

Your Summer Spa-cation Awaits
Let Woodhouse be your getaway for radiant skin and true renewal, all summer long.





















Trust

• Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery is a collaborative partnership between Dr. Andrea Garcia and Dr. Josh Surowitz. At Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery, we apply a team-oriented, two-surgeon approach to all aspects of your care—at the time of consultation, during surgical planning, and in the operating room.
• This cutting-edge model is a first in the greater Charlotte area and one of only a handful in the country. With a surgical focus on facelift, necklift, eyelid lift, brow lift, rhinoplasty, skin cancer reconstruction, hair restoration, and laser resurfacing, Drs. Garcia and Surowitz deliver beautiful and natural results individually tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Call or email today to schedule your consultation.
• In addition to surgical treatment options, we offer a wide range of injectable fillers, Botox, Dysport, a full complement of skin care products, and lasers.
• Our skilled injectors Morgan Nelson, NP & Cassie Smith, RN approach the art and science of injectables with a personalized touch to give natural results.
• Skin care, the foundation of a youthful face, is provided by Allie Harris, our licensed medical esthetician.

Explore with Wonder
Whether you’re lounging poolside, soaking up the sun at the beach, camping in the mountains, or exploring the charm of a European getaway, we hope this issue is the perfect companion along the way.
Summer is a time of shifting rhythms. School is out, routines change and days often take on a more spontaneous pace. It’s a season filled with opportunity: to explore, to relax and to reconnect with the people and places we love most.

For our family, summer means returning to one of our happy places: Avalon, New Jersey. Nestled along the coast, it’s a cool and breezy break from the Southern heat and a landscape that never fails to inspire. Avalon is also where I first discovered my love of birdwatching. From our family beach home, we can spot majestic great herons, ospreys, egrets, red-winged blackbirds, oystercatchers, and more. It’s a quiet thrill to watch these creatures in their natural habitat, a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us when we take time to notice.
We hope this issue inspires you to savor the best of the season—whether through travel, creativity, or simply slowing down to enjoy the long, golden days.
Thank you for taking us along on your summer adventures.

LIZ BROWN, PUBLISHER
July 2025
PUBLISHER
Liz Brown | liz.brown@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Carroll Walton | carroll.walton@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Matias Arredondo | matias.arredondo@citylifestyle.com
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Gillian Horn
PHOTO EDITOR
Seth Patrick
INTERN
Carolyn Payne
MARKET AREA COORDINATOR
Summer Mendoza
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Liz Brown, Carroll Walton
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Amanda Anderson, Dustin Peck
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall
LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle


Sara Yorke


inside the issue




Summer Remembered
Local
Summer Camp Roundup Plan


Whether reconfiguring existing spaces, adding new rooms, or changing floor plans, our design and build process elevates your remodeling experience while transforming your house into a place you lovingly call home.







ARTICLE BY LIZ BROWN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA ANDERSON

SUMMER REMEMBERED

LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS REFLECT ON SUMMER MEMORIES AND PASTIMES
“Before we moved to Charlotte, we lived in Wilmington and spent the summers on the water... long days with friends on the beach and on the boat.”
Charlotte Lucas Owner of Charlotte Lucas Design and Co-Owner of House of Harris

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN CHARLOTTE? WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
My parents were born and raised here. We moved to Charlotte in 1999, my sophomore year at Myers Park High School.
WHAT ARE SOME FAVORITE SUMMER MEMORIES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Before we moved to Charlotte, we lived in Wilmington and spent the summers on the water... long days with friends on the beach and on the boat.
WHAT’S ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE FAMILY TRIPS AND WHY?
We spent a lot of time in the British Virgin Islands. My favorite memories were simple, being able to slow down and enjoy spending quality time with my parents and sisters.
DID YOUR FAMILY GO TO THE BEACH EVERY SUMMER?
We grew up going to Bald Head Island, and I still take my kids there every summer. Even though a lot has changed, the island maintains its simplistic charm. Every time that ferry leaves the dock for BHI, the weight of the world leaves me, too.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN CHARLOTTE IN THE SUMMERTIME?
My new favorite thing to do is to just enjoy being at home. I renovated my house last year and added a pool, which has been a big hit with the kids! Summer days are filled with a full house of kids hanging by the pool.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU SEE/ SMELL NOW THAT YOU ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH PAST SUMMERS?
Fresh-cut grass always reminds me of summer camp in N.C.
FAVORITE SUMMER MEAL/DRINK.
Anything with fresh summer tomatoes. I love making tomato pie.
FAVORITE BEACH READ.
I just finished Verity by Colleen Hoover Next up: When the Going was Good by Graydon Carter.
Liz Hilliard
“Honestly, I prefer to travel. But when I’m here, I’m working or taking a week at Pawleys.”
Fitness Expert and Owner of Hilliard Studio Method

