Interior designer's spacious home started as stumps and stones: How he brought it together

Jason Morse-Wilmoth built his new home from the ground up, stones and all. The owner and lead designer at Home Matters Interiors, purchased five acres of land in 2020 and spent the next two years clearing the site, planning and drawing floor plans. Construction on the home began in 2022.  

The 3,900 square foot home’s setting offers privacy and accessibility to the city. A beautiful horse farm is across the street and the back of the home faces woods.  

“It feels secluded, but we are also part of a community, so it’s the best of both worlds,” Morse-Wilmoth says. 

Land provided materials

The land provided the materials for the feature of the home that Morse-Wilmoth says gets the biggest compliments. The front retaining wall was made from stones found while excavating the basement. Using the stones saved thousands of dollars and created a unique feature for the front of the home, he says.  

Inside, Morse-Wilmoth says he wanted to create a welcoming, cozy and interesting feeling from the time guests arrive. The main entryway was designed to be very open and provide easy access to the rest of the house. It flows into the kitchen, which is the home’s gathering spot. 

“The kitchen is my showcase. I love to cook so there is a lot of counter space,” Morse-Wilmoth says. “I entertain a lot and have extended family that visits frequently, so the kitchen has a big island that seats six people and we can eat and serve on it. The island was intentionally designed with hidden seating that faces the television, so we can eat and watch television at the same time.”   

Coffered ceiling in living room adds warmth

The primary bathroom was also designed to Morse-Wilmoth's intentions. It does not have a bathtub but instead has a 7-foot shower and separate vanities made of wood with dark gray tiles.  

“The combination of wood and tile creates a really nice balance,” he says.  

Morse-Wilmoth says one of his favorite features is the coffered ceiling in the living room. The tongue-and-groove stained wood accent defines the seating area and adds warmth to the open space. The living room is home to another one of Morse’s favorite things, mid-century inspired accent chairs.  

One of the key objectives in designing and building the home was to have a full basement, which has an outside entrance and is where the Home Matters office is located.  

“My design studio takes up about a third of the basement. The outside entry is good because clients can come in without having to walk all the way through the house,” Morse-Wilmoth says.  

The rest of the basement has what he describes as an “old school den vibe,” with a vintage pool table from the 1960s. 

One of the favorite hangout spots in the home is the screened in back porch, Morse-Wilmoth says. The slate tile gives the floor a more elevated look than just concrete. Family and friends spend much of their time socializing and watching television there.  

The interior décor of the home was meant to be eclectic, using Morse-Wilmoth’s favorite color blue as the primary palette, incorporated throughout the home. Each room holds modern, mid-century and antique pieces, showcasing things he loves in a cohesive way. 

“The home is 100% complete now,” he says. “I never like to use the phrase ‘forever home,’ but it’s definitely the ‘for-a-while-home.’”