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An icon of the Virgin Mary is the centerpiece of Mark and Jayne Brzezienski’s living room. Its presence symbolizes the family’s good luck and fortune, the owners say.
“That icon was brought to the United States by my grandmother,” said Dr. Brzezienski, a plastic surgeon. “And the story behind (it) is that before she left Europe, a priest gave her that icon and said, ‘As long as you have this with you, you’ll never suffer from poverty.’ So I never let it leave my sight!”
In truth, nearly every room in the Brzezienskis’ home contains some hidden treasures from around the world or a collection of art pieces from Chattanooga artists.
However, when the Brzezienskis and their two young daughters first moved from the Northeast to Ooltewah seven years ago, their home lacked the vibrancy and personality that now makes every room shine.
“It was overwhelming at first because we didn’t have any interiors, so it was just cavernous,” said Mrs. Brzezienski.
They were determined to decorate the 10,000-square-foot house in a way that would reflect a formal yet fun and adventurous personality. “Our home is our hobby,” said Mrs. Brzezienski.
The family’s living room brightens the house with its soft yellow walls and carefully placed artworks, which include several lithographs from Dr. Robert John Thornton’s “Temple of Flora” collection.
“We saw a room in the Reagan White House, like the family room, and basically that was our inspiration,” said Dr. Brzezienski. “Similar molding, similar color.”
A jewel-toned red and blue tapestry titled “The King of Siam,” whose original resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris, hangs near a beloved piano.
“The piano is really important to me,” Dr. Brzezienski said. “That’s the piano I trained on. My parents bought it for me in 1967, when I was 7 years old.”
Although several artworks and antiques make up the room, there is no sense of clutter. Everything seems thought out and in its place.
The family’s dining room embraces the same elegance found in the living room, but one thing definitely stands out: a painted art installation of an abstract, mosscovered oak tree. The tree piece, by Ooltewah artist Derek Taylor, hugs the walls of the living room and complements the room’s color scheme.
One reason the Brzezienskis chose this artwork is because they believe the hanging moss is reminiscent of a Southern antebellum home. However, its presence serves an additional purpose.
“We had the tree done because we thought the house was starting to look a little tight and too formal,” Dr. Brzezienski said.
Indeed, the house isn’t just suited to grown-up tastes. Daughters Isabella, 14, and Alexandra, 12, have their own hideaway playroom on the third floor. Like something out of a mystery movie, the stairs leading to the playroom reside behind a bookcase.
The spacious playroom has everything that would make any slumber party a success, including a TV, pool table, pinball machine and a Wii game system.
Downstairs, the Tiffany blue walls in the Brzezienskis’ master bedroom reinforce their carefully chosen color palette for the house and cast a soothing effect over the room.
“(The Tiffany blue) is as close as you can get to it without infringing on the copyright,” Mrs. Brzezienski said.
One of the major themes in the house, as illustrated through their choice in artwork, is female power and strength. In the front entry are two bronze female statues. One stands a few feet from the door, and the other resides on the staircase.
The first statue is of Judith, an Old Testament prophet, and her presence commands attention upon first entering the home.
“I think it’s a great space for a statue that’s monumental,” Dr. Brzezienski said. “It weighs a ton, but to me (it represents) the strong female form, and that’s what this house is. It’s my daughters and my wife, and it’s what we want the house to represent.”
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