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN CHARLOTTE? WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I’ve been in Charlotte for 48 years. That is wild to say. I grew up right up the road in Concord.
WHAT ARE SOME FAVORITE SUMMER MEMORIES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Playing football and basketball with my brother and his friends in my yard.
WHAT WAS ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE FAMILY TRIPS AND WHY?
Going to the World’s Fair in 1965 in New York City. My brother and I tended to be rascals, and I snuck away into an open door that ended up being a burlesque show. My Baptist parents were mortified. I also remember the “Future World” exhibit, where cars were flying and robots were serving dinner. We’re getting closer!
DID YOUR FAMILY GO TO THE BEACH EVERY SUMMER?
Yes. Pawleys Island was and still is our go-to.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN CHARLOTTE IN THE SUMMERTIME?
Honestly, I prefer to travel. But when I’m here, I’m working or taking a week at Pawleys.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU SEE/ SMELL NOW THAT YOU ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH PAST SUMMERS?
Honeysuckle.
FAVORITE SUMMER MEAL/DRINK.
Sweet iced tea, field peas, fresh squash, and strawberries.
FAVORITE BEACH READ.
The last beach read was Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN CHARLOTTE? WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I’ve lived here a total of 31 years over two stints; I was born and raised in Charlotte, left for undergrad and a few years of work and moved back in 2012.
“We started going to Bald Head Island when I was in elementary school. It’s my favorite place on earth.”
Adam Rhew
President and CEO of SouthPark Community
Partners
WHAT ARE SOME FAVORITE SUMMER MEMORIES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Lounging on the grass—first on the “front lawn” of SouthPark Mall, and later at Symphony Park—listening to the Summer Pops series with my family.
WHAT WAS ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE FAMILY TRIPS AND WHY?
I have so many memories from Bald Head Island, and it’s been such a joy to take my wife and kids there and experience the island with them.
DID YOUR FAMILY GO TO THE BEACH EVERY SUMMER?
We started going to Bald Head Island when I was in elementary school. It’s my favorite place on earth. The ferry ride from the mainland and the lack of cars on the island immediately put me at ease.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN THE SUMMERTIME IN CHARLOTTE?
Eating family dinners outside on our back patio.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU SEE/SMELL NOW THAT YOU ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH PAST SUMMERS?
As a lifelong swimmer, summertime and chlorine will always go together.
FAVORITE SUMMER MEAL/DRINK.
Fried shrimp and a cold beer.
FAVORITE BEACH READ.
I love to unwind with a spy thriller.
“My parents took us to India every summer until I was 16. We not only learned a new culture, but we learned our heritage...” Nesha Pai
Founder of Pai CPA, Keynote Speaker and Author

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN CHARLOTTE? WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I have lived in Charlotte since I graduated from N.C. State in 1993. I was born in East Tennessee and then moved to Raleigh when I was 13.
WHAT ARE SOME FAVORITE SUMMER MEMORIES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD?
My parents took us to India every summer until I was 16. We not only learned a new culture, but we learned our heritage, met with our extended family, and saw that the world was far bigger than our little corner of the Southeast in America.
WHAT WAS ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE FAMILY TRIPS AND WHY?
I begged my dad to trek to see the Taj Mahal. It was not easy to travel within the country in the 80s, but my parents made it happen. We stayed in the Agra Taj, a five-star hotel, my first luxury hotel.
DID YOUR FAMILY GO TO THE BEACH EVERY SUMMER?
No, but we did take beach trips to Myrtle Beach, Kiawah, and Hilton Head. My parents were not beach people, but they wanted to give us beach experiences so we took several trips during my childhood.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN CHARLOTTE IN THE SUMMERTIME?
For the past three years, I have taken a sabbatical to Paris in the spring. In the summer, I like to rest and relax in town and regroup before the fall.
FAVORITE SUMMER MEAL/DRINK.
Piña Coladas or limoncello spritzers and anything on the grill!
FAVORITE BEACH READ.
Books about Americans living their dream in Paris.
Photo by Amy Kehrig. Photo courtesy of Nesha Pai.
Sam Diminich
“We would spend days on the beach and nights in the restaurants, sunburned, bussing tables, washing dishes and cooking.”
Executive Chef and Owner of Your Farms Your Table and Restaurant Constance

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN CHARLOTTE? WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I landed here in the fall of 2004. I grew up in Myrtle Beach in a large restaurant family. I’m the middle child of five (with four sisters) and grew up playing sports, especially surfing and skateboarding.
WHAT ARE SOME FAVORITE SUMMER MEMORIES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Myrtle Beach came alive in the summertime. Back then, it was still a family-focused small beach town where everyone knew everyone. We would spend days on the beach and nights in the restaurants, sunburned, bussing tables, washing dishes and cooking.
WHAT’S ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE FAMILY TRIPS AND WHY?
My family had lots of mouths to feed, so vacations were rare, but when we did, it was a trip to Disney or the mountains for a getaway.
WHAT WERE SUMMERS LIKE GROWING UP AT THE BEACH?
If we weren’t surfing, we were crashing a hotel pool and making ourselves at home. Ha!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN CHARLOTTE IN THE SUMMERTIME?
We love to cook, create, and celebrate the incredible farmers who grow our vegetables and seasonal ingredients at Restaurant Constance. It’s a great way to make connections and something I really look forward to.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU SEE/ SMELL NOW THAT YOU ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH PAST SUMMERS?
My fiancée’s garden. It is always flourishing and grounds me on a daily basis.
FAVORITE SUMMER MEAL/DRINK.
A great melon, an incredible ham, and non-alcoholic Riesling.
FAVORITE BEACH READ. On the Road by Jack Kerouac.


Heal Joint Pain Without Surgery




SWISS FAMILY LEGACY
Andreas Bechtler with family. (Left to right) Tanja Bechtler, Viviane Bechtler-Smith, Natascha Bechtler, Andreas Bechtler, and Fiona Bechtler-Levin. Courtesy of the Bechtler Family.

The distorted face of the four-foot “Grasshopper Woman” can alarm a child, but its outstretched hands and knobby arms made it “fun to climb on,” Bechtler recalls.
Her grandparents, Hans and Bessie Bechtler, raised their family and grew their businesses with the foundational idea that art should be shared and enjoyed.
Their love of the arts and music was passed down by Hans’ mother Anna, a painter. They started collecting art after Hans and his brother Walter developed air compressor technology used in military equipment, heating and air conditioning, and textile production.
Their first significant purchase was one of the “Bather” series by French impressionist Edgar Degas. In the 1950s, they started collecting contemporary work of artists they met and socialized with from an artists’ colony near the Bechtler’s country home in southern Switzerland.
Pieces from their favorite artists and friends adorned the walls of both their businesses and homes.
“The idea is that [everybody] should also be able to enjoy visual arts, even while at work,” Tanja Bechtler says.
At their Zurich home, “There was art everywhere,” she says.
The Bechtler family during opening day of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. (Left to right) Natascha Bechtler, Fiona Bechtler-Levin, Tanja Bechtler, Andreas Bechtler, Dany Bechtler Bucher, Viviane Bechtler-Smith. Courtesy of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. © Nancy Pierce Photography.
THEIR FIRST SIGNIFICANT PURCHASE WAS ONE OF THE “BATHER” SERIES BY FRENCH IMPRESSIONIST EDGAR DEGAS.
Framed paintings lined the stairs. Family photos were propped up in front of a wooden sculpture. The coffee table was a work of art, as was the rug. Bessie used to play the piano with a Günter Haese wire sculpture on it, and the springs would vibrate to the music. Tanja remembers her grandfather flipping through oversized books containing paintings.
Andy Warhol painted portraits of the Bechtler family that hung over the living room couch. Tanja, who was 6, remembers squirming as Warhol’s assistant took Polaroids of them.
She swam in their basement pool next to a statue she thought of as a “green blob.”

“I never saw the actual person in this,” she says.
Bechtler is referring to “Vive Moi” or “Long Live Me” by French-American sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle, which is on display at the Bechtler Museum.
In 1979, her father, Andreas, moved their family to Charlotte to run the family-owned Pneumafil Corporation and to explore his own interests as an artist. He fell in love with banana pudding and the lifestyle.
“I think he felt the urge to come to America because this country gives people a lot of freedom to create,” Bechtler says.
In the late 1980s, he helped develop the Carillon building on Trade Street.

