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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 13, 2020
A tired Victorian terrace proved an irresistible challenge for interior designer Georgie Scott, who needed a new home for her young brood.
With her heart set on living in familyfriendly Battersea, Georgie Scott had struggled to find a new home with a good-sized garden in such a central location – untilshe sawthis Victorian terrace. ‘The most striking thing about this property was its sunny garden,’ says Georgie. ‘Most homes my husband Nick and I had viewed had tiny rear gardens, so it was such a joy to find a 40ftsouth-facing garden.’ The tired terrace was in need of a total refurbishment. ‘We changed everything,’ says Georgie. ‘We dug down the whole length of the house and added an extension on every level at the rear. At one point, there were no floors or walls, and the house was just a façade.’ Unperturbed by the work, Georgie was confident that her detailed plans and determination would triumph. ‘It took nine months of planning,’ she says, ‘and most of that time was spent on agreeing the party walls. The excavation took us about a year. There were unexpected complications, such as the high water table, which delayed work further.’ With plans in place, the rooms began taking shape and Georgie’s vision of a light-filled kitchen-diner soon became a reality. ‘I had a clear idea of how I wanted the kitchen to look’ she says. ‘I wanted sliding doors with large windows to make the most of the garden, and soft grey warm wood-veneer units with a lighter island. The living room, just off the kitchen, is quite dark, and I wanted to give the kitchen a lighter atmosphere. I chose tranquil colours to flow through both spaces so they naturally merge without an obvious join. I don’t like vivid hues, as I wanted to create a calm, relaxed environment in contrast to the busy city outside.’ Despite the complex redesign, Georgie’s mantra is to keep things simple. ‘My ethos is that function comes first and style second. First and foremost, this is a home and it has to work well for our children, Ava, four, and Alex,18 months. My dream sofa would be white but that’s not possible with a family, so I have a dark, hardwearing sofa I’ve lightened up with cushions. It’s all about compromise.’ After three years of work and attention to detail, Georgie and her family are reaping the rewards of this stylish house and its central location. ‘The garden is what makes this house feel like a home,’ says Georgie. ‘I feel lucky to live so near the city centre and yet we have our own garden and the park on our doorstep. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 12, 2020
With her heart set on leaving the city, Melissa Jones took on more than she’d bargained for when she fell for a beautiful but run down Georgian house.
Following her dream of living in the countryside, Melissa Jones was convinced there had been a typing error on the estate agent details about the amount of land that came with the Georgian house she’d fallen in love with. ‘It said 60 acres, but I thought they meant six, so we drove out to see it, only to discover that it was correct,’ she says. ‘And the property included two areas of ancient woodland that would need specialist care.’ But Melissa and her partner, Jeremy Hewlett, weren’t deterred. ‘This was 13 years ago and we had two small children: Harry, now 18, and Ottilie, now 16, and we wanted to bring our family up in the country. We’re all horse-mad, so we were looking for somewhere with enough space for stables.’ Originally a farmhouse built in 1825, the property stands on a hill in Berkshire with views for miles across the Kennet valley. The couple soon realised that the house would need extensive renovation, a project that would take them many years. ‘It’s been a labour of love, restoring and extending the house, and learning how to look after the land, which hadn’t been managed for decades,’ says Melissa. ‘We’re only custodians really, and it’s important that the woodlands can be enjoyed by future generations.’ Having moved into the house in 2006, the couple took their time before embarking on any big changes to the interior. ‘There was only one bathroom upstairs, and the small kitchen was on the north side of the house. It was very dated, with dark colours everywhere,’ Melissa says. But, with the imminent birth of their youngest son Bear, now 12, the couple left any major building projects for several years, completing essential work only. ‘We were surprised that the house wasn’t listed, but this worked in our favour as there are fewer restrictions,’ says Melissa. The couple decided that the best option was a two-storey extension, which didn’t spoil the original façade, and the plans went through in 2013 without any problems. ‘This new addition has taken us from one bathroom to five, and from four bedrooms to six, so everyone has their own bedroom and we have two guest rooms.’ Downstairs, the new large open-plan kitchen is a light-filled space overlooking the garden and woods. Melissa hosts dinner parties and runs her business @thepopupkitchen1 here. ‘I’ve turned my passion for cooking, which was a hobby, into a catering business for private events,’ she says. Part of the new extension remained a shell for nearly a year after it was built, but the couple slowly put the whole look together, using inherited objects, auction and saleroom finds, and a few new pieces. They took care to find furniture that had the right proportions. ‘We have some large rooms, like the new kitchen where we wanted a huge table as we love entertaining. But other rooms in the old part of the house, such as the sitting room and the dining room, are on a smaller scale, so we wanted to make sure these spaces are inviting and welcoming,’ says Melissa. She aimed for a lived-in, always-been-there look, with plenty of natural materials, such as wood, wool and stone. ‘I absolutely don’t do contemporary style and bright colours. I like muted soft colours: greys, blues and pinks.’ When it came to the extensive grounds, a management plan was put in place for the ancient woodlands and they’ve been thinned and coppiced over the last six years. ‘This has dramatically increased the light, and encouraged wildlife,’ says Melissa. ‘It’s like Springwatch from the kitchen windows.’
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 11, 2020
Nature-Inspired Design Blurs the Lines Between Outside and In.
When you live in the Carolinas’ moderate, four-season climate, it’s only natural to cultivate a love for nature, enjoying the reprieve from stressful everyday life by heading outdoors to entertain, play, or simply relax with a little gardening. When Liles Dunnigan and Zandy Gammons, co-owners of The Warehouse, were approached by one of their long-term clients to create a design that embodied all the best of the outdoors and bring it in, they jumped at the chance to explore the possibilities. “As empty nesters, they were looking to establish a new home for the two of them, where they could easily entertain family and friends. She’s an avid gardener, so creating a comprehensive design that celebrated the couple’s shared love of nature was paramount. The new construction home was a veritable blank canvas, and we explored this vision, creating a design plan that would fulfill their desires in a functional and elegant way.” Dunnigan explains.
Situated in Raleigh’s exclusive Bellewood Forest community in the heart of the Beltline, which was developed by Williams Realty and Building, the home’s spacious lot, complete with manicured lawn and landscaping, as well as a stand of stately pines, proved to be just the starting point. The home’s traditional white painted brick and black shutters are warmed with copper accents and gutters, iron railings, and distinctive arches and porch columns. The outdoor back patio features gray tiled floors, an outdoor fireplace, and plenty of comfortable resin wicker seating where guests can relax and enjoy the yard. Unobscured sight lines from the front door to the rear patio create continuity, blurring the lines between outside and in.“The exterior of the home sets the aesthetic forthe design and perfectly embodies the homeowners’ personality—classic with a fresh twist.” Gammons says. That is the basis for the aesthetic carried indoors, which is apparent from a few steps into the foyer. As an entrance and also a connecting point between several areas in the home, the design is polished and simplistic with no area rug to impose on the understated drama of the unique herringbone-patterned hardwoods. The limited furniture in the space includes a side table from the homeowner’s European travels as well as a lowprofile bench and accent pillows in garden-fresh hues. The organically inspired palette spans the entire home and features neutral wall colors punctuated with navy, aqua, green, yellow, and coral. Striking artwork, much of which was sourced locally through ArtSource and a few other select vendors, mimic not only the colors but also the inherent spontaneity of nature itself, adding interest as well as conversation points for visitors. The textiles used throughout the design offer layers of texture and color in flora-and-fauna prints and bold geometric patterns.The keeping room’s floral table skirt, an anchor point in the comprehensive design, is reminiscent of a blooming flower garden while its floor-to-ceiling curtain panels, along with those in the kitchen and breakfast area and dining room, make a statement in green with varying details, from bold garden prints to more subtle botanicals. Floral accent pillows with pops of bright yellow and a cornsilk blue-and-white duvet in the master bedroom infuse the otherwise neutral space with a splash of color. Geometric designs on the master bedroom curtains and the adjacent sitting room’s embroidered roman shades add a harder edge to the softer nature-inspired prints. The bold blue and green geometric print of the family room’s valances kicks up the drama for more traditional furniture. And though the design celebrates the fresh, crisp vigor of nature, it’s the little details that truly accentuate the home’s elegance. The rich, dark stain on the arched doors, the crystal accents on the dining room chandelier, the Lucite handles in the butler’s pantry, the crystal knobs in the powder room, and the mirrored sconces in the master bath all add subtle hints of glamour throughout the home. The gold finishes of mirrors, frames, accessories, and hardware impart a luxurious warmth in every room and is reflected in the light fixtures’ high-impact contemporary styles.
