Luxe Magazine - March/April 2023 Southeast

SOUTHEAST

THE DESTINATION FOR DESIGNER LIGHTING

SHOP NOW: VISUALCOMFORT.COM

KEARS LARGE BRACKETED WALL LIGHT

IN AGED IRON WITH CLEAR GLASS

DESIGNER: IAN K. FOWLER

Sense. Modular sofas, armchair and ottomans, designed by Studio Roche Bobois. Cestello. Cocktail tables, designed by Gabriele Fedele. Mariposa. Floor lamps, designed by Marcel Wanders. Botanica. Rugs, designed by Emmanuel Thibault.

In-store interior design & 3D modeling services.(1) Quick Ship program available.(2

Photos

AN EXPERIENCE Like No Other

Your private showcase awaits at a Thermador Experience and Design Center. Explore luxury bespoke kitchens and discover how true craftsmanship, design, and innovation can bring your unique vision to life.

©2022 Hunter Douglas All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas

LIVE BEAUTIFULLY

What does it mean to live well? To be perfectly at ease, in comfort and style?

Innovative product designs pair with gorgeous fabrics and control systems so advanced, shades can be scheduled to automatically adjust to their optimal position throughout the day. Creating a new world of beauty, convenience and energy efficiency — morning, noon, and night.

Pirouette® Window Shadings with PowerView® Automation

100% MADE IN EUROPE

NEW YORK CHICAGO DALLAS NASHVILLE BOSTON SAN FRANCISCO GREENWICH PALM BEACH SHORT HILLS CANNES JAKARTA

TERRA COLLABORATES WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY TEAM OF DESIGNERS, MANUFACTURERS AND ARTISANS ACROSS THE GLOBE TO CREATE EXCEPTIONAL OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS. OUR PREMIUM QUALITY AND CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN DESIGNS ARE IN-STOCK AND READY TO TURN YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE INTO A PERSONAL SANCTUARY.

MAR APR

Scene

46 DESIGN DISPATCH

The little black book of all things new and fabulous in the local community.

Radar

58 EVOLUTION

Leading landscape designers weigh in on the growing appeal of showcasing art in natural surroundings.

62 HUE

Gardener Ellen Ogden Ecker pens an ode to the sights of spring and the color of new beginnings.

64 INSPIRATION

Florida-based sculptor Jorge Blanco is on a mission to spark happiness through eye-catching art.

66 INNOVATION

With a line of outdoor planters and a new Miami outpost, Adam Sirak is making waves in landscape design.

Market

82 MATERIAL

Textile artists stitch one-of-a-kind creations for Luxe featuring this season’s performance fabrics.

92 TREND

Find inspiration in the jaw-dropping terrain of three U.S. National Parks.

100 SPOTLIGHT

From benches to loungers to dining chairs, herald alfresco living with colorful outdoor seating.

Living

114

KITCHEN + BATH

Hotelier Liz Lambert unveils her collection with Perennials and her charming ranch in Marfa, Texas.

128 THE REPORT

A look at how today’s pool houses are being designed as backyard vacation destinations.

FEATURES

158

In Living Color

Vibrant updates to a historical house in a classic Charlotte neighborhood spring from its owners’ eclectic collection of art.

Learning Curves

Organic shapes, neutral palettes and extraordinary textures inform a Georgia ceramicist’s handmade stoneware lighting.

162

Bright Side

The flora and fauna of Kiawah Island’s salt marsh become the muse for a rejuvenating retreat focused on the natural scenery.

176

Family Values

On a wooded flank facing North Carolina’s Satulah Mountain, an ancestral cabin adapts to a modern generation.

ON THE COVER: The bedroom of a new Charlotte guest house conjures an island vacation feel thanks to whimsical furnishings chosen by designer Jolee Fennebresque. Pillows of Thibaut’s Jordan performance fabric in Sunshine and Kelly Green, finished with tassel trim from Fringe Market, top the custom Charles Stewart sofa. Red Egg’s Indochine Horseshoe armchairs complement a valance of Schumacher’s Luan Fretwork linen in Cane. Page 146