In its lobby hangs “Cascade,” a kinetic sculpture Andreas commissioned Swiss sculptor and family friend Jean Tinguely to create.
When his parents died in the late 1990s, Andreas inherited half of their art collection. He donated it for the creation of a new museum in uptown Charlotte dedicated to modern art. The Bechtler Museum opened in 2010 as the only one of its kind in the South.
The Bechtler is recognizable by the iconic 17-foot firebird statue out front, covered in mirrored glass pieces for a whimsical appeal. It’s the green piece inside by the same artist, Niki de Saint Phalle, that still captures Tanja’s attention.
Now, at 57, she can appreciate the exaggerated curves of a female form and an artist who overcame mental health struggles to express a woman’s lively spirit.
Tanja, who played cello for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra for 12 years, now performs with her own Bechtler Ensemble in a concert series at The Bechtler. Every year she commissions new music from composers from around the world to complement the art exhibitions. She dedicates her concerts to HORA®️Trance Sport, a global youth training movement which promotes emotional resilience. It’s just another way her family makes art accessible.
“To see other people enjoying art,” Bechtler said. “To me, that’s a joy.”
CONTINUED >
Zürich home of Hans and Bessie Bechtler.
Photo by Mitchell Kearney.
Bessie and Hans Bechtler’s living room, Sonnenbergstrasse, Zürich, Switzerland, 1982.
Photo: Charly Keller.

The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art celebrated its 15th anniversary in January. Executive director Todd Smith offers insights into the latest programming and points of emphasis.
FIFTEEN YEARS IN, WHAT’S NEW AT THE MUSEUM?
The first decade was about showcasing the collection and making sure residents and visitors to Charlotte knew the strength of the collection. Since my arrival (in 2020), we’ve been expanding that to showcase not just the collection, but exhibitions from around the world that either pay tribute to the modern artists in the collection or have a connection to those artists, and to expand the idea of what modern art is.
SO IT’S ADDING TO WHAT THE BECHTLERS STARTED?
No private collection can be truly comprehensive, so we try to augment that so our visitors and our supporters understand that modernism existed in Europe from 1900 to 1970, but also around the world during that same period. While the Bechtlers collected primarily European artists, modernism itself was an international movement, so we try to fill in some of those holes with our exhibitions and more importantly, showcase living artists who today work in some of the same traditions of modern art.
WHAT ROLE DOES FOUNDER ANDREAS BECHTLER PLAY, IF
ANY,
IN DAY-TO-DAY HAPPENINGS?
From the beginning, he’s not been hands-on, but since the pandemic, he has stepped away even more. We see him on occasion. It’s always great to see him. Normally, he’ll sneak in and see a show without telling us, so he can get his own opinion of it. He’s an artist himself, so he brings a whole different perspective to looking at the art. Oftentimes, if we catch him in the gallery, we’ll go ask him questions about the work on view because he’s got great stories to tell about either how his parents collected it or growing up around the work. Learn more at Bechtler.org
/

HOW IS THE MUSEUM CONTINUING THE BECHTLERS’ TRADITION OF MAKING ART ACCESSIBLE?
We’ve launched initiatives around pre-K education, health and wellness and the relationship to the arts. We did programs with early-onset dementia, low to no vision. After Covid, we spent six months strategizing and kept going back to loneliness as a significant concern for the public, whether it’s youth, middle age, or senior citizens. We’re launching a program with our first cohorts of people referred by behavioral health specialists at Novant. Our hope is after the first year, we can develop programs we can take out into the community.
Niki de Saint Phalle, “Vive moi,” 1968, 55 x 58 x 21 1/8 in, Sculpture. © 2025 Niki Charitable Art Foundation. All Rights Reserved
ARS, NY / ADAGP, Paris. Collection of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 2003.0031
Museum Interior. Courtesy of Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.

A. House ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY



MERRI-MAC - OVERNIGHT CAMP FOR GIRLS
Location: Black Mountain, N.C.
Ages: Rising 1st grade - Rising 11th grade
Registration: Opens in June for 2026
For more than 75 years, girls have been returning to MerriMac for summers of fun and growth. Located high up in the N.C. mountains, Merri-Mac is a Christian summer camp for girls. Merri-Mac believes the happiest environment is one in which the love of God is demonstrated by the staff and felt by all. Girls grow through friends and adventure. For more information, visit Merri-Mac.com .

