TIMELESS STYLE
BY SUSAN NYE
Photography by Bridgette Makris Photography
Better Living
by DESIGN
DISCOVER WINTERBERRY DESIGNS BY LARSON
Larson Burns
L
arson Burns wants to help you live your best life in a beautiful home you love. From window treatments, wallpaper, and paint to custom furniture for every room in the
house, no matter the challenge, his goal is to solve problems and create happy clients. His interest in design began as a teenager in Tennessee.
His stepmother owned a custom drapery workshop and, whether measuring or installing, he frequently accompanied her to clients’ houses. Larson remembers, “We would go into these nice homes filled with nice things and I was inspired. I realized that I wanted to design beautiful rooms and homes.” To fulfill that goal, Larson attended the Atlanta Art Institute to study interior design.
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A vestibule was added to a colonial cape in Meriden, New Hampshire, to give more separation to an open floor plan. Colonial trim, including a picture ledge at the top of the board and batten, adds space for artwork or family photos.
TIMELESS STYLE
He stayed in Atlanta and began working as an in-house designer for a high-end condominium company. He participated in projects up and down the eastern seaboard, adjusting to regional and client design needs, tastes, and ideals. A project requiring Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification (LEED) inspired him to actively integrate sustainability into his design portfolio.
A NEW CHALLENGE
In 2011, Larson and his husband Franklin moved to the Upper Valley to be closer to Franklin’s family. It was an ideal time for Larson to take a break and pursue a second degree in environmental studies. While he is interested in working with all homeowners, he is particularly keen on helping those with environmental concerns and sustain- ability goals.
After years of designing for southern climates, the move to the Upper Valley offered a new challenge. He began working with tradi- tional New England homes as well as more modern vacation houses. He joined Chrisandras Interiors in Ludlow, Vermont, and shares, “I love the challenge of working with different architectural styles and designing to both the family’s needs and wants and the home’s architecture.”
With more than 25 years working in residential and commer- cial design and a strong base in Vermont, Larson took the leap and started Winterberry Designs in 2023. In keeping with his philosophy of designing for sustainability, Larson approaches his projects with an heirloom mentality. “From a wonderful piece of pottery to a room’s furnishings, I’m always looking for beautiful, handcrafted materials and objects,” he says. “I encourage clients to bring well-designed, well-built pieces into their homes. Not only will they last forever but they give a home a sense of quiet, timeless luxury.” Whether for yourself or a gift, you can find an ever-changing selection of beautiful, hand-thrown, hand-blown, handmade treasures in his showroom on Bridge Street in White River Junction.
MAKING CLIENTS HAPPY
Larson loves working with clients. Regardless of size or scope, he starts each design project by visiting the space and asking lots of questions. Whether it’s new drapes or a new kitchen, his ultimate goal is to solve your design issue. To do that, he first needs to get a good grip on the problem or, as is often the case, problems. To gain a clear understanding, Larson knows “There’s a fair amount of psychology involved. I need to get into homeowners’ heads to learn what will make them happy.” When asking questions and showing samples, he pays close attention to his clients’ reac- tions—both their verbal and nonverbal reactions. When presenting ideas and possible solutions, he says, “I always tell my clients—you
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Above: A custom
dining table was
inspired by a table
Larson saw in
a late 1700s
Vermont farmhouse.
Inset: Detail of the
pegged joinery style
used in the farmhouse
dining table.
Left: A refresh- ment center/wine bar was added on the back wall in the living room.
Below left:
Classic colonial elements were used in a down- town Newport, Rhode Island, home.
Below right: A custom designed console table is just right for a narrow entryway. The table legs were inspired by an antique turned-post bed.
can’t hurt my feelings. Tell me what you really think.” He knows that is the only way to ensure the homeowner will be happy with the end results. “I want my clients to be happy with the design for long time— even a lifetime.”
A COMPLETE PARTNERSHIP
Katie Earley and her husband are first-time homeowners in Meriden, New Hampshire. “Larson is truly a gift,” says Katie. With a full-time job and a toddler, she admits she needs a lot of handholding. “He has done a great job of listening to understand how we live, our priori- ties, and budget. I’m not interested in fads. I want my home to look classic and timeless. Larson gets me.” Larson has helped Katie refine her tastes and design needs. Together, they put together a plan and are tackling the design, one project at a time.
Many homeowners might wonder if a designer is really necessary. “Look to the professionals,” Larson advises. “Whether it’s measuring, color choices and combinations, sizes, or placement, homeowners tend to make mistakes—and they can be costly. After all, it’s not their job to know the best spot to install a light or how to measure for kitchen counters and cabinets.” If working with a professional is not in this year’s budget, it’s better to delay and save up for what you re- ally need—and want. And as Stephanie Joy found out, Larson’s vast knowledge of materials and suppliers can even save you money.
Stephanie has worked with Larson on six different projects in her primary and vacation homes. For the most part, these projects involved new furniture and window treatments. They are now in the early stages of a major new project, a kitchen remodel in the Joys’ Vermont vacation home. “Working with Larson is terrific,” says Stephanie. “It’s a com- plete partnership. He really listens to my vision and ideas.”
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TIMELESS STYLE
Renovations and design projects can be stressful, and Stephanie has found him to be an excellent communicator. “Throughout a project, he lets me know what’s going on, if there are delays or changes.” Stephanie is continually impressed with his creativity and vast knowledge. “He knows so much about what and how things fit together. He never resorts to cookie cutter designs,” she says.
CUSTOM DESIGN, HEIRLOOM QUALITY
To help his clients achieve the perfect home, Larson employs workshops locally and around the country to implement his custom window and furniture designs. “It can be difficult to impossible or simply too time consuming to find the perfect ready-made solution in the proper scale, color, fabric, or wood,” he says. Since his teenage years helping his stepmother, he has been working with various window treatment and upholstery workshops. More recently, he has added custom wood furniture to his portfolio.
Larson’s heirloom quality, custom designed tables are built by an Amish furniture maker. Whether a dining room is cozy or expansive, he can provide you with the right dimensions in your favorite woods. He can even rescale and redesign it into a coffee table for your living room. “I’m looking forward to designing more custom furniture in the future,” he says.
Whether a room or a whole house, furniture, window treatments, paint, or paper, Larson is ready to welcome you into his showroom, listen to your design issues, and visit your home to help you find your perfect solution. tw
Winterberry Designs by Larson
52 Bridge Street, Suite 3
White River Junction, VT
(802) 281-6112