For Dunnigan and Gammons, one of the greatest ways to make an impact is by keeping visitors on their toes. “Leave a lasting impression by using small spaces to do the unexpected. Put up a bold wallpaper or slick on a bright hue. Maybe employ an unusual piece of furniture. Implementing assertive statement pieces in sly ways will create drama and add an element of fun to the design.” Dunnigan advises. One needs to look no further than the home’s powder room for such pop where the traditional dark wood and Carrara marble vanity sits against a bold green and white leafy vine Thibaut wallpaper, which draws the eye vertically to the green grasscloth-covered ceiling. The grasscloth also extends into the adjacent hallway. Likewise, a deep navy wall finish, accented with a gray, symmetrical feather pattern, energizes the butler pantry’s small space and subtle gray palette. “At the end of the day, the goal was clear: create a simple yet elegant design that catered to the clients’ love of the great outdoors,” Gammons says. “Through colors, textures, and prints inspired by nature’s paintbrush, we were able to forge that connection, bringing the outside in.”
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 10, 2020
From top to bottom, floor to ceiling, this home designed by Heather Garrett is magic… a few years in the making.
Designer Heather Garrett is no stranger to design challenges. So when her Internet entrepreneur clients called on her to redesign their newly purchased Tuscan style estate in Chapel Hill, she took on the project with gusto. “This young couple had a really relaxed approach to life, living with dogs and had a baby on the way,” Garrett says. “They purchased this fully furnished estate that was dripping with Tuscan style. Think heavy furniture, deep walls, and hanging tapestries. They wanted instead to be sunny, fresh, and chic, but in appropriate measure for the traditional architecture.” The couple both graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but had since settled in Durham. With a new baby on the way, a travel-heavy work schedule for the husband, and a recent windfall, they both agreed that moving back to Chapel Hill would provide the peace of mind and way of life they were seeking. The home sits on the fairway of the Chapel Hill Country Club, and planning for a growing family this idyllic property was a perfect choice. The plans forthe nursery were under way in their current home, so when they decided to move, the clock was ticking to bring these plans up to speed in the new home and prepare for baby. “There was a chemistry there from the get-go with these people,” Garrett says. “And we grew together slowly on projects as we hit benchmarks that made it clear I really understood their needs. We have a great trust now.” Once the nursery was completed and their sweet baby boy was introduced into the world, they asked Garrett to get to work on the kitchen and living room so that they could spend time together as a family in those spaces. With the parents working from home and a family that loved the outdoors, enjoying a very casual lifestyle, Garrett’s goal was to create a home that transitioned seamlessly from work to play. Over the next three to four years, she was able to create a haven for this family of four, working room by room to perfect their living lifestyle – and ending, appropriately, with another nursery for their second baby—a girl.
“I think the practicalities of life are my biggest driver in creating good design for my clients,” Garrett explains. “I have two teenagers at home, and pets, and I am fascinated with how we’ve completely changed how we live in a certain room just over a period of a few years.” To that end, Garrett kept this philosophy in mind when planning the design for the master suite and master bath. The dark green walls, leather furniture, and formal sitting room were exchanged for a brighter, whiter look, a yoga space, and a play area in front of the fireplace to enjoy their children. The resulting bedroom was a true retreat with separate spaces for sleeping and relaxing. The master bath became spacious and bright with a Frenchchic vibe. “We pulled the shutters off the windows, painted the room white, and filled it with pale textiles - vintage linen, wool, and velvet,” Garrett says. “As for the master bath, we removed the vanity and cabinetry, reformatted the placement, and installed a large mirror in front of the window so that light could enter, but privacy was preserved.” As Garrett says, it’s safe to assume that you will never change your personality or patterns just to accommodate a newly decorated room in your home, so it’s best to plan it realistically, not ideally. In the case of her clients, formal living and dining rooms were nice in theory but impractical in lifestyle. They were replaced with a music room, complete with piano, and a moody, sophisticated entry and living space including a custom mural that whimsically winds its way up the staircase.
Heather Garrett may seem like a one-woman show, packing all the punch of a heavyweight designer in one tiny package, but she does have help from time to time. “Melonie St. John has sewn every custom piece I’ve ever made for fifteen years,” she credits. “She’s amazing and we have a secret language at this point. Her work is all over this project from pillows to window treatments.” Garrett also called on CAN Decorative Painting to touch nearly every surface in the home, because, as she says, “wall finishes and nuanced texture are such an important part of a finished look.” To round out the decor, Garrett shopped at Eliko Rugs, Oly Studio, and Lee Industries, as well as Julian Chichester, Made Goods, Eatman’s Carpet & Interiors, Trove, and of course, Target. “When in doubt, always arrange objects in odd numbers and heights; you can rarely go wrong that way!” At the end of the day, Garrett was able to transform a dark and heavily Italian-influenced home into a refreshing dose of modern, casual living that made her client’s new house a true home. This enterprising family is on their way to the next adventure, this time moving to Boulder, Colorado. So you can look for this gorgeous gem to be on the market in the very near future.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 09, 2020
According to Tammy Stringer and Rick Viola, parts of their home were dark, dated, and impractical for the way they lived. However, it was a house and neighborhood they loved and didn’t want to leave, so they called in Caren Bistany of Bistany Design to redesign the kitchen and master bathroom, blending a transitional style with existing traditional architecture. “The result feels softer, brighter, and more functional for how we use it,” Stringer says. By taking out features they never used such as a large garden tub and space-hogging columns in the master bath, Bistany, along with custom builder and renovation contractor Alair Homes Charlotte, transformed both dated spaces into modern rooms the homeowners love.
With the team chosen early in the process, Bistany’s detailed design work completed prior to construction, and Alair’s online system providing daily project updates, the homeowners say the project was completed on time and on budget. “It is always better to find solutions prior to beginning construction,” Duane Johns of Alair Homes says. “Allowances during construction are where projects can go sideways and off-budget. Our process, along with Bistany Design’s preconstruction attention, enabled us to eliminate issues prior to construction.” “Roger [Ketchum of Alair Homes] and Caren were finishing each other’s sentences during the bidding process,” Viola says. “Tammy and I could tell they already worked well together, which was key to our decision.”
The renovated kitchen blended ideas from each team member, including the homeowners. Viola, for example, came up with the solution of a false glass front on the slide-out pantry to the left of the refrigerator. It created symmetry for the glass front wine tower to the right of the refrigerator. Bistany, who specializes in designing custom cabinetry, suggested a custom French grey stain that reads slightly blue on the alder cabinets complemented by honed Azzure natural quartzite countertops. She also suggested a unique plaster finish on the vent hood, which Alair implemented successfully. Together, they found space to incorporate the homeowners’ art collection in the kitchen. Alair Homes removed dated half-columns and an unused bathtub, reworked door openings, and addressed structural and framing issues to implement Bistany’s design of a new upstairs master bathroom. His-and-hers vanities in a unique cross-room configuration, along with modification of his-and-hers closets and a triple-faucet shower system add functionality to a room with heated Blue Antoinette honed marble floors laid in a herringbone pattern. Custom patterned marble continues on the shower floor. Special touches include hotel-style lighted vanity mirrors and a custom Shakuff chandelier. “It’s so nice to work with a team where all members treat the project with the same level of care,” Bistany says. “The stress level for all parties goes down. It’s all about good communication.”
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 08, 2020
Design duo Kelley Lentini and Berkeley Minkhorst prove first impressions speak volumes.
When House of Nomad designers and partners Kelley Lentini and Berkeley Minkhorst took on the responsibility of designing the first floor of a new Myers Park house that was being built, their marching orders were simple: Create a unified look among currently disjointed showcase rooms while balancing the design desires of a young couple. They aimed to design a light and energetic interior in the otherwise traditional neighborhood. The formal living room is the first room visitors see and where Lentini and Minkhorst began to build a good first impression. Focusing on a feminine aesthetic, they added a triptych with a modern vibe, which incorporates all the colors of the room’s furnishings – shades of warm gray, taupe, white, brown, mauve, and cream.
“The art set the tone for the entire room,” Minkhorst says. “The brass frames tie in with the inlaid brass applique in the artwork as well as the brass-trimmed coffee table and other accessories in the room.” They added texture and interest with a white contemporary Loloi shag rug and exposed wooden arms on accent chairs. Brass is a recurring theme on the first floor and makes another appearance in a transitional gold-leafed hanging light fixture that serves as the crown of the dining room. It is offset by deep navy blue walls and velvet drapery, which continues the velvet theme first introduced in the formal living room. Nearby, a powder room receives a moody, dark floral wallpaper to contrast other linear elements on the main floor, including vertical, linear wallpaper in the butler’s pantry, vertical powder room sconces, and the vertical lines of the dining room light fixture.