CAMP MERRIE-WOODEOVERNIGHT CAMP FOR GIRLS
Location: Sapphire, N.C.
Ages: 7 - 17
Registration: Opens August 9 for 2026
Camp Merrie-Woode is an all-girls traditional wilderness summer camp devoted to nurturing the physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth of girls and young women in a beautiful, natural setting. Our programming focuses on self-discovery, offering an array of outdoor adventure activities, such as boating, rock climbing, backpacking, and horseback riding, as well as visual and performing arts, sports, and nature activities, in a non-competitive setting. For more information, visit Merriewoode.com

CAMP ROCKMONTOVERNIGHT CAMP FOR BOYS
Location: Black Mountain, N.C.
Ages: 7 - 17
Registration: Opens in late August for 2026
Camp Rockmont is a Christian summer camp for boys that focuses on growth in self-confidence, independence, leadership ability and Christian character. Rockmont has Age-Progressive Programming; as campers grow, so does their camp experience.
“McCallie Sports Camp has become one of the most popular and successful camps of its type in the Southeast”
MCCALLIE SPORTS CAMPOVERNIGHT CAMP FOR BOYS
Location: Chattanooga, Tenn.
Ages: 9 - 14
Registration: TBA
An action-oriented boarding camp for boys. McCallie Sports Camp has become one of the most popular and successful camps of its type in the Southeast. A variety of athletic activities are combined with trips and other fun events. Emphasis is on fun, sportsmanship and participation. Whether playing his favorite sport or learning a new one, each camper leaves with a feeling of satisfaction, independence and achievement—and has fun! For more information, visit McCallieSummerCamps.com
Photo courtesy of Merrie-Woode
Photo courtesy of Merri-Mac
Photo courtesy of Rockmont

YMCA CAMP SEA GULL FOR BOYS AND CAMP SEAFARER FOR GIRLSOVERNIGHT CAMP
Location: Arapahoe, N.C. Ages: 6 - 16
Registration : Opens November 6 for all 2026 programs. New families are encouraged to register right away.
YMCA Camp Sea Gull for boys and Camp Seafarer for girls are overnight camps on the coast of North Carolina that have empowered youth and families for more than 75 years. Through skill-building activities like sailing,
Photo courtesy of YMCA Camp Sea Gull for boys and Camp Seafarer for girls

power boating, and other traditional camp offerings, and by living in cabin communities, campers develop independence, resilience and lifelong friendships. Serving families from across the country and around the world, Sea Gull and Seafarer’s one, two, and four-week sessions focus on character development, trying new things, and goal-setting, all in a technology-free, waterfront setting along the Neuse River. For more information, visit SeaGull-Seafarer.org
Photo courtesy of YMCA Camp Sea Gull for boys and Camp Seafarer for girls

CHEF ALYSSA’S COOKING CAMPS - DAY CAMP
Location: Lower South End, Charlotte
Ages: Culinary Camps for ages 7 - 12; 12 - 18. Teen Baking Camps for ages 11 - 18.
Registration: Opens mid to late January for 2026 camps
Back for the 12th year in 2026, Chef Alyssa summer camps for culinary and baking are held within their professional cooking facility. Cooking classes use local and fresh ingredients from neighboring farms and artisans. Chef Alyssa wants to teach the young chefs fantastic dishes! All recipes are designed by Alyssa and led by their chef instructor team of full-time team members with culinary and/or baking backgrounds. For more information, visit ChefAlyssasKitchen.com/classes/kids-teens/.

NATIONAL WHITEWATER CENTER - DAY CAMP
Location: U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte
Ages: 4 - 17
Registration: Still accepting for 2025 summer camps. Opens in November for 2026 summer camps. Whitewater camps inspire kids to get outside, push their boundaries and discover the natural world around them through multi-sport and instructional programs. Week-long summer camps run from June through August. Current summer camp programming includes Early Discoveries, Tiny Trekkers, Adventure Camp, STEAM Camp, Survival Camp, Rock, Ride and Paddle Camp, and Whitewater Kayak Camp (Introduction, Intermediate and Advanced). For more information, visit WhiteWater.org/whitewater-camps/summer-camps/

