As a longtime resident of Williamsburg, Virginia, I was excited to learn that Heather Chadduck Hillegas has been named Colonial Williamsburg’s 2022 Designer in Residence. Heather is designing the circa 1695 Nelson-Galt house. The home is the oldest in Williamsburg, and one of the earliest frame houses in Virginia. To complete the project, Heather has partnered with the Williamsburg Brand, Benjamin Moore’s Williamsburg color collection, and Schumacher, among other sources and sponsors.
cw designer in residence program
Colonial Williamsburg educates visitors from all over the world about 18th century life in Virginia, the wealthiest and largest North American colony. Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780. Williamsburg’s homes and public buildings reflected Great Britain’s revival of classical architecture during the period. Today, Colonial Williamsburg’s original and reproduction buildings and residences tell the story of the architecture and design of the era.
According to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, “Designer in Residence is a collaborative initiative established by Williamsburg Brand which celebrates the historic and iconic design influence of Colonial Williamsburg. This program emphasizes the relevance of historic buildings and décor to today’s interiors, and envisions an inspired blend of the past and the present.”
Colonial Williamsburg’s previous Designer in Residence was Anthony Baratta in 2019. Baratta designed the Palmer House in a way that took colonial style and turned it on its head, using bold and dramatic colors and layered furnishings and textiles. This was not your grandmother’s Americana – he reimagined the style in a manner that inspired design enthusiasts and lovers of traditional colonial style alike.
meet heather chadduck hillegas
This year’s Designer in Residence, Heather Chadduck Hillegas, was named one of Veranda magazine’s Next Legends in 2021. Earlier in her career, Heather styled for numerous high-end retailers and provided editorial and style direction for several popular shelter magazines. She later started her own design firm, where the backbone of her work is the traditional style of the South mixed with a spirit of relaxed elegance.
At this time, Heather is perhaps best known for her design of the 2019 Southern Living Idea House, when the design world lost its collective mind over her rich, layered, luxurious and yet somehow laid-back interiors.
When viewing Heather’s portfolio, you’ll notice a number of constants. For one, there is greenery in every room, from large palm fronds to miniature ferns. The anchors of the spaces — furniture, textiles, and wallcoverings — are largely traditional. But Heather layers in natural and textural materials throughout her designs, in floor coverings, baskets, and accent pieces, to add dimension. Although the roots of Heather’s designs are traditional, she nods to other styles such as mid-century and Mediterranean when the bones of the house call for it.
Below are just a few samples of Heather’s lovely work. I found it nearly impossible to narrow down my photo selections from all of the stunning spaces in her portfolio, so I encourage you to view the entire portfolio here.
Heather and Colonial Williamsburg will reveal the new design of the Nelson-Galt house later this year. As a Williamsburg resident and lover of traditional interiors, I cannot wait to see the final product and share it with you! Do you have any predictions on the final design? Let me know in the comments!
Update: the Nelson-Galt house is complete! I have visited twice, and you can view photos and read all about my impressions here. Spoiler alert: Heather knocked it out of the park!