“The wallpaper was an instant favorite of the wife,” Lentini says. “Its oversized flowers have tiny butterflies scattered around them. It’s so realistic.” The wallpaper introduces white into this room, which Lentini says is necessary for balancing the darker, more masculine elements in the house and keeping the spaces light and fresh. White lightens the mood in the casual living area, where a dark leather sofa, the husband’s choice, anchors the entire space. Bursts of aqua and cobalt blue antique Murano glass artwork mixed with vintage accessories are striking on the white painted built-in shelves and cabinetry surrounding the fireplace. The blue pieces connect the other downstairs rooms, which have blue walls or accessories in shades of blue, improving the flow through the entire space. One of the living room’s standout pieces is a white custom Tritter Feefer console table behind the sofa, whose design mimics the lines of the herringbone-laid tile inset in the fireplace. A piece of glass artwork from Darnell & Company on the console completes the cohesive look. Brass is introduced in this room with a pair of Restoration Hardware glass floor lamps accented with brass trim details. The casual living area is open to the all-white kitchen, so the design duo carefully considered the appropriate furnishings and lighting to complement both spaces. Dark wood tones, white, brass hanging lanterns, and mauve bar stools balance and marry both the casual and formal living rooms. “It’s all about balancing choices between light and dark so both the husband and wife have their likes taken into consideration,” Lentini says. “Our goal is to make interior design approachable and fun for people like this couple. Design should not be intimidating.”
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 07, 2020
A young Charlotte couple transforms a neutral palette into a lively, livable, and distinct home, unique to them.
When Caroline Trammell and her husband purchased their home in Myers Park, the clean, crisp palette of white walls and neutral decor was so appealing. It was tempting to leave well enough alone, but one look at the design boards created by Charlotte Lucas of Charlotte Lucas Interior Design and the pair couldn’t wait to get started. Of course, it helped that Lucas was a lifelong friend of the family, so her intuition on their style and needs were happily spot on. With a toddler running around and one on the way, the home had to be simultaneously functional, classy, and full of character. “The neutral palette made it easy to forget what interest color brings, but after seeing what Charlotte had planned, I wanted every room in the house full of bright, vibrant colors and patterns,” Trammell explains. Together, Trammell and Lucas agreed on a beautiful, inviting home that was still appropriate for children. Part of the design plan also included a renovation of the master bathroom, but within just a few months the home was ready for the young family to enjoy every day. Lucas’ design plan came together fairly easily. “I design best for people I know well,” she says. “Specifically for Caroline, I wanted her home to tell their story. They do a lot of ministry work in Africa, so I really wanted to turn the sitting room off the foyer into a fun, inviting jungle-inspired room.” Using the many treasures the Trammells brought home from Africa, Lucas mixed African print wallpaper, genuine zebra hides, woven baskets, and African swords with Trammell’s style requests, which included the modern velvet sofa and splashes of peacock blue with hints of blush. It’s one of Trammell’s favorite rooms. “The jungle room is so fun! I feel like I’m on vacation in some fabulous city,” she says. Lucas adds, “It’s so happy and so Caroline; you can’t go in there without wanting to sit and hang out.” The new, improved master bath is sophisticated, soft, and bright, designed around Miles Redd for Schumacher chinoiserie wallpaper, which was a favorite of Trammell’s. “I have to say, my bathroom is my favorite room,” Trammell admits. “It’s romantic and feminine. I love it.” With a few heirloom pieces refurbished and repurposed, the Trammells’ home is at once personal and stylish, new, and curated. The family dining room table found a home with modern chairs and a new sisal rug, layered underneath the heirloom antique oushak rug for depth. The pair of chairs and ottoman in the master bedroom sitting area belonged to Trammell’s parents but found new life with a little white paint and some gorgeous Kelly Wearstler fabric. Art pieces were carefully selected – some from Africa, some local, and even still, some personalized. The framed bird panel tucked into the book corner of the master bedroom, for example, echoes the de Gournay wallpaper style Trammell loves so much but is actually a hand-painted antique silk screen that Lucas had framed and hung. “Art is a great way to personalize a home,” Lucas offers. “Without art, there’s no story.” “Getting to know my clients is what creates successful projects. It goes beyond scale and down to the finishing touches with accessories,” Lucas explains. “It’s hard to go there after all the money is spent, which is why we try to include it in the budget, but it is what truly makes a house home-y. Without the layering of accessories, the home never feels quite finished.” Pulling locally from Slate Interiors, Darnell & Company, and their own inventory, in addition to all over the world, Charlotte Lucas Interior Design hand-selects every finishing piece according to their client’s style, interests, and needs. “We freehand it and do what feels right. But one thing is true: you can never have too many books.”
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 06, 2020
Inspired by her clients’ Manhattan loft, designer Lisa Sherry designed a modern, family-friendly home in a suburban setting.
When Max and Caci Jaeger were house hunting in Charlotte, every home they saw was immediately compared to their Tribeca loft in New York City. “We just absolutely loved our home in Manhattan,” Caci Jaeger says. “The loft was in an old building that had been retrofitted with old, large windows and high ceilings. We had this gorgeous all-white kitchen with Calacatta gold marble that was beautiful but also so efficient and functional. Our home was truly a sanctuary from the chaos of the city.” The transition from urban living to suburban life was already going to be a significant change for the family of five, so they didn’t want their new home in Charlotte to be a complete departure from what they’d grown to love. So when they came across a house in Myers Park designed by architect Greg Perry of Greg Perry Design, they were immediately drawn to the home’s tall ceilings, sleek but classic architectural details, and oversized windows, which allowed natural light to flood the living spaces. “We just fell in love with Greg’s design,” Jaeger says. “The home had so many of the characteristics that we loved about our loft.” The couple moved from Manhattan with very little in the way of furnishings and enlisted the help of designer Lisa Sherry of Lisa Sherry Interieurs to help bring their Tribeca loft vibe to their new quiet, suburban setting. “With classic architecture and all-white walls,” Sherry says, “the home was the perfect backdrop for my designs, which are often a mix of classic with modern. And knowing Caci liked more modern and urban versus traditional design helped me understand her design direction.” Starting with designs for the rooms that are most used and visible in the home, Sherry went to work creating a seamless aesthetic of clean, modern lines on an all-white canvas layered with lots of texture and neutral colors that flowed effortlessly from room to room. “I like for all my spaces to have a common thread, so all rooms relate to one another,” Sherry says. In the family room, Sherry had to work with a long, rectangular space, which she made more family- and entertaining-friendly by creating two separate areas: one for the adults and one for the kids. The neutral sectional serves as the anchor for the room while just behind the couch is a play area for the children defined by the navy-and-white graphic rug. To up the interest factor, Sherry layered throw pillows by John Robshaw in varying textures and muted hues while a cowhide and natural fiber rug add a dose of texture to the setting.
The nearby dining room, one of Jaeger’s favorites, doubles as a place to eat and also as an impromptu home office for the mom of three. “It’s such a special room because the room is flooded with natural light,” she says. To take advantage of the large bay window in the room, Sherry added a chaise lounge. “I love that there’s a piece of furniture in this room that’s not a dining chair or table,” she says of the addition. “It feels so glamorous.” A classic round dining table by Julian Chichester is instantly modernized with the all-white Bernhardt dining chairs. “I love how light and bright the space is and how clean and edited it feels with the symmetry of the sconces,” Sherry says. To complete the space, a glass chandelier from Pelle in Brooklyn, which the couple had purchased before moving, provides a modern edge to the classic decor. In keeping with the fresh, modern look, Sherry brought in a touch of color to the baby’s nursery and bathroom. The whimsical wallpaper by Hygge & West in the bathroom is a nod to the playful artwork by Minted above the crib in the adjacent nursery. “I love the larger scale of the pattern in the wallpaper and how it plays off the graphic, oversized artwork in the nursery,” Sherry says. “And who doesn’t love birds!” Though the Jaegers and Sherry are constantly tweaking things in the home, what Sherry was able to add is exactly what the couple wanted in their new home. “It’s already difficult to move to a new city without any friends,” Jaeger says. “So we wanted our home to immediately be that place that we felt comfortable and at ease as soon as we moved in. Lisa was so instrumental in our seamless transition to Charlotte. Lisa was able to hone in on my vision and really elevate it to a whole other level.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 05, 2020
A homeowner sees past a builder’s choices in a spec house to add his mark on new construction.