MY FARM CAMPS - DAY CAMP
Location: Pineville, N.C.
Ages: 5 - 14
Registration: Opens January 4, 2026 at MyFarmCamps.com
My Farm Camps offers Christ-centered adventures for children and families through horseback riding, mini-farm camps, summer experiences, assisted animal therapy, animal care and homesteading education.
“Get away, explore all Lake Wylie has to offer and experience the magic of the outdoors.”
YMCA CAMP THUNDERBIRDDAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMP FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
Location: Lake Wylie, S.C.
Ages: 6 - 16
Registration: TBA
Located on 1.7 miles of pristine Lake Wylie shoreline in South Carolina, YMCA Camp Thunderbird’s day camp for boys and girls provides an ideal backdrop for discovering new things, creating new friendships and memories. A 100-acre facility boasts a high ropes course, zip line, alpine tower, two swimming pools and over 20 Sunfish sailboats. Adventures on both land and water, traditional overnight camp includes activities like wakeboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding, challenge courses, and horseback riding. Overnight sessions are open to campers ages 7-16 years old.
Photo by Melissa Key Photography
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FOR BOUTIQUE LOVERS
J.K. Place Roma
J.K. Place Roma is best for sophisticated travelers who don’t want a big fuss but still want that five-star experience. It’s in a 17th-century building where the school of architecture used to be and its aesthetic is mid-century modern meets traditional Roman design. It’s small, 26 or 27 rooms. It’s simple but with a lot of elegant pieces and lovely artwork.
There’s always someone greeting you as you come in. They’re friendly and inviting. It almost feels like you’re going to a close friend’s really nice home in Rome.
They’re known for their café and bar, a great place to go for drinks before going out to dinner.
General Manager Maria Strati’s favorite features: The lobby’s glass ceiling permitting natural light to come in and the refined traditional cuisine of new chef, Mr. Blasco Vannucchi.



THE CLASSIC CHOICE
Hotel Eden
The Hotel Eden is a combination of J.K. Place Roma and Bvlgari. It’s traditional and classic. It’s under 100 rooms but doesn’t feel big. It’s luxurious but not intimidating. You can easily take children there.
It’s modern sophistication meets Roman classic design. It’s in a prestigious, glamorous neighborhood. The sunsets from Eden are extraordinary. Most of the rooms have a view, but you want to get a room on a higher floor, so you can see the sunsets.
The spa is beautiful. It has Roman-style marble soaking baths, with hot, cold, mineral and other treatments. There’s a Michelinstar restaurant on site and a more casual restaurant as well.
General Manager Mirko Cattini’s favorite features: “Hotel Eden prides itself on its rich heritage. Art is an integral part of that. We’ve done exclusive collaborations with contemporary artists, and we partner with some of the most important museums in the city.”
Master room at J.K. Place Roma.
Photo by Christos Drazos.
Hotel Eden Il Giardino Ristorante open air terrace. Photo courtesy of Hotel Eden.
Hotel Eden presidential suite bedroom. Photo courtesy of Hotel Eden.
VILLAGE life

“We wouldn’t have been happy in a place that didn’t have the atmosphere, amenities, furnishings and artwork that e Village on Morehead has. And, we can have the dog with us. He’s very comfortable here!”
Residents of e Village on Morehead


DEFINING RETIREMENT LIVING IN CHARLOTTE
Surrounded by the heritage neighborhoods of Eastover, Myers Park and Dilworth – its designer nishes, social events, dining and resort-style amenities make it a premier Charlotte address.
ONE – TO THREE BEDROOM RESIDENCES STARTING AT $5,850
MOVE-IN TODAY. LIMITED INVENTORY REMAINING.
ON SITE CARE AND WELLNESS SERVICES
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ABUNDANT LIFESTYLE AND SOCIAL PROGRAMMING











Artist Veronica Davila was a seventh grader living in Sweden when her father, a pulp and paper engineer, decided to move the family to America for a year. To a small town in Idaho, no less.
It was either going to be a disaster or an adventure. The latter is what comes through in Davila’s “Echoes” series, which was on display this spring at Anne Neilson Fine Art in SouthPark.
Davila, a mother of a graduating high schooler who makes her home in Matthews now, is a contemporary watercolorist known for her realism. In this series, she romanticizes the beauty in everyday life, particularly the sun-shining days of summer.
“We didn’t know if we were going to come back home or not, so we made the best of it,” Davila says. “We went to tractor pulls and rodeos, everything we could think of—a lot of road trips.”
She had been learning English in school. Her 9-year-old brother was not quite as lucky. But they survived and thrived, and after their family transferred to Toronto a year later, they eventually settled in Charlotte, visiting the day Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989.
Davila learned how to paint from her Swedish grandfather, who didn’t mind letting her get messy as a child, inviting her to paint with him in his basement studio.
She painted “Lost in Translation” from a series of slides, many of which her grandfather took while visiting them in Idaho. Her nostalgia shines through in the three-dimensional watercolor called “96 in the Shade.”

