A PERFECT MATCH

Maggie Griffin creates a colorful, cozy house that hits a sweet spot for both designer and client.

By LYDIA SOMERVILLE Photography by BRIAN BIEDER

It’s no secret that Instagram is an endless mine of design resources. In the case of a South Carolina homeowner, it was the tool that allowed her to connect with Maggie Griffin, whose work she had long admired. Her request was for help with the interiors of her newly purchased house. What followed was the proverbial match made in heaven as Maggie discovered she and the homeowner shared a similar design aesthetic and a love of color.

When Maggie first laid eyes on her client’s recently renovated 1940s cottage in Greenville, she was swept away by the charming structure. “I was so tickled with what the previous owners had done with the renovations,” she says. “They preserved the architectural integrity of the old cottage while updating its functionality for modern living.” The designer was also impressed by the purchases her client had already made. “She has such a great eye for decorating, but she didn’t have time for the scope of this project on her own.” A busy physician, the homeowner

PREVIOUS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT: A chinoiserie wallpaper by Brunschwig & Fils greets visitors to the cottage. • Arrangements of ranunculus, roses, and hydrangeas form a lush centerpiece on the dining room table. Maggie layered colorful china by Ginori on creamware from Scott Antique Markets. THESE PAGES, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Maggie brought bold color to the kitchen by painting the cabinets Knoxville Gray by Benjamin Moore. An orchid grounded with greenery creates a focal point on the island, while a smaller display of anemones on the counter behind brings a fun pop of purple to the room. • For the screened porch, Maggie gave the client’s existing outdoor furniture a fresh look with colorful pillows and garden stools. • Walls covered in grass cloth by Thibaut lend a cocooned feeling to the intimate seating area in the parlor. • In the mudroom, Maggie hung a Thibaut wallpaper in a geometric print to bring interest to an otherwise utilitarian space.