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Southern Comfort As Defined By Jeffrey Dungan and Betsy Brown

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Living

Southern Comfort As Defined By Jeffrey Dungan and Betsy Brown

February 20, 2025

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There are certain spaces that come alive from the moment you lay eyes on them—and this Lake Martin, Alabama home does just that. Designed by architect Jeffrey Dungan with interiors by Betsy Brown, every inch of this home is an ode to southern hospitality—but with a modern twist. Below, we speak with Jeffrey on the makings on this home.

a sitting area with four ivory boucle chairs facing large windows

Southern Comfort As Defined By Jeffrey Dungan and Betsy Brown

Rip & Tan: Can you walk us through your approach to starting a new project?

Jeffrey Dungan: It starts, of course, with the people I’m designing for, how they are wired, what kind of people they are, and what lifestyle and season of life they are in. Once that is understood via interviews and intuition, I go to see the site—which tells me where the light source is where the house wants to go, and how it wants to sit. The big picture from there is set.

Rip & Tan: How do you balance beauty and function in your designs?

Jeffrey Dungan: They are the same thing, so it is more a sense of understanding it differently than opposing forces.

Rip & Tan: What story does this particular space tell? What was your intention for the space?

Jeffrey Dungan: I think for the interiors I wanted to really make the most of the indoor-outdoor feeling of the house by framing views and getting light inside from different directions over the course of a day. The house lays out along an east-west axis so from inside it feels quite different from morning to mid-day to sunset.

A cozy stone-walled room with two brown armchairs seen through a doorway, animal head wall mounts, and rustic decor in neutral tones reflects Jeffrey Dungan’s signature style of timeless elegance and natural textures.
Spacious living room with high wooden ceilings, large windows, a stone fireplace, modern chandelier, and mounted animal heads—showcasing contemporary seating in neutral tones arranged around a central coffee table with Jeffrey Dungan-inspired design.

"We made an intentional design choice to play with natural light to make the interiors feel alive."

jeffrey-dungan-betsy-brown-home-tour-kitchen

Rip & Tan: This home feels both modern and connected to its lakeside setting. What elements or materials anchored the vision?

Jeffrey Dungan: Most of my aesthetic is a merging of old and new things together. I want a house that feels inviting and familiar. That creates emotional comfort—I also love clean lines and simplicity rather than too many complicated precious things going on in a design.

Rip & Tan: Do you have any general tips for readers designing their own spaces?

Jeffrey Dungan: Hire a professional! I’m not a DIY guy, and I think working with the right designer produces the same enthusiasm and enjoyment of the creative process as a homeowner would have for their project.

Rip & Tan: If you had to choose, what’s your favorite detail in this space and why?

Jeffrey Dungan: The home has a strong connection to nature and the lake. We made an intentional design choice to play with natural light to make the interiors feel alive.

A modern dining room inspired by Jeffrey Dungan with a round wooden table, eight woven chairs, two ceramic vases, large abstract artwork, and a contemporary chandelier. Light streams in through glass doors, highlighting neutral tones.
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A rustic wooden staircase with wide steps and a simple black metal railing, set against wooden walls and a stone-tiled floor, evokes the timeless style of Jeffrey Dungan, illuminated beautifully by natural light from a window.
A cozy dining area inspired by Jeffrey Dungan features a round wooden table, four cushioned chairs, beige stone walls, a modern pendant light, and a large abstract mirror above a bench with a pillow. Glass doors lead to another room.
jeffrey-dungan-betsy-brown-home-tour-wooden-console
A cozy bedroom with a vaulted wood ceiling, neutral-toned bedding, two wooden nightstands, modern lamps, and a striped rug reflects Jeffrey Dungan’s signature style. An arched alcove frames the bed, leading to a bright seating area.

"Most of my aesthetic is a merging of old and new things together. I want a house that feels inviting and familiar."

R&T_DesignerEdit_Jeffrey Dungan

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Photos by Adrian Gaut