Sure, there are a few rules. Some precious objects are off-limits, and there’s no kicking balls inside the house. (“There’s a big backyard for that.”) Occasionally things get broken. (“They’re only things.”) But Vern and his husband, Craig Koch, prove that a kid- and pet-friendly house doesn’t have to mean barren tabletops and upholstery that can be hosed down. The home they’ve created is filled with fine art, antiques, and artifacts collected from around the world.
Remodeling
Vern and Craig bought the 1925 stucco house about seven years ago. They updated the mechanical systems, tore up carpeting, and refinished the oak floors. Next up was converting the screened front porch into a foyer and creating a gracious entry. The porch’s elegant arched openings were fitted with custom windows and French doors that flood the room with light. Red, a color associated with good fortune in China, dominates the palette, beginning with the foyer, where a modernist crystal-and-wire Baccarat chandelier drips red crystals. Asian artifacts set the tone for the house. “Even though I’ve been in this country since I was two months old, when you grow up being exposed to something, it becomes a part of you,” Vern says. “You weave it through.” The center table belonged to Vern Yip’s mother. “I was raised with lots of really beautiful things within my grasp and, believe me, I broke plenty,” Vern says. “But it was important to my mom that I understand what I could touch and what could be just visually appreciated. We decided to take that approach with our kids, and they’ve been great.” A photo of Vern’s mother sits on a console by the stairs. Table drapery fabric and trim are from Vern Yip for Trend, a division of Fabricut. Even the couple’s five big dogs (including two Great Pyrenees) seem to understand the rules. “They know which rooms they can go into and what furniture they can climb on,” Vern says, though it’s not always easy. “We have 500 pounds of dog in our house.” Of course, it helps that Craig operates WAG-A-LOT dog-care facilities in Atlanta and is pretty adept at handling big canines. Living room sofas from Donghia are covered in “Trellis” in Siamese Taupe from Jim Thompson. Walls are Sherwin-Williams’s “Worldly Gray.” An art photograph by Andrew Moore hangs behind a wooden Hindu Ganesh figure, which was purchased in India. The elegant fan-top French doors are original to the 1925 house. In addition to a new entry, as the couple updated their home, they also added a two-story wing for a family room, library, bathroom, and offices, with a dog room on the main level. Upstairs is the primary suite. A large photograph occupies one wall of the family room, where red leather sofas from RH offer ample seating. Spice-colored fabrics and trims for the draperies, upholstery, and a table runner are from Vern Yip for Trend. “I love fabric blends from the performance standpoint. They don’t wrinkle and are colorfast and durable,” he says. Vern travels around the globe as a UNICEF ambassador, as a columnist for The Washington Post, and to oversee the manufacture of his home furnishings products, including fabrics and accessories. Often the children join Craig and Vern on the global jaunts, enjoying the same kinds of adventures Vern experienced as a child.
