In 1941, Margaret and Dan Smythe moved into a traditional ranch home in Tribbett, a tiny community eight miles southeast of Leland. After five decades of residing and raising a family there, the couple relocated to Gamwyn Park in Greenville, and their son Rick took possession of the home with his wife, Sherry. With the desire to make the house their own, the pair contacted architect Skip Tominello of Vicksburg to begin a renovation process that has evolved over the last 20 years.
Tominello creatively redesigned the spaces around an open floor plan that was more conducive to the Smythe family and everyday life. By maintaining the classic and traditional stylings, the home still feels true to its era. “We lived through an extensive renovation where the house was gutted, and ceilings were vaulted,” Sherry notes. “Since then, we have done mini renovations to create a bigger master bath and closet area, plus a bunk room for the grandkids.”
Sherry Smythe is originally from Huntsville, Alabama. “I fell in love with Rick and the Delta all in one weekend 45 years ago,” she smiles. “It’s been home ever since.” While raising five children with her husband, she began designing dried flower arrangements at Lagniappe in Leland, which was owned by two dear friends, Angie Zepponi and Debbie Lewis. When Debbie decided that the retail schedule was not ideal for her family’s lifestyle, Sherry stepped in and joined Angie as a partner. The business expanded into a larger old home on Main Street, where the concept of today’s Lagniappe was created—a gift shop and interior store that feels like a home. After a fire in the 1990s, the business moved to its current location on Reed Road in Greenville. The new location, in an old house, provides roomy interior settings that allow patrons to visualize the beautiful furnishings and accessories in their own spaces while also showcasing a complete bridal registry and gift shop.
The Smythes’ Tribbet home is the perfect representation of Lagniappe’s objectives—impeccable design infused into spaces that are lived in and loved. With their five children and now eight grandchildren, the couple’s goal for the house was for it to be entirely approachable with no area off-limits. Each space features a marriage of old and new and utilizes color and warm finishes to promote its character. Antiques and heirlooms from Rick’s family mix seamlessly with fresh pieces sourced from the store. “Our house has always had an open-door policy with friends in and out for everything from morning coffee to a lively dinner,” Sherry notes. “It is a lived-in and loved house where we want people to feel comfortable.” Walls of built-in bookcases house memories and personality that help to reflect the Smythe family narrative.
When daughter Sarah joined her mother’s business, she completely revamped the store’s overall aesthetic before opening her branch of Lagniappe in Oxford over Labor Day weekend of 2015. Now a successful designer in her own right, she is credited throughout the South for her creative use of color, pattern, and carefully considered details. In the last few years, her talents have been saturated throughout her parents’ home as well. Sarah managed her parents’ bedroom redesign by completely flipping the layout and altering the color palette. The traditional bed was given to the couple by Rick’s aunt, which Sarah updated with luxurious bedcoverings along with walls of lightly toned drapery. Pale wood case goods, unique lighting choices, and textural artwork add to the room’s sophistication and highlight the dark finish of the bed.
Sarah’s eye for exceptional artwork is seen in both store locations. She saw a demand from her clients for works created by Mississippi and regional artists, which also opened her mother’s eyes to the beautiful pieces these artists offered. The two designers incorporated several new pieces of artwork into the beloved works in the Smythe collection, such as a stunning portrait of Rick’s mother and a piece by William Dunlap commissioned by oldest daughter, Keith, that features the Black Dog Gin in Tribbitt. Along with the strong foundations of color and texture, these creative layers bring both interest and ease to the entire home.
With its trio of front doors always open, the Smythe house could not be more welcoming, and Sherry is constantly preparing to host a dinner, shower, party, or picnic. “I’ve always loved having people in our home, and entertaining comes naturally to our family,” she smiles. “Rick and I often use it, as do our children for their special life events.” With the beautiful yard inherited from her master gardener mother-in-law, Sherry has abundant flowers and greenery to create the gorgeous arrangements for which she is known. “Through the years of raising children, I wasn’t able to maintain it to her level, but as my life is slowing down, I am enjoying being back in the yard,” she states. “I tackle a new bed seasonally to bring it back to its glory!”
During the past year, the family discovered that they needed extra room to spread out as they were spending extra time together. Together they launched a new house project they lovingly call the COVID Cabana. Their underused back deck was repurposed as a chic outdoor retreat where the family enjoys summer suppers and evening cocktails with glorious views of the never-ending Delta fields. Lounge and dining spaces were created and surrounded by Sherry’s vibrant gardens and lush containers.
With their two sons farming with Rick, and their families living nearby, the Smythes adore living in and opening their home to their loved ones. They believe Tribbitt to be a fantastic community of friends they consider family and couldn’t imagine life without them. “Our home has seen so much love throughout the years by the people who pass through these doors,” Sherry states. “Creating a space where they feel at home is what matters most to us.” M.
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