Written by Maile Pingel

Photography by Dustin Peck

Written by Michelle Brunner

Photography by Kelly Blackmon

Written by Kelly Vencill Sanchez

Photography by Laura Sumrak

Written by Christine DeOrio

Photography by Chris Little

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Pam Shavalier

ART DIRECTOR

Candace Cohen

PAMELA LERNER JACCARINO VICE PRESIDENT, EDITOR IN CHIEF

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brittany Chevalier McIntyre

SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR

Colleen McTiernan

MANAGING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Kelly Velocci Jolliffe

MANAGING EDITORS

Krystal Racaniello, Clémence Sfadj

HOMES EDITORS

SOUTHEAST

Kate Abney

COLORADO, LOS ANGELES, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Kelly Phillips Badal

PACIFIC NORTHWEST, SAN FRANCISCO

Mary Jo Bowling

GREATER NEW YORK

Grace Beuley Hunt

STYLE DIRECTOR

Kathryn Given

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Khadejah Khan

AUSTIN + SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS + FORT WORTH, HOUSTON

Paulette Pearson

ARIZONA, CHICAGO

Shannon Sharpe

MIAMI, PALM BEACH + BROWARD, NAPLES + SARASOTA

Jennifer Pfaff Smith

DIRECTOR, SPECIAL EDITORIAL PROJECTS

Katy Olson Wenzel

ART

ART DIRECTOR

Maria Pluta

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jamie Beauparlant

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ellen Antworth

ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Kyle Anderson

SENIOR RETOUCHER

Christian Ablan

MARKET

SENIOR MARKET EDITOR

Sarah Shelton

DIGITAL

SENIOR DIRECTOR, CONTENT DISTRIBUTION

Amanda Kahan

SENIOR MANAGER, DIGITAL CONTENT

Ileana Llorens

WEB EDITOR

Michelle Yee

ADAM I. SANDOW CHAIRMAN

ERICA HOLBORN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Michael Shavalier

CHIEF DESIGN OFFICER

Cindy Allen

CHIEF SALES OFFICER

Kate Kelly Smith

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Margaux Caniato

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT + DESIGN FUTURIST

AJ Paron

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, DIGITAL + STRATEGIC GROWTH

Bobby Bonett

VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES

Lisa Silver Faber

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PARTNER + PROGRAM SUCCESS

Tanya Suber

VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Laura Steele

VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Katie Brockman

DIRECTOR, VIDEO

Steven Wilsey

SANDOW DESIGN GROUP OPERATIONS

SENIOR DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

Keith Clements

CONTROLLER

Emily Kaitz

DIRECTOR, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Joshua Grunstra

SANDOW was founded by visionary entrepreneur Adam I. Sandow in 2003, with the goal of reinventing the traditional publishing model. Today, SANDOW powers the design, materials and luxury industries through innovative content, tools and integrated solutions. Its diverse portfolio of assets includes The SANDOW Design Group, a unique ecosystem of design media and services brands, including Luxe Interiors + Design, Interior Design, Metropolis, DesignTV by SANDOW; ThinkLab, a research and strategy firm; and content services brands, including The Agency by SANDOW – a full-scale digital marketing agency, The Studio by SANDOW – a video production studio, and SURROUND – a podcast network and production studio. SANDOW Design Group is a key supporter and strategic partner to NYCxDESIGN, a not-for-profit organization committed to empowering and promoting the city’s diverse creative community. In 2019, Adam Sandow launched Material Bank, the world’s largest marketplace for searching, sampling and specifying architecture, design and construction materials.

magazine is recyclable. Please recycle when you’re done with it. We’re all in this together.

KATE KELLY SMITH EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT + MANAGING DIRECTOR

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS

Tanya Suber

GENERAL MANAGER Scott MacClements

VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMMING + EXPERIENCES

James Nolan

NATIONAL PUBLISHER Michelle Blair

HOME FURNISHINGS DIRECTOR

Blaire Rzempoluch

NORTHEAST DIRECTOR

Amy McMillan Tambini

WEST COAST DIRECTORS

Lisa Lovely, Carolyn Homestead

MIDWEST + SOUTH CENTRAL DIRECTOR

Tanya Scribner

SALES OPERATIONS DIRECTOR John Baum

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Bianca Buffamonte

SALES ASSISTANT Janice Hyatt

INTEGRATED MARKETING

DIRECTOR, DIGITAL STRATEGY Samantha Westmoreland

DIGITAL STRATEGY MANAGER Kasey Campