
with ECLECTIC EDGE
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