For some people, buying a turnkey home is ideal. It’s move-in ready. However, one particular homeowner, a father of three, had a slightly different approach when he purchased a builder spec house near Greensboro. Instead of living in the house as-is, he envisioned more than just what the builder had in mind. After researching local interior designers who shared his passion for modern art and color, he chose Kara Cox of Kara Cox Interiors to design a home that fit his lifestyle as well as his art collection. “Most who buy a new house don’t want to make changes,” Cox says, “but this homeowner was open to making changes to fit his lifestyle.” With three kids who visit on the weekends and a busy work travel schedule during the week, the homeowner trusted Cox to turn this 3,000-square-foot Cape Cod bungalow into a colorful modern-classic design. To fit his specific lifestyle, Cox focused on making the open downstairs layout, which includes the master suite, functional for him and the upstairs bedrooms lively and resilient for enthusiastic kids on the weekends, incorporating colorful artwork into all the spaces.
“Since art is so important, we repainted or recovered all the walls in lighter and brighter colors, removing the deep grays and trendier colors chosen by the builder,” Cox explains. These color changes make a better backdrop for the homeowner’s modern art. “We further highlighted artwork in the house by minimizing patterns and using accent colors,” Cox continues. “The whole house design started with one piece of 3-D paper artwork purchased in Paris from a Japanese artist, which is now hanging in the dining room. That room contained the only wall downstairs large enough to accommodate the huge forty-eightinch by sixty-inch piece. It was the only piece of artwork the homeowner asked me to work around, and it is so different from the softer colors he wanted throughout the house. When you walk by this particular piece, it appears yellow in one direction and red if you walk by in the other direction. It is a true statement piece and served as both the design challenge and inspiration for the house.” Surrounded by lighter neutrals, the 3-D art becomes a focal point of the dining room. Since the dining room opens to the living area, Cox introduced pops of red and yellow to mix with the lighter base colors in the living room to keep the two spaces cohesive. The owner purchased all the other artwork especially for this house, and Cox used it as part of her color mix in each room. Since incorporating original artwork is part of Cox’s specialty, it was a particularly pleasant project where the homeowner put full confidence and control in her hands. In addition to a fresh, light colorway, Cox introduced masculine elements to keep the spaces appropriate for the homeowner. Nail head trim on the runner going up the stairs, for instance, accessorizes the blue, taupe, and tan carpeting. Grasscloth wallcovering and shades of blue in the home office add other hints of masculinity as well as texture and dimension. The home office is another example where Cox infused the owner’s personality into the house by changing the builder’s original concept. Initially presented as a front library painted dark gray, Cox turned the room into a multifunctional space to give the homeowner a place to work from home. She recovered the walls in neutral grasscloth, designed a desk with built-in bookcases and cabinetry surrounding it, and painted the trim and built-ins in a lacquered shade of light blue in keeping with the colorful theme of the home. Similarly, she turned a lonely base cabinet in a corner of the kitchen into a functional mini bar with a built-in wine cooler and drawers for storing supplies. Cox added upper cabinetry to hold wine glasses and enhanced it with a mirrored back, adding depth and interest to the corner. As a final act, Cox changed out all the builder-grade lighting fixtures and cabinet hardware to reflect a more modern aesthetic, which infused personality into the home. “This type of project is my favorite,” Cox says, “with a homeowner willing to add art and design around it. He took risks with artwork and the use of color, listened, and trusted my instincts. In the end, he has a kid-friendly home that also is functional for his needs.” “My advice to homeowners in a similar situation when shopping for a new home is to remember someone else has chosen the personal finishes. It’s OK to customize it for your style. Just because it’s new doesn’t mean you can’t change it.”
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 04, 2020
A Raleigh-based design duo takes cues from an existing house to create a fresh and sophisticated home for a vibrant couple.
W hen a house has great bones, it makes interior design that much easier. And having innovative designers with an amazing vision doesn’t hurt either. This Raleigh home got a dramatic makeover by The Warehouse’s multifunctional design team of Liles Dunnigan and Zandy Gammons, who played up the home’s many strengths. Longtime residents of Raleigh, the homeowners relocated within their home city, and they knew what they wanted: to brighten up the dark and dated home, creating a look that was fresh and sophisticated. This required gutting the kitchen and master bath, as well as aesthetic updates throughout every other room and along the exterior. Perhaps most importantly, it required playing up the home’s natural light and filling the interior with a wash of lighter colors.
“Because we had worked with the homeowners previously, there was a high level of trust there,” Dunnigan explains. “The home was older and needed extensive updating. But it had great bones and great architectural details.” As the heart of the home, the kitchen is inherently more functional than it was before, with a longer island that faces the proper direction and offers comfortable seating. The original dark wood countertops and heavy light fixture were replaced by glazed white cabinetry and a distinctive metallic fixture overhead. The meticulously placed window captures sunlight, while the Walker Zanger tile backsplash behind the range and under the hood picks up the serene gray-blue wall color, as well as the custom color on the island. Vibrant artwork adds panache to the walls. Though the homeowners considered an all-white kitchen, the designers advised against it. “A lot of times people say they want an all-white kitchen, but it ends up looking stark and cold,” Dunnigan explains.
The adjacent breakfast nook is neither stark nor cold. The homeowners had the mirror in their possession already, and the designers had it lacquered in a soft blue that mimics the tranquility of the walls. The drapery fabric features koi fish, contributing to the Asian-inspired feel running throughout the house. A beautiful pagoda lantern from Visual Comfort completes the look. The nearby study serves as a haven for the family to escape and read. Many of the books in the collection are treasured pieces. And the designers added accessories including pieces with dark metallic shine that contrast the white cabinetry and enhance the overall look of the library. The balance of light and dark is also evident in the spacious living room, with exposed dark wood beams in the ceiling juxtaposed against a large Barbara Barry light fixture that brightens the room in more ways than one. To compensate for the fact that this room was originally even darker than most of the others, the designers repeated the same serene blue from the breakfast nook, covered the ottoman in a bright Robert Allen animal print, and installed beautiful geometric draperies from Dogwood Fabrics consisting of blue and cream hues. Finally, the Stanton wool rug adds additional light and softness. Another Stanton rug graces the steps off the foyer – an entryway that underscores the home’s overall charm. “It’s an ode to a leopard print,” Gammons says of the rug. “The art is from ArtSource, and we added an oversized antique mirrored fixture that we felt would really brighten up the space. The homeowners also had an antique chest and mirror that we repurposed.” Off the foyer, gold-finished oversized light fixtures from Visual Comfort wink down upon the mahogany dining table. “We added chairs from Woodbridge Furniture out of High Point, as we like to use North Carolina furniture companies when we can,” Dunnigan says. A multi-colored geometric Kravet print fabric with tangerines and blues graces the chair seats. The tangerine is repeated in the graceful floral draperies. “That color is found in little pops throughout the house,” Gammons explains. “The room’s rug is indoor-outdoor. [The homeowner] has grandchildren and pets and likes to entertain. So you can spill grease or red wine on it, and it will come out.” Through careful adaptation of the existing space, the designers were able to create an indulgent retreat in the master bedroom. Originally two rooms, the bedroom is now a one-room, spacious getaway with the most natural light in the entire house. An inviting combination of soft white and restful blues defines the luxurious bedding and accessories. The seating area within the master bedroom, complete with a fireplace, encourages restful afternoons spent in absolute contentment. The bedroom’s sitting room has a rival, however. The patio and outdoor living area extend the length of the back of the house. The homeowners spend many a day lounging in this vibrant space, enjoying the outdoor television, the fireplace, and most of all, the time they have with their children and grandchildren. “You can see all the colors from inside the house,” Gammons says, “and we wanted to bring the colors out and have them flow into the exterior space.” Not to be forgotten, Tucker, the dog, finds sanctuary in the mudroom, which features a vintage rug, distinctive Thibaut fabric on the windows, and a dog bed that has been painted to match both. Despite its aesthetic appeal, “That room has many uses,” Gammons explains. “It’s a laundry room, drop zone, work zone, and the dog’s favorite place.” Speaking of favorites, one of Gammons and Dunnigan’s favorite things is working together on home interiors like this one. “Most creative people enjoy having someone to bounce ideas off of,” Dunnigan says. “And for us, it’s a partnership and collaborative effort.”
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 03, 2020
When a house has great bones, it makes interior design that much easier. And having innovative designers with an amazing vision doesn’t hurt either. This Raleigh home got a dramatic makeover by The Warehouse’s multifunctional design team of Liles Dunnigan and Zandy Gammons, who played up the home’s many strengths. Longtime residents of Raleigh, the homeowners relocated within their home city, and they knew what they wanted: to brighten up the dark and dated home, creating a look that was fresh and sophisticated. This required gutting the kitchen and master bath, as well as aesthetic updates throughout every other room and along the exterior. Perhaps most importantly, it required playing up the home’s natural light and filling the interior with a wash of lighter colors.