“The rental house we were in came with a pool,” she says. “As a seventh grader, that was the most amazing thing. I’m in the pink suit. The gal on the diving board is Randy, one of the first girls I met. She had a fantastic perm, so I went to J.C. Penny and also got a fantastic perm.”
The scene reminds her of the smell of chlorine, the rough touch of a cement pool and the intense sunshine of “every single day.”
In the work “Hell’s Canyon,” Davila captures the fun of swimming on the Snake River in what felt like the middle of nowhere. Painting the landscape, particularly the water, was one of her greatest challenges in the series, she says.
“I knew the water was going to be so hard,” Davila says. “I just had to prepare myself to break it down in sections, not look at the whole thing.”
In the painting “Coca Cola Roundup,” she captured her appreciation for all the “Americana” she took in at rodeos, cattle shows and local parades.
“It was so over the top, coming from where we came from,” she says. “That was the lifestyle we had seen on Dallas, Falcon Crest and other TV shows.”
CONTINUED >

Hell’s Canyon, 2024 watercolor on archival paper 44 x 29.50 in.
Near Cle Elum Washington State, 2025 watercolor on archival paper 32 x 22 in.





Left Field, 2025 watercolor on archival paper 32 x 21 in.
The Lesson, 2024 watercolor on archival paper 13 x 16 in.
Boat on Snake River, 2025 watercolor on archival paper 26.50 x 25 in.




ARTICLE BY CARROLL WALTON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
DUSTIN PECK
STYLED BY KENDRA SURFACE
MODERN EDIT
Designer Susan Hill’s eye for structure refines every architectural detail

When Sari and Matt Kaplan came to designer Susan Hill, they wanted help making their 80s traditional home off Providence Road both contemporary and family-friendly.
“We are multigenerational south Floridians who recently relocated to Charlotte,” Sari says. “We wanted our home to reflect the excitement of our new city while still paying homage to our deep roots in Miami. It was also important to us that the color scheme and esthetics flow between spaces to create a sense of connectivity given our home’s open floor plan.”
To accomplish that, Hill knew she would be drawing on her expertise in commercial design.
The living room features a great room with two-story ceilings, French doors topped by an oversized window, an angular fireplace wall, and columns that were dated but structurally necessary.
“I had architects in school who taught us you take care of the jewelry box first, which is the structure,” says Hill, who has worked handin-hand with builders to design more than 200 model homes, sales centers, and design centers. “Whatever the client is looking for, I’m going to make sure it comes together architecturally.”
That started with the living room fireplace, which the Kaplans wanted to provide a “wow moment” for extended family and guests.
Original artwork is complemented by warmth of the Oliver Settee from Rowe and round coffee tables from Etsy
Opposite Page: Hill keeps the fireplace the focal point with this Acid Wash Floor Mirror from Four Hands

“I always try to create a balance of masculine and feminine in a space. If I didn’t pull curves in in some way, it was going to feel very harsh.”
Hill gutted the colonial mantle and installed a porcelain monolithic surround that coordinated with the dark molding of the windows. She chose a 5-by-8 foot floor mirror from Four Hands rather than artwork to install over the fireplace.
“The antique mirror does a beautiful job of filling that space without being a piece of art that immediately draws your eye to it,” she says. “I didn’t want the fireplace to get lost.”
The Kaplans wanted to incorporate a 6-by-8-foot black and white piece of original art, which Hill hung on the opposite wall. She balanced its linear form with the curved edges of the couch, chaise lounge and the custom-made circular tables she chose rather than a bulky rectangular coffee table.
“I always try to create a balance of masculine and feminine in a space,” she says. “If I didn’t pull curves in in some way, it was going to feel very harsh.”
The Kaplans wanted the dining room to feel set off from the living room, so Hill used Flint by Benjamin Moore to define the room, modernize its look and complement the living room couch. She continued the paint color onto the molding and columns to update the room and frame an eye-popping Lindsay Cole Prickly Pear Alta wallpaper. The Galahad large blue chandelier from Currey & Company, made of wrought iron and recycled glass, hangs over a curvilinear table.
Dining tables throughout the home provide both style and substance for a family with two children under 5. The dining room chairs, as well as bar stools and chairs in the kitchen and family room, have wipeable surfaces. Upholstered chairs and even the family room rug—custom-made from A. Hoke—are made with performance fabrics.
The family room features the 100-inch Sylvie Sofa from Rowe, a must for Matt, who wanted a place to stretch out after work. The Canadel dining table expands to seat 18 guests, which was a priority for a couple with a large extended family.

