Tucked gently down a tree and boxwood line drive in the heart of Jamestown, NC, lies a home that feels like it is plucked from the pages of a French country fairytale. With cascading jasmine archways, a koi pond with a soothing waterfall and a lush green yard that feels enchanted, this charming home is a hidden treasure not many get to see.
As you approach, you are quickly greeted by the scent of blooming jasmine, and it’s clear, this is no ordinary house – the design, architecture and statues you see are a romantic blend of southern charm and old world French whimsy, lovingly crafted by Owners Maynard and Pam Harding into a place that invites peace, nostalgia and wonder to a time gone by.
French Country Interiors: Elegance Meets Comfort
Inside the Harding home glows with soft light and layered warmth. Pam’s design lends itself to the romantic spirit of French country decor with gentle creams, light rose and antique gold mixed with amazing intricate woodwork.
Every room seems to have its own story. Pam Harding has quite the eclectic collections ranging from Christmas village pieces to a doll collection numbering in the hundreds and a bunny collection that takes you back to your own childhood.
“We bought the home in 2017, and the original owner built it in 2002 for his wife who loved French country design. No details were left undone, so when my husband and I first walked in, I knew this was our home. It had everything that I loved and then putting my own touches and adding my collections to the decor, it really has become a sanctuary,” Pam said.
A Curated Collection
Pam’s love of collecting is evident in the charming displays throughout the home – most notably, her cherished collection of dolls and bunnies. “My love of dolls came as I raised my daughters, Kelly and Kim, plus I grew up very poor, so we didn’t have money for dolls. I started collecting when my girls were small; over time, it has grown and I love bunnies, too. Almost every room in the house has a touch of dolls or bunnies woven into the decor,” commented Pam. But the beauty of the Harding home extends well beyond its walls.
A Garden That Tells a Story
The Hardings’ gardens are a patchwork of magic and memory. Winding paths meander through lush greenery, trimmed boxwoods and blooming peonies, all intentionally planted to bring together a feel of an outdoor fairytale sanctuary. At night, the gardens light up and feature a fairy garden and a beautiful angel with its own illumination. Pam takes care of the lawn and, of all the beautiful additions to her home that her husband, Maynard, has had a hand in, her favorite is her John Deere lawnmower. “I love working in the yard and with my plants; I tell everyone my favorite thing that Maynard has ever bought me is my John Deere,” Pam stated. It’s hard to put all the beauty of the Harding home together, but daughter, Kelly Reese, a photographer in Lake Norman, did just that!
Pages of Her World – A Magazine for Mom
For her mom’s birthday a year ago, Kelly took her photography skills and made her mom a magazine of all the beauty of the house and gardens, adding commentary. “I know how much the house and all that’s in it means to my mom, so I thought a magazine for her to flip through and see everything pulled together would be a good gift. She was shocked when she saw it but was very proud of the effort and how the project turned out,” commented Kelly.
Maynard and Pam Harding have created more than a home for themselves and their one-year-old chihuahua, Walter, and their family. The Harding home is a place where you are in awe of the beauty of the architecture, the details taken by the original owner, to be true to the French country style and the eclectic collections throughout the house, added over the years by Pam. It is also a love letter to slower things – timeless design, garden blooms, cherished keepsakes and afternoons spent among the koi and rolling water.
This beautiful manor is a reminder that beauty, when nurtured with love, can be both quiet and powerful, and in this tucked away corner of Jamestown, there is something magical about it.