“Because we had worked with the homeowners previously, there was a high level of trust there,” Dunnigan explains. “The home was older and needed extensive updating. But it had great bones and great architectural details.” As the heart of the home, the kitchen is inherently more functional than it was before, with a longer island that faces the proper direction and offers comfortable seating. The original dark wood countertops and heavy light fixture were replaced by glazed white cabinetry and a distinctive metallic fixture overhead. The meticulously placed window captures sunlight, while the Walker Zanger tile backsplash behind the range and under the hood picks up the serene gray-blue wall color, as well as the custom color on the island. Vibrant artwork adds panache to the walls. Though the homeowners considered an all-white kitchen, the designers advised against it. “A lot of times people say they want an all-white kitchen, but it ends up looking stark and cold,” Dunnigan explains.
The adjacent breakfast nook is neither stark nor cold. The homeowners had the mirror in their possession already, and the designers had it lacquered in a soft blue that mimics the tranquility of the walls. The drapery fabric features koi fish, contributing to the Asian-inspired feel running throughout the house. A beautiful pagoda lantern from Visual Comfort completes the look. The nearby study serves as a haven for the family to escape and read. Many of the books in the collection are treasured pieces. And the designers added accessories including pieces with dark metallic shine that contrast the white cabinetry and enhance the overall look of the library. The balance of light and dark is also evident in the spacious living room, with exposed dark wood beams in the ceiling juxtaposed against a large Barbara Barry light fixture that brightens the room in more ways than one. To compensate for the fact that this room was originally even darker than most of the others, the designers repeated the same serene blue from the breakfast nook, covered the ottoman in a bright Robert Allen animal print, and installed beautiful geometric draperies from Dogwood Fabrics consisting of blue and cream hues. Finally, the Stanton wool rug adds additional light and softness. Another Stanton rug graces the steps off the foyer – an entryway that underscores the home’s overall charm. “It’s an ode to a leopard print,” Gammons says of the rug. “The art is from ArtSource, and we added an oversized antique mirrored fixture that we felt would really brighten up the space. The homeowners also had an antique chest and mirror that we repurposed.” Off the foyer, gold-finished oversized light fixtures from Visual Comfort wink down upon the mahogany dining table. “We added chairs from Woodbridge Furniture out of High Point, as we like to use North Carolina furniture companies when we can,” Dunnigan says. A multi-colored geometric Kravet print fabric with tangerines and blues graces the chair seats. The tangerine is repeated in the graceful floral draperies. “That color is found in little pops throughout the house,” Gammons explains. “The room’s rug is indoor-outdoor. [The homeowner] has grandchildren and pets and likes to entertain. So you can spill grease or red wine on it, and it will come out.” Through careful adaptation of the existing space, the designers were able to create an indulgent retreat in the master bedroom. Originally two rooms, the bedroom is now a one-room, spacious getaway with the most natural light in the entire house. An inviting combination of soft white and restful blues defines the luxurious bedding and accessories. The seating area within the master bedroom, complete with a fireplace, encourages restful afternoons spent in absolute contentment. The bedroom’s sitting room has a rival, however. The patio and outdoor living area extend the length of the back of the house. The homeowners spend many a day lounging in this vibrant space, enjoying the outdoor television, the fireplace, and most of all, the time they have with their children and grandchildren. “You can see all the colors from inside the house,” Gammons says, “and we wanted to bring the colors out and have them flow into the exterior space.” Not to be forgotten, Tucker, the dog, finds sanctuary in the mudroom, which features a vintage rug, distinctive Thibaut fabric on the windows, and a dog bed that has been painted to match both. Despite its aesthetic appeal, “That room has many uses,” Gammons explains. “It’s a laundry room, drop zone, work zone, and the dog’s favorite place.”
Speaking of favorites, one of Gammons and Dunnigan’s favorite things is working together on home interiors like this one. “Most creative people enjoy having someone to bounce ideas off of,” Dunnigan says. “And for us, it’s a partnership and collaborative effort.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 02, 2020
A Badin lake beauty proves life is better where the living is easy.
What do we want? That was the question Cam and Jen Dyer mused with designer Anne Buresh on the banks of Badin Lake as they stared out across their new property, a peninsular stretch of waterfront heaven that would be the site of their future lake home. Having worked previously with the Dyers and now with the opportunity to start fresh on a new construction, Buresh drew on her knowledge and relationship with the family to open up a dialogue about their must-haves for the home. “Transparent communication is paramount to the process, from vision boarding and conceptualization to implementation. The key to the perfect design is determining a clear idea of the client’s needs then proceeding through a systematic process that provides both direction and shared expectations,” Buresh says. “That’s exactly what the Dyers and I accomplished.” The Dyers wanted to establish continuity between the home and property, seamlessly bringing the outdoors in to create an organic yet chic design that embodied the tranquility of the natural setting. Buresh’s mission was to create a space that embraced the casual and functional, as well as the contemporary luxe. “The design was all about balance, whether the family was entertaining friends, relaxing with family, or simply having kids in wet bathing suits running in and out,” Buresh says. And balance is the key element of the comprehensive design. While outdoor luxury living was a cornerstone element, a nature-inspired palette of grays, neutrals, greens, and blues were infused throughout the interior, reflecting the beauty of the outdoors inside. Buresh also used layers of textures and colors to soften the space without compromising the airy openness of the home. Likewise, custom-designed furniture allowed Buresh to accommodate Cam Dyer’s six-foot-eight-inch frame, providing ease of accessibility, and highly functional furniture without sacrificing the clean, contemporary aesthetic. Ample outdoor living areas effortlessly extend the home’s livable square footage, all with a picturesque backdrop of the pool and lake. Extra seating offers guests the opportunity to sit back and relax with a glass of wine on a poolside lounger, at the stone fire pit, or in one of the eight Adirondack-style rocking chairs that line the back patio. The clean, straight lines of the pool and furniture perfectly complement the linear detail of the bluestone patio stone pavers that coordinate with the pale blue patio ceiling, a nod to a traditional feature of Southern design. An adjacent screened porch boasts additional dining and sitting areas, complete with versatile swivel chairs that encourage conversation or aid relaxation next to the electric fire table while taking in a game on TV.
Buresh’s use of textures and subtle colors throughout the master suite echoes the cohesive design. Natural woven blinds are layered with soft blue window treatments in the bathroom to offer privacy while also adding a dash of color to accent the gray cabinetry and white marble. The bedroom, the Dyers personal sanctuary, is full of texture – from the upholstered headboard with nail-head trim to the textured silver gray bench to the classic, European damask linen curtains. In the kitchen and dining room, the portion of the home Buresh lovingly dubs “Grand Central,” the design centers not only on the balance between chic and casual but also focuses on accessibility and durability. The upscale farmhouse-inspired kitchen echoes the same subtle palette of the home but also includes a custom-designed Tritter Feefer farm table that comfortably seats a crowd. The table’s protective coating and the chairs’ faux ostrich fabric are both beautiful and easily maintained. Likewise, the custom, extra-long formal dining table seats up to sixteen and the nail-head dining chairs were selected to encourage lingering at the table long after a meal. Both tables were constructed one to two inches taller than average to give Cam Dyer a maximum amount of comfort and mobility. It was this attention to detail that made the unveiling of the finished product a day that neither the Dyers nor Buresh will soon forget. Buresh’s “reveal day” is never complete without a few homey touches like her signature bottle of wine and bowl of nuts on the table, which she says is an invitation to sit down and enjoy some Southern hospitality. “I honestly believe our living environments affect our physical and emotional well-being,” Buresh says. “That’s why my passion is creating a design that embodies the client’s needs—a haven where they can relax, put their feet up, and enjoy life.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Jan 01, 2020
A Charlotte-area couple builds a second home in which they can’t help but relax.