The existing wet bar, a 1980s throwback with white cabinets, mirrored backsplash and glass shelves, was gutted. “It looked like it came out of the disco era,” Hill says.
She reimagined the bar with Dewey rift sawn oak cabinetry, a dual beverage fridge, filled with wine on one side and children’s drinks on the other, and a Bedrosian Mikado backsplash tile. The matte finish keeps it from overpowering the beauty of the white oak.
Prickly Pear Alta Wallcovering from Lindsay Cowles is a conversation piece
Makoto Matte Ceramic Wall Tile picks up the dark color of the balustrade and door



“Susan truly surprised us by incorporating our own contemporary artwork with personal items, including finger paintings from our children,” Sari says. “We love sitting in the family room and seeing both museum quality art and our children’s own creations as if they always belonged together.”
In the primary bedroom, Hill incorporated a desk for Sari, a working mom who needed a place to access her computer while children play close by. And at the foot of their custom-made bed, Hill added the oversized Jasper Ottoman from Interior Define, a great landing spot for children. She added the Levi Swivel chair from Four Hands near the window, allowing a view of the backyard pool.
Hill was able to combine comfort and functionality, while mixing in both modern and traditional elements to give the couple a cohesive new home.
“Susan exceeded our expectations in all respects,” Sari says.
A pair of pink C-shaped Chair Totos from Eichholz bring whimsy to the family room, where modern art collection mixes with personal items
Custom made Brooks bed from CR Laine is offset by Suki Large Nightstand from Four Hands
Rivets Wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries defines the vestibule

Euphemia Mu, MD
Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon
Dr. Euphemia Mu is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery and dermatologic surgery. Dr. Mu has extensive training and experience in minimally-invasive, tissue-sparing surgical removal of skin cancers and facial reconstructions.
High School | Myers Park College | Princeton Med School | John Hopkins Residency | New York University Fellowship | Mount Sinai









































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EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT FROM NOW THROUGH OCTOBER.
Friday Nights at Camp North End
Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave.
Kick off your weekend at Friday Night Music at Camp North End, featuring live tunes and good vibes. Running through October, this weekly series offers the best of Charlotte’s music scene with a mix of rising local talent, established artists and touring musicians. Pair music with delicious food, art and perusing small businesses for the perfect Friday night.
JUNE 29TH
Summer Pops
Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd.
Join the Charlotte Symphony for a star-spangled night of patriotic favorites, American classics, and a thrilling fireworks finale at “Celebrate America.” Gather your family and friends for this beloved annual tradition that brings Summer Pops to a spectacular close. More information at SouthParkCLT.org.
JULY 3RD
SkyShow Charlotte
Truist Field, 324 S Mint St. | 6:00 PM
SkyShow Charlotte is one of the largest Fourth of July fireworks shows in the Southeast. This year’s is on Thursday, July 3, before the Charlotte Knights head out of town for the weekend. SkyShow at Truist Field starts immediately following the 6:05 p.m. game between the Knights and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.





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JULY 18TH
Queen’s Feast: Summer Edition
Charlotte | 6:00 PM
Charlotte Restaurant Week returns Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 27, with an array of participating restaurants offering three-course, prix fixe deals that showcase the region’s culinary scene. Since 2008, the semi-annual promotion has encouraged residents and visitors alike to experience hundreds of restaurants around Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Iredell, Lincoln, Gaston, Rowan, Catawba, Stanly, York and Lancaster counties.
JULY 29TH
Rod Stewart: One Last Time PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd. 7:30 PM
If it’s in your heart and in your soul, you’ll want to catch Rod Stewart for his One Last Time event at PNC Pavillion, where the spikey-haired Hall of Fame British rocker will take you back to younger days. The 79-year-old is joined by Cheap Trick on this 20-city farewell tour in the U.S. and Canada ending in August.
JULY 31ST
An Evening with Vince Gill
Ovens Auditorium, 2900 E Independence Blvd. | 7:30 PM
This is a chance to see legendary country musician Vince Gill with his world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring tenor. The 22-time Grammy Award-winner and member of The Grand Ole Opry has spent the past eight years touring with The Eagles but is taking a break from their Sphere run in Las Vegas for this summer tour.



