An Interview with William Poole, America's Leading Designer of Classical Homes

You’d expect award-winning designer William Poole to be perhaps a little haughty regarding his accomplishments. After all, he’s designed more than 10,000 home plans that have been built not only throughout the United States, but in almost every country throughout the world. In fact, approximately one million families live in William Poole-designed homes. He created “The Natchez,” a romantically-themed Mississippi planter’s cottage that quickly became America’s most popular home design. He’s the number one-selling home designer for Southern Living magazine and he’s been featured time and again in Colonial Homes/Classic American Homes, House Beautiful, and Victoria. And as if all this isn’t enough, William Poole designs furniture, accessories, and building products! Surely all this success would give the man bragging rights, no? Although he certainly could air an attitude, the truth of the matter is that William Poole is a gracious Southern gentleman without a trace of arrogance.

“I’m grateful that people like my plans,” Poole shared recently. “I love good proportions and classical architecture, and I’ve learned over the years that others appreciate these same qualities. I guess you could say I have a love affair with houses… My work is all about creating spaces that people love to come home to.”

The oldest of five children, Poole was born in Franklinton, NC, and moved to Raleigh at the age of two. Some of his fondest memories are of the days of his youth, growing up in Halifax Court Public Housing.

“I was raised in a family full of love,” says Poole. “We had few material possessions. At a young age I began to realize the magnitude of what ‘home’ is all about.”

A child prodigy in his artistic talent, Poole was anxious to expand upon his abilities. At age seven, Poole walked from his home to Peace College, found the Art Department, and persuaded a highly praised artist and professor to tutor him in art. His parents were appalled, yet proud, of their son’s initiative. Poole studied under this professor for years, absorbing as much as he could from her guidance.

Upon graduation from high school, Poole was thrilled to receive a full scholarship to NC State University’s School of Design. His joy was short-lived however when he had to leave NCSU before the end of his freshman year to help support his mother and siblings upon the death of his father. Although he was crushed by this turn of events, Poole made the best of his situation. He worked as an ad agency artist before joining the Air Force; afterwards, he continued to draw and hone his craft as he worked in jobs that varied from window dressing to grocery store clerking before finding work as an architectural rendering artist. He never returned to college. In 1962, Poole says he “borrowed all he could” and opened William E. Poole Designs in Raleigh.
 
“I couldn’t pay myself in those early days,” says Poole. “I did not know any better, and somehow, everything just worked out.” 

“Everything just worked out” indeed. Poole had a passion for his work and he toiled diligently. From the beginning, builders, developers, and home owners appreciated Poole’s unique ability to blend classical architecture with functionality. Among Poole’s many designs were collections ranging from Historical and Williamsburg-inspired homes to Romantic Cottages and Homes Southern Style. To Poole’s delight, buyers found plan after plan irresistible, and his business thrived. He goes on to say, however, that consumer response to “The Natchez” plan in 1989 was nothing short of overwhelming.

“When the plan appeared in Colonial Home Magazine, my mailbox couldn’t hold all the requests coming in,” Poole recalls. “For days the mailman hand-delivered two big sorting boxes filled with orders. We sold ‘The Natchez’ to 2,000 customers that first year… It was like manna from heaven.”

“‘The Natchez’ spoke to people,” Poole continues. “It started a national trend for front porches in residential architecture. It had great flow, with the rooms in all the right places. It’s still very popular today… It’s one of my favorite designs.”

Exposure from “The Natchez” opened numerous doors for Poole. An entrepreneur hired him to design 50 homes. Southern Living Magazine retained him to create three collections consisting of almost 200 designs. Actor Tom Selleck became one of “The Natchez” buyers. And Poole began designing custom homes all over the globe.

Poole soon realized he needed more office space. Although he and his wife Jeanne loved Raleigh, coastal living was beckoning. In 1993 they moved the business to Wilmington, NC. In the years since, Poole has enhanced the “Poole Lifestyle” by adding furniture, accessories, and building products to his creations. Perhaps most notable in his furnishings’ line is the newly introduced William E. Poole Collection of fine furniture and accessories by David Michael, Inc.  Poole has also recently announced a partnership with HandCrafted Homes in which he is designing system-built homes in NC, SC, and VA. 

As you can see, everything truly has “worked out” for William E. Poole Designs. The company today consists of 16 employees, including Poole’s son, John, an exceptional designer, according to Poole. Industry professionals and home owners praise the company’s ability to live up to its tagline, “Make the place you live the place you love.”

“Bill has a God-given talent to design homes that combine the best features of historic and classic architecture with the way we live today,” says Richard Tilley, President of Tall House Building Company in Raleigh. “He’s extremely knowledgeable in creating timeless, yet functional designs. He cares about tradition and recognizes the value in the way homes of yesteryear were built with craftsmanship and love more than with machines and zoning regulations. As a custom builder, it’s rare for me to build a plan more than once, but I’ve built ‘The Natchez’ several times. People love it!”

Like his designs, the success story of William Poole is heartwarming. Poole says he hopes each and every one of his customers has had a good experience in dealing with his company. “I learned the theme of my career as a child,” says Poole. “It’s all about home.” 

Rebecca Newsome, MIRM, is a freelance writer

Photos courtesy of William Poole