You won’t find a single basket of shells or miniature palm tree at this oceanfront Isle of Palms, S.C. vacation home. Yet, the minute you walk in, you know you’re at the very beachiest of beach houses. And it was designed that way. When a Charlotte-area couple decided to build a seaside escape, they went with their tried-and-true. They hired their long-time designer, David Smith of Custom Interiors, to bring their vision to life. Smith and the couple practically communicate telepathically. “We’ve worked together on many projects,” Smith says. “They trust me.” The trust runs so deep, in fact, that the pair told their architect, Herlong & Associates, to allow Smith leeway to make changes to the blueprints. “I’ve never had that happen,” Smith says. “The architect gave us a beautiful exterior and a basic interior layout based on the needs of the client. It was up to me to design the interiors.” “If the walls needed to be moved to accommodate the furnishings or open a space up or allow for better views, I had that freedom,” he continues. “I was able to design all the interior elements from the walls, handrails, lighting, tile, cabinetry, countertops, decorative beams, and furnishings – all with amazing support from the builder and architect. My clients let me roll with it.” Smith and his clients made the decision to have few walls on the main level. Beyond the extra-large foyer is what Smith describes as “one grand room”. “It stretches the full width of the house,” he says. “It contains the dining room, family room, kitchen, and even the butler’s pantry. Big, sliding doors give an uninterrupted view of the beach.” Also on the main level are two guest suites with private baths as well as a powder room. Lots of natural wood and light, creamy taupes, pale blues, soft browns, and grays – and a complete lack of visual clutter – provide a sedate backdrop for a vacation home meant to induce utter relaxation. Plenty of white space gives the furnishings and art room to breathe. And it reminds homeowners and guests that an oceanfront house is a place to let out a big exhale. As elegant as it is, the couple originally planned on something grander. At first, this house was conceived as the guesthouse. They planned to build it first and then use their land on the adjacent lot to build the main house. But Smith explains that the homeowners fell in love with its comfort, so they no longer needed the second build. “Even though it’s a sizable house, there’s an intimacy to it. It’s relaxing. They decided this was exactly what they wanted.” It’s easy to see why. Their architect designed what Smith calls a “Lowcountry farmhouse with a vintage Southern spin.” “It fits in with its seaside environment, but it doesn’t scream ‘beach house.’” It’s built in the Southern farmhouse vernacular – but with every upgrade imaginable. Yes, the front porch is there. But it’s oversized for outdoor living. A ground-level veranda has a luxurious living area and a dining table that seats eight. The interior, heavy on neutrals and pecky cypress, is designed to soothe – not excite. “One of my client’s only directives was that she wanted to see soft colors,” Smith says. “And that’s the palette I’m most comfortable working in. There’s nothing too bold or loud in this house. There’s nothing wrong with either of those, but this house was designed to be calm and quiet.
The owners have three adult sons and can’t help but dream of the grandkids they hope to welcome to the beach one day. Those future grandchildren were very much taken into consideration in the home’s design. The home’s second story has one guest suite and a showstopping bunk suite with four built-in beds and a boys’ bathroom and a girls’ bathroom. On the upper level there are two master suites with balconies overlooking the pool, landscaped backyard, and ocean beyond. An elevator provides easy transport from one level to the next. Smith managed to pull off the nifty trick of making a house both grand and down-to-earth. As sophisticated as it is, the house is alsowhat he calls “very casual and lived-in.” “This is not a hands-off atmosphere,” he declares. Wicker chairs at the oversized kitchen island, shiplap walls painted a creamy white, and a minimalist aesthetic all combine to make the home feel like a place you want to be barefoot. A beach house doesn’t need to have a beachy theme to remind owners and guests they’re at the shore. In the case of this classic oceanfront home, the wall of windows overlooking the sand and sea do the job quite nicely. The sound of ocean waves crashing against the shore and seagulls chirping overhead is its own kind of symphony.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Dec 31, 2019
A circa-1927 home is transformed into an unexpectedly grand cottage on a hill in the heart of Myers Park.
It was time to go. The couple had been toying with the idea of moving to Myers Park from their Concord-area home to shorten their work commutes, and one particular home kept popping up during their search. “My husband kept showing it to me, and I just kept telling him, ‘No. It’s way too big; it costs too much’,” she says. It wasn’t until a family friend suggested they go look at the home “just to see,” that the couple finally scheduled a showing. “Literally, as soon as we walked in, I knew it was the one,” she says. Within hours, the couple put an offer on the home. After much back and forth, though, the homeowners eventually rejected the couple’s final negotiated offer. “At this point, we’d already sold our house, so we had to move into a hotel,” she explains. “Our heart was set on that home, and we didn’t have a plan B. But as I was packing my things, we got the call from our realtor that they wanted to know if we’d still honor our last offer.” The home, it seems, was meant to be theirs. While they loved the bones of the circa-1927 Colonial-style home, they knew that it would need updating. That renovation, though, would not take place until nine years later when their next door neighbor offered to sell the couple their home. “We were ecstatic,” she says. Tearing down the adjacent home would allow the couple to expand their existing home while also making room for the swimming pool the husband had dreamed of having in the backyard. “It was the perfect situation,” she says. “Tearing down that home would allow us the space we needed to do everything we wanted.” Not long after purchasing the adjacent home, the couple reached out to architect Frank Smith whose vision for the home was to maintain its stunning yet unassuming cottage curb appeal and seamlessly expand the home so that you could never tell where the original structure began and where the addition and renovation started. “We probably went through five or six drawings with Frank before we got to the point where we knew this renovation was exactly what we wanted,” she says.
To expand the kitchen from its original galley style and make room for the swimming pool and outdoor living area—both hers and his top priorities with the renovation, respectively—the footprint of the home needed to be reworked. The couple enlisted the help of designer Laura Archibald, who worked closely with Smith to redesign the existing home’s layout to better fit the homeowners’ needs. What was once the living room became the dining room while the former dining room was transformed into a library with a staircase that leads to the second floor. The original garage transitioned into the new master suite while the existing den remained as is. With the addition came a larger living room, new kitchen, and a threecar garage with a room above.
Though the renovation nearly doubled the square footage of the home, the ultimate goal was to design a home that was aesthetically appropriate for the neighborhood. Being a oneand-a-half-story home, it’s unassuming from the street. “People often don’t realize how large the home really is when you see it from the sidewalk,” the homeowner says. “And being that it’s situated on a hill, we really wanted to make sure we weren’t going vertical with our square footage.” Archibald helped create a comfortable interior with the use of a calm, soothing color palette of greys and neutrals. Though the homeowners ideally wanted to use most of their existing furniture and accessories, Archibald ultimately installed new pieces while seamlessly weaving in some of the older items from the home’s original design. In the dining room, Archibald kept the original dining room table but switched out the traditional chairs for more transitional ones by Charles Stewart in a Duralee fabric while the homeowners’ china cabinet was “the perfect size for that space, so we decided to keep it in the mix,” Archibald says. In the den, the designer reupholstered the existing oversize sofa in a Pindler fabric but then added a pair of new Charles Stewart armchairs. “It was really about elevating the look to a more transitional style with color and textures,” Archibald explains. “It was such a departure from what we were used to,” the homeowner says. “But it was exactly what we wanted, and Laura nailed it.” The one-time small galley kitchen was transformed into a stunning open-air room overlooking the den. Archibald and the homeowners worked closely on the design of the kitchen designing the custom cabinetry by Johnson Custom Cabinetry and choosing the finishes and appliances. Because of its proximity to a living space, Archibald wanted to make sure the kitchen table felt more like an extension of the den, so she added a metal-top table by Bernhardt she found at High Point market coupled with skirted upholstered dining chairs on the side facing the living space. Opposite, a simple custom-designed bench slides under the table leaving more room between the counters and dining area. Backless counter stools by Hickory Chair keep the view from the kitchen to the den open. “Laura was always spot on with her fabric choices and colors,” the homeowner says. “We loved everything she picked for us and how she also kept some of our pieces in the look.” Though the couple wasn’t planning to fall in love with this house when they first saw it in 2003, today—with the renovation and addition—they can’t imagine their home being anywhere else but here. “Frank and Laura and this team brought our dream to fruition,” the homeowner says. “I didn’t know it back then, but this was exactly what we needed and wanted.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Dec 30, 2019
Cosentino’s new line is slim in stature, big on impact.
Countertops. Walls. Floors. Ceilings. Tabletops. The home’s many surfaces are an integral part of architecture and design, not just for their beauty but also for their functionality. With these surfaces facing the everyday wear-andtear of foot traffic, food prep, and hygiene rituals, it’s important that they also are durable and low maintenance. Cosentino specializes in collaborating with customers to create high-value, innovative surfaces that add beauty and brawn for a variety of applications. Their Silestone, Dekton, Sensa, and Natural Stone lines are the perfect solution for homeowners and designers looking to add style and substance with their surfaces. The Dekton line, available in thicknesses from 4 mm to 30 mm, is created through a sophisticated, innovative process that results in zero porosity and ultra-compaction, making it highly resistant to the elements with the size, lightness, and strength for an array of applications. Available in nearly sixty colors from nine collections, homeowners are sure to find the perfect hue for any home project. “Our amazing countertop and wall cladding products go beyond traditional residential use to also include extended applications such as commercial, cabinetry doors, indoor and outdoor furniture tops, and fire surrounds, to name a few,” Rudi Bruno, general manager of the Charlotte Cosentino Center, says. “Our newest addition, the Dekton Slim line, has brought an even greater depth to our offerings with the highest standards of quality and durability in an ultra-thin construction.” The Dekton Slim’s 4-mm thickness makes it extremely adaptable, offering homeowners and designers an unlimited amount of design implementations from a single product. Because it’s offered in a large, cut-to-size format with slabs measuring up to 126 inches by 56 inches, homeowners will find their surfaces more hygienic because of the need for fewer joints. Currently available in a broad palette of colors from Dekton’s natural and solid collections, homeowners can select surfaces that speak to their home’s personality, ones that blend seamlessly with their aesthetic, or bolder options that inspire conversation. The amount of customization offered by Dekton Slim ensures each application will be a uniquely beautiful and durable choice. Because of its moisture- and stainresistant properties, Dekton Slim is the ideal product for use in bathroom and kitchen applications. In bathrooms, where excessive humidity and exposure to household chemicals are certain, Dekton Slim offers the resilience needed to maintain a healthy, clean, and beautiful space—all with no more maintenance than a soft, wet cloth! Likewise, in the kitchen, where cleanliness and durability are an absolute necessity, Dekton Slim features low porosity and liquid absorption rates as well as a resistance to scratches, stains, and heat damage. “High-traffic and day-to-day use are no match for Dekton Slim. Homeowners love the freedom of being able to live in their home without the burden of high maintenance routines and upkeep,” Bruno says. “An additional advantage touted by our customers is the significant cost savings of going with a product line like Dekton Slim, which, because of its ultra-thin construction, generally results in less quantity of product needed in installations.” And for those looking to spice up other areas in their home, Dekton Slim’s ease of fabrication allows for its innovative use in cabinetry and furniture, featuring doors and tabletops that withstand household traffic and abuse without bumps, scratches, and stains. “With Dekton Slim, our customers’ dreams are limitless,” Bruno says.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Dec 29, 2019
Make lighting a priority in your home design.
