 The House That Spawn Built
A dark home gets an overdue remodel with a French country twist
By Noelle Coyle
Like his comic book creation, Spawn, the interior of Todd McFarlane’s home was dark and heavy. And while fans might think that’s the type of home McFarlane would like, he prefers to let the sunshine in.
An artist by trade, McFarlane — who also owns McFarlane Toys — is attentive to the details in life. So when he and his wife, Wanda, decided to remodel their home, they turned to an interior designer with a similar approach, Athena Vigil of Interiors Remembered.
Butting up against the South Mountain Preserve in Ahwatukee, the home sits on a beautiful lot, but the interior was not always as inspiring.
Built in the 1980s, the home was very dark and had a choppy flow of space. Features such as ribbed oak cabinetry, granite countertops edged in a metallic gold, shag carpeting and dated light fixtures made it seem heavy.
Natives of Canada, the McFarlanes were accustomed to green landscaping and they wanted to recreate this setting in their front yard.
“We (originally) lived where there is actually grass and things that grow, so why not have a little bit of paradise?” McFarlane says.
Why not indeed? The front yard was transformed into an oasis — extensive fountains and water features, a bridge with iron work and lush green landscaping adorned with a variety of flowers.
“The house is a presentation, really, when you pull up to it,” Vigil says.
The home’s interior is equally impressive. Dubbed by McFarlane as “the house that Spawn built,” cool colors, soft arches in the doors and windows, and French country decor create an inviting environment.
“The color palette we picked set the tone of the house,” Vigil says. “It’s so fresh. We knew when we sat down to do the design that we wanted people to feel good upon entering it.”
The McFarlanes met with Vigil and showed her hundreds of photos of other homes, and drawings by Todd full of ideas they wanted to incorporate. The main inspiration for the home, however, came from the couple’s travels to Sooke Harbour House, a bed and breakfast in Vancouver Island, Canada.
“The rooms were calming, beautiful and comfortable to them,” Vigil explains, “but they did not feel comfortable in rooms in their own home, so they wanted to get the same feel out of this new home they were remodeling as they did at Sooke Harbour House.”
In order to achieve their goal of brightening the home, it had to be gutted and basically built like a brand new house. Per Wanda’s request, tones of blue, yellow and white were incorporated into each room, as well as fresh greens and cranberry. Windows in several of the rooms were replaced with double French doors with antique hardware that open onto balconies with limestone flooring and ironwork. In addition, arched windows and entryways were created to soften the home.
“It really made a difference taking those sharp edges away,” Vigil says.
Upon entering the foyer, guests will find frescos painted above the entryways to each room on either side. On the left, there’s a basket arrangement of food, indicating they are about to enter the dining room. On the right, there’s sheet music and a metronome, indicating they are about to enter the music room.
In the kitchen, the center island has three sections: table, bar and chopping block. The bar features hand-painted porcelain tile, while the backsplash above the stove is composed of Walker Zanger diamond tiles. Above the sink, three leaded beveled glass windows taken from an old New York farmhouse open up the room and provide views of the preserve.
“We wanted (the kitchen) open without really big windows to go along with the Victorian/French country feel,” McFarlane says. “Even the builders were surprised at how well they worked. Beautiful colors shine through the beveled glass.”
The master bedroom and bathroom — cited by McFarlane as one of his favorite parts of the house — also exude awe-inspiring design and accessories. Grayish-blue walls and custom white moldings create a calming atmosphere, and a mantel custom designed by Vigil serves as the room’s focal point. The hand-carved mantel is accented with natural gray and white marble, complementing the soothing mood. The effect continues into the bathroom, where an antique claw-foot tub and custom cabinets and coffers await.
“I thought the ladies did a great job in the master bedroom and bath,” McFarlane says. “You just go, ‘Wow, there’s the place ... I can wash away my worries.’ ”
One of Vigil’s favorite furniture pieces in the home is a 10-foot tall armoire in the dining room. Part of the Claude Monet Collection by Habersham, it holds some of the family’s most cherished possessions, including their wedding china.
“It stands so bold and strong, yet it’s soft in its nature,” Vigil says. “It’s so beautiful and elegant. It was definitely a good find for us, and it’s functional for (Wanda).”
The home also has automated features, such as a TV hidden behind a painting in the family room. At the push of a button, the painting rolls up or down. In addition, the TV screen in the theater room can be hidden in the ceiling. The room also features special lighting effects; when the movie starts, the lights automatically dim, and when the movie is over they come back on. 
Back in the foyer, there is another fresco above the main entrance. At first glance, the hand-done fresco appears to be swagged drapery. But upon closer inspection, guests will discover that the medallion holding the drapery back has the Spawn emblem on it.
“That was so fitting because of who (Todd) is and what he does,” Vigil says.
A perfect representation, McFarlane says, of “the house that Spawn built.”
www.interiorsremembered.com
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