Latin family's mementos spice up home

Travel

Latin family's mementos spice up home

Ofelia de La Valette incorporated memorabilia from her late mother and brother into her 3,500-square-foot LaVista Park home, making every piece meaningful.

Atlanta dance studio owner Ofelia de La Valette moved into her LaVista Park home about two years ago. Her studio, Dance 101, specializes in adult classes and is only a few minutes away. Before moving to northeast Atlanta, de La Valette lived in an 100-year-old Victorian in Inman Park.

The 3,500-square-foot Georgian-style brick home has five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths.

De La Valette whitewashed the walls to highlight the artwork. The painting hanging above the family room sofa is called "The Soloist" by Duy Huynh. "I so identify with that. Out on a limb in a barren land," de La Valette said.

Local artist Suzanne Clem-Wheeler painted a portrait of de La Valette, one of three done when she was dancing.

The breakfast area includes an old printer's table with pieces of newspaper still glued to the wood.

The kitchen includes a butler's pantry.

De La Valette's kitchen is airy. In a weird coincidence, her homes have always featured black-and-white checkered floors.

The vine basket chandelier in the dining room came from South of Market in Peachtree Hills.

De La Valette plans to cover the dining room walls with more family photos. A friend made the table using weathered pipe for legs.

Vintage luggage makes an eye-catching end table in the living room.

The guest room shows off de La Valette's earthy streamlined look.

The walls were originally painted bold colors that didn't mix with her sensibility and artwork. "I whitewashed everything. I don't want the furnishings to compete with the artwork," she said.

In the master sitting suite, de La Valette included furniture from her mother's home that was freshened with new upholstery. The painting also belonged to her mother. De La Valette grew up pondering the little girl.

This Duy Huynh painting, "Collecting Thoughts," it symbolizes the journey of life, de La Valette said. According to her, the hole in the golf bag is where the old thoughts fall out.

"Different styles can connect through color. You can also create more depth of a room through texture," de La Valette said. Those lessons are applied by using wire, wicker, wood, marble and sisal throughout her home.

De La Valette's master bath is light and bright. A wicker bench gives the space texture.

De La Valette's late brother discovered research on six generations of their family in Cuba and the United States. De La Valette found it rolled up among his belongings and had it framed.

The deck furniture belonged to de La Valette's late brother, who lived in Miami.

1/18

Atlanta dance studio owner Ofelia de La Valette moved into her LaVista Park home about two years ago. Her studio, Dance 101, specializes in adult classes and is only a few minutes away. Before moving to northeast Atlanta, de La Valette lived in an 100-year-old Victorian in Inman Park.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Tri-Cities, Alexander

Photos: Alexander defeats defending champ Tri-Cities in semifinals

6m ago

river ridge, creekview

Photos: Creekview defeats River Ridge to advance to state championship game

1h ago

GHSA Class 5A Boy’s State Basketball semi finals

Photos: 3-pointer helps Woodward end Gainesville’s perfect season

Greening of Forsyth Park Fountain

PHOTOS: Greening of the Fountain