The cascading fixture in the foyer welcomes guests into your home. That organic chandelier induces lively dinner conversation. Those sleek but subtle spotlights transform your fireplace or artwork into the focal point you imagined. The master bath’s well-placed ceiling lights and wall sconces provide not only a healthy dose of style but also the perfect amount of illumination to help you “face” your day. Of course, we’re talking about lighting, where form and function meet style and sophistication in a single element that can make or break the entire home design. “Unfortunately, lighting is often undervalued by builders and designers, being the last detail considered when, quite frankly, it is the first thing people notice when they walk into your home,” Liza Branch says, owner of Modern Lighting Design Store.
Lighting is a crucial building block in home design, performing a host of important duties such as providing illumination, creating ambiance, personalizing the decor, and accenting other decorative or architectural features. Because lighting does so much heavy lifting, the selection of fixtures shouldn’t be left to last-minute decisions but approached with careful consideration, keeping the functionality and the homeowner’s tastes at the forefront. “Don’t wait until you’ve blown your budget on flooring, bathroom tile, and plumbing fixtures to think about your lights,” Branch says. After eighteen years in the business, Modern Lighting has helped countless homeowners navigate the often overwhelming world of lighting, offering them timeless pieces to fit every budget. “Frequently, we help customers who have realized their mistake in shopping online. These products often turn out to be overpriced knockoffs and sub-par substitutes that don’t offer the beauty, durability, or functionality of a higher-end piece. They simply won’t stand the test of time,” Branch says. “On top of that, it’s virtually impossible to select the correct sizes and types of lighting needed in your particular space from an internet thumbnail.” This is where the expertise and initial one-onone consultations (offered either on-site or in the showroom) with a local retailer like Modern Lighting is key, enabling clients to see fixtures in person and gauge their size and finish. Branch curates her collection to ensure customers always have peace of mind in their purchasing decisions. The Modern Lighting team regularly travels to lighting shows and maintains a close working relationship with the manufacturers, which enables them to provide quick, responsive, and transparent customer service while remaining on the forefront of the latest trends. Modern Lighting provides the most extensive selection of lighting styles in the Carolinas, with exclusive lines otherwise found only in Atlanta or New York. With more than fifty manufacturers carried, Branch thoughtfully chooses which ones she features in her selection and has eliminated all non-valuedriven lines, so customers can rest assured each product provides top-of-the-line quality. “Our physical footprint may be small, but our selection is vast,” Branch says. “We are constantly putting up new items and styles, and our customers are blown away by the opportunities to discover another favorite piece with each visit.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Dec 28, 2019
Home design gets personal with custom cabinetry.
Kitchens and bathrooms are two of the most utilized areas of the home. Long considered the “heart of the home,” the kitchen functions for meal prep, cooking, entertaining, family gathering, and completing homework. Today’s bathrooms meet more than just the basic needs; they can also be a sanctuary, where a long tub soak can restore peace and harmony. With the increasing demands on these spaces, the need for functional—as well as beautiful—design is a necessity. Custom cabinetry is the perfect solution, providing the ability to create designs that fit each unique space while maximizing storage capacity with personalized flair. Features such as layout and configuration, door style, color, and finish can be tailored to the homeowner’s specific tastes.
Anna Wilder, owner of DesignLoft, says customizations are only limited by space and budget. The company works with a variety of high-end manufacturers to accommodate every client’s needs at different price points and varying levels of customization. Color and finish are two of the most popular customization options offered to their clients. While each of their cabinet lines features multiple standard colors, custom color matching from any paint sample is available, and finishes come in matte, semigloss, high-gloss, or glazed. One cabinet line even offers a “velvet” finish with a unique texturized feel.
Securing an expert in the industry who can build on your vision with design experience and high-quality product lines is the most important step in making the space your own. “There are constantly new innovations in the kitchen and bath industry that our designers are always up to date on, as well as the latest trends in color and finish. Continuing education through the National Kitchen & Bath Association is just one way our designers stay informed. Although we focus on kitchens and baths, it is important to note that their knowledge also applies to other rooms where custom cabinetry is used, such as a bar area, laundry, mud, and family rooms,” Wilder says. “I equate it to going to a specialist rather than your general practitioner.” When considering custom cabinetry, the word “custom” literally means made-to-order for a particular client. Homeowners should do their homework, familiarizing themselves with product lines and understanding precisely what they’re getting for the money. “DesignLoft specializes in meeting our customers wherever they are in the process, whether they’re just getting started or are working with a set of plans. We strive always to create a space that gives the client everything they are looking for and functions to meet their family dynamics. Our goal is to truly provide a custom experience and product for our clients.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Dec 27, 2019
TWO DESIGNING WOMEN TRANSFORM A SHOWHOUSE INTO A FORT MILL SHOWSTOPPER.
Who doesn’t love when a chance meeting leads to an amazing creative collaboration? In this case, it was a festive street party less than two years ago at the Southern Living Home Summit in New Orleans that brought together Cary, North Carolina–based designer Vicky Serany, founder and principal of Southern Studio Interior Design, and custom home builder Mary Ludemann of New Old. “We immediately connected and spent the evening discussing building and design as we followed a band marching through the French Quarter,” Serany recalls with a smile. Fast forward to the fall of 2018, and the pair were in Fort Mill, South Carolina, along with Ludemann’s husband and business partner, Troy, visiting the site and reviewing plans for what would become The Bramble, Charlotte area’s first Southern Living Inspired Community, and the 4,200-square-foot Burnham show home. “Troy is a developer and had been wanting to do an intimate, high-end development for some time, he had just been waiting for the right location to come along,” Ludemann says. Both firms are known for their casually sophisticated, livable designs. Their goal in this home was to push the limits of design and showcase some new ideas while still creating realistic spaces. “Our buyers want right-sized rooms, not a bunch of cavernous spaces,” Ludemann says. “They want each room to be thoughtfully planned for the type of living that will go on in that space.” One look at the result and it’s clear that this team—with an assist from dozens of participating artisans and vendors—hit the sweet spot of what gracious living and entertaining in the South looks and feels like heading into the next decade: luxe functionality. While the ubiquitous modern farmhouse remains popular, it is quickly evolving and incorporating other architectural styles like craftsman and European. Buyers still request shiplap, but here it’s mixed with bold stone accent walls and modern geometric-print wallcoverings. There’s also less gray and more jewel tones—a trend Serany predicted last year. “We used a warm textural palette with the added drama of the emerald-green color in the main living areas. We saw a lot of emerald green during our visit to the furniture market in High Point and decided it was time to bring this fresh perspective to life,” Serany says. The key starting point was a fabric by Thibaut called Mitford—a lively combination of greens, black, and cream that was used for the window treatments and worked to bring nature indoors. Wallcoverings in smaller spaces like the pantry, laundry, and powder room complement this bold pattern. A pair of swoon-worthy emerald-green velvet sofas by Lee Industries anchor the living room, while a soaring stone wall crafted of thin-cut Tennessee Fieldstone by General Shale serves as the perfect backdrop for a conversation around the fireplace. An open floor plan means all eyes can focus on the dramatic kitchen and its eight-foot-wide custom matte, black metal hood with bronze strapping. Serany’s Southern Studio team designed the range wall, and New Old enlisted Modern Aire Ventilating to fabricate it. “It took eight men to lift and install the hood, and let’s just say it was nail-biting to watch,” Serany admits. The black and antique brass finishes extend to the lighting, fixtures, and hardware. The island, combining custom cabinetry by Walker Woodworking and a waterfall countertop of hand-cut honed Bianco Avion marble, provides plenty of prep space and comfortable seating. Black cowhide counter stools bring in rich texture. Two oversized Hollis Lanterns by Hudson Valley Lighting tie the space together, while a backsplash of white arabesque-patterned tile adds shine and pattern.
