There’s neutral. And then there’s Kenneth Byrd neutral: a sophisticated aesthetic where organic silhouettes and natural textures in serene colors combine in altogether unexpected ways. Perhaps it’s the influence of multi-faceted design icon Kelly Wearstler, whom he credits as a major inspiration, or his own unique vision. As he explains, “I’ve always gravitated toward neutrals, and I like to take that palette and pump up the volume in patterns, textures and textiles.”

Byrd has been refining his design approach since his childhood in Virginia Beach. “I was always tinkering with things,” he recalls. “I’d rearrange the furniture in my bedroom, which then bled into rearranging the living room.” Over time, his interest in changing his surroundings grew into a hobby, and the hobby influenced his career choices. After jobs styling ads and store interiors followed by a brief stint in real estate, his lifelong passion bloomed. Byrd launched his namesake firm in Richmond in 2010, serving clients from Virginia Beach to Baltimore.

The designer bought his current home in the Wilton neighborhood of Richmond in 2022. A former resident of the city’s Historic Fan District, he was captivated by the 1925 Italianesque villa’s large-scale rooms and suburban country club views.

Before he could move in, however, he embarked on a five-month structural and cosmetic renovation that transformed its dark, Tuscan-style interior with a lighter, more open aesthetic. While preserving the home’s arched openings between rooms and other decorative vintage details, he added new furnishings to tell the all-natural color story.

Spread over three levels, the 4,400-square-foot space with five bedrooms and five baths may seem like a lot for one person, but as the ever-restless Byrd reasons, “It gives me what I need to play around with things, and to work and entertain.” The fruits of this creativity are evident as soon as you step into the foyer, which presents a total departure from the traditional villa vibe. Bare walls draw the eye up to a ceiling clad in an abstract mural by Photowall and down to the floor, where a rug mirrors the same motif. An intriguing sculptural stool—literally a “foot” stool—tucks beneath a black baby grand piano. A metallic chandelier conjuring grasses hangs overhead, its organic shape an unexpected addition to the room.

Accessed from the foyer, the living room is adorned with another eye-catching Photowall ceiling treatment. This time, its colorway plays out in the armchairs and curvaceous sofa, covered in creamy bouclé. A petite, teak-and-plaster-finished Kelly Wearstler occasional table (Byrd’s favorite piece) echoes the arches that connect the living and dining rooms to a newly added conservatory beyond. At the far end of the living room, a game table is surrounded by chairs upholstered in nubby textiles.

To the left of the foyer, the dining room also boasts a custom ceiling treatment. The furniture is super-sized, from a dining table that easily seats 10 and soft, upholstered chairs to the tall abstract prints that flank the windows. “Everything is a conversation piece in scale,” notes the designer. “Color, texture and shape talk to each other in every room and throughout the house.”

The kitchen, originally a cramped, L-shaped galley, was treated to an extensive refresh. Byrd took down walls, replaced the old flooring and added an island to create a more convivial entertaining space. A mix of natural materials—wood, stone and metal— imparts timeless appeal.

Upstairs, Byrd’s home office is a cozy jewel box overlooking the country club’s golf course. “It’s my happy place, where I do most of my design concepting,” he says. “It stimulates and inspires me.” The room is rendered in calm, creamy gray hues; both the walls and ceiling are papered in a repetitive pattern of squares and rectangles that conjures a cocoon-like feel. Clad in goatskin, a desk with waterfall sides is positioned to take in the view.

The primary suite is reminiscent of a luxury hotel—serene, welcoming and opulent. Envisioning his bedroom as a sanctuary, Byrd enveloped it in sound-reducing drapery and grass-cloth wall covering. A muted, gray-green rug evokes rippling water, in contrast to the carved-stone bench that makes a statement of solidity at the end of the bed. “Your bedroom should be a refuge from whatever kind of day you had,” Byrd says with a laugh. A nearby sitting room is rich in texture, layered textiles and shapes. Black accents anchor organically shaped objets d’art; geometric wall hangings add dimension and interest.

The designer notes that this renovation took longer than any other project he’s worked on. “For a client, I can come up with a concept and the creativity flows,” he observes. “But when putting my own spaces together, I tend to overthink things.”

Clearly, Byrd thrives on the energy of change and transformation. “The rooms in this house are constantly evolving,” he remarks. “The living room, for instance, has been redone many times. The rooms just get made over until they’re absolutely perfect.”

And now? He smiles. “I feel I’ve got the house—finally—exactly where I want it.”