Just off the kitchen is every well-appointed home’s best-kept secret: a scullery. A British staple made famous by shows like Downton Abbey, this workhorse is making a twenty-first-century comeback. Large windows and light countertops by Silestone keep it bright, while the cozy feel comes from the stone-toceiling backsplash, graphite-toned cabinetry, and black and white porcelain flooring by Tile Collection. A twenty-four-inch under-counter beverage center by Sub-Zero frees up space in the main kitchen, and a thirty-inch Whitehaven Farmhouse sink by Kohler handles any party cleanup and other behind-the-scenes tasks. Custom shelving in the walk-in pantry, designed by IMPACT Design Resources and stocked by Williams Sonoma, surprises with hanging storage space for kitchen linens, while the laundry room incorporates a built-in dog bed underneath a handy desk that doubles as a folding station. In the master bath, more beautiful details abound, seamlessly blending old and new. A shapely, freestanding soaking tub gets a vintage vibe when paired with a floormount tub filler in champagne bronze. A combination of shiplap and gleaming white tile on the walls and shower extends to the ceiling and provides interest and texture without a lot of color. The charcoal-hued porcelain tile flooring offers a rich contrast. Serany found the wooden chair, which doubles as a towel holder, during a recent shopping trip to the Brimfield, Massachusetts Antique Flea Market. An upstairs guest bath stuns with its sleek pharmacy-style black vanity by Restoration Hardware and a striking abstract wallcovering called Metal Stars by abstract artist Windy O’Connor. Her original pattern continues into the bedroom on textiles for pillows and window treatments. It’s details like these that are meant to inspire, yet still be accessible—things people can take away and incorporate into their own homes. “This home is a style that begs for you to take your shoes off, come in, and enjoy. I think people really like the juxtaposition of the space,” Ludemann says. “Kind of like the oxymoron of New Old—it’s the balance achieved in the differences.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Dec 26, 2019
DESIGNER EMILY BOURGEOIS LOOKED TO THE LOWCOUNTRY LANDSCAPE FOR INSPIRATION BEHIND A SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH HOME.
When Emily Bourgeois was approached by her good friends to design their home in DeBordieu, South Carolina—a sleepy, private community just south of Pawleys Island—she was elated. The soonto-be clients were the architectural designer’s dear friends, and this was their first foray into building a home from the ground up. “I was flattered that they had chosen me to design their new home,” she says. The lot the couple had chosen was breathtaking. So much so that the moment the couple saw the piece of land, they bought it the same day. “We just knew this was where we needed to build our beach home,” the homeowner says. The lot overlooks a golf course with a large pond in the forefront. Towering oak trees strewn with lazy Spanish moss provide shade from the powerful Carolina sun. But it was the view of the grassy fairway coupled with the glassy pond that both the homeowners and Bourgeois knew had to be the focal point of the home. “The water, sun, sky, trees, everything about nature and being down there inspired the design of this home,” the homeowner says. “The inside wasn’t the story. The house had to lend itself to being where you saw the beauty of nature. That’s what guided the design.” With that in mind, Bourgeois set to work designing a home that allowed for views from just about every inch of the home. Though the couple wanted something a touch more modern, Bourgeois looked to traditional Palladian architecture, which features symmetry and graceful, understated decorative details. “They both appreciate the beauty of classicism, while truly loving the clean lines of modern architecture,” she explains. “We wanted the house to reference both. We used four main elements to tie the house to the past: a strong base and water table made of tabby, an exaggerated main floor with oversized windows, a minimized top floor with clipped walls and short windows high on the wall, and a floor plan driven by axis. The house even has a point inside where you can see outside on axis in all four directions.” The homeowners were laissez-faire about the process, letting Bourgeois take the lead on the architecture to design a home that took advantage of every possible view the structure would allow. “Once we had this in place, the owners were free to play with minimalism and modernism in furnishings and palette,” Bourgeois says. “The homeowner is a master at this and has an incredible eye for interiors. She is not afraid to be a little edgy but she always uses shapes familiar throughout history. She is never trendy or gimmicky. With that tether, her rooms are always mysteriously soothing and inviting.” “I really wanted the home to be one where you don’t walk in and say, ‘Oh, I love your sofa!’ but rather, ‘Oh my gosh, your view is amazing,” the homeowner says. “I really let Emily’s architectural details inspire the rest of the interiors. They’re so beautiful that I didn’t want to overpower them.” Swooping lines frame various areas, such as the range in the kitchen, so as to blend seamlessly with the adjacent living room. A hidden scullery hides the everyday appliances so the kitchen feels less utilitarian and more like an extension of the living room. At the top of the stairs, there are views in every direction, including down the hallway to the master bedroom where Bourgeois added a nail-head trim door to draw your eye through to the vista beyond. Letting the views dictate the design, or, at the very least, inspire it, allowed Bourgeois to utilize Palladian architecture’s signature design elements to enhance the experience one has throughout the home. “It was really about letting nature play center stage from the very beginning,” Bourgeois says. The homeowner adds, “The moment you walk in, you’re drawn right to the outside. It’s really breathtaking.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Dec 25, 2019
They were used to decorating new builds, but refurbishing an old stone barn was a true challenge for Helen and Rob Harry
WWhat made them buy their home is an easy question for Helen and Rob Harry to answer. ‘The views, its character and, in particular, the exposed stone, wooden beams and numerous charming features,’ says Helen. ‘Also, the location on the Welsh coast makes for the perfect family home, being near the seaside and countryside but also easily accessible to the motorway for Rob’s work.’ The couple were already living in the area in a modern house. ‘But as our family started to grow and Rob’s career took off, we decided we wanted more space and for the kids to grow up in a rural setting,’ says Helen. ‘I’d always really wanted to do up an older property, especially after having previously refurbished two new builds, so when Rob spotted the barn for sale, we viewed it and, to be honest, the moment we saw it we imagined enjoying cosy nights in with the children and years of memory making. Plus, on a practical level, it allowed us to remain close to our family, friends and good schools.’ Although originally converted in 1999, there was, as is often the case, more to do to the place than the couple anticipated, so although it was not their original intention, they ended up completely renovating the barn from top to bottom. This included replastering, adding new plumbing and electrics, replacing the bathrooms, relocating the staircase and totally refitting the kitchen and utility room. ‘But we took the long-term view that if something needed fixing, we’d rather tackle it now and know we’d done it well. Then when it was finished, we could sit back and enjoy the home we’d created together without worrying about future problems cropping up.’ The couple were heavily involved in the renovation; when the building work began Helen was on site every day and Rob was always on the end of the phone. ‘We employed an experienced family-run building company that we had used before,’ says Helen. ‘Our builder project-managed the co-ordination of all the tradespeople, but the structural changes, design and interior styling were very much a team effort led by Rob and me. Rob has a great eye for detail and knows exactly what he wants when it comes to creating a space that works for us, and my role is choosing the colours, textures, fixtures, fittings and furniture, and pulling the whole scheme together once all the dust has settled. We make a good team. ‘We started by knocking a bedroom and old bathroom into a luxurious open-plan main suite for ourselves, complete with freestanding bath. The kitchen followed shortly afterwards as I knew exactly how I wanted to modernise that space as soon as I saw it. Both our bedroom and the kitchen are linked by a huge glass wall so the decor in both had to complement each other.’ However, outside wasn’t as simple. The property is a Grade II-listed building, so even getting an additional kitchen window meant negotiating for months to secure planning permission. ‘We contacted a highly experienced local stonemason, who we knew understood these buildings and he did an outstanding job of blending in the new window to look as if it had always been there,’ says Helen. The family lived in the barn during most of the work, apart from three weeks when the majority of the place was gutted and the ‘Beast from the East’ decided to make an appearance. Helen admits, ‘I’d be lying if I didn’t say the early days of the build were stressful and long, especially living on site with a young family. But with a great building team and my pragmatist husband by my side, I just kept thinking about the end game and why we started the journey in the first place and it was that attitude that got us through.’ The work took about a year from start to finish. ‘A house this age and size rarely comes without its foibles,’ says Helen. ‘So we genuinely feel we’ve earned our stripes on this one. But the barn deserved to be a beauty again and I believe that’s what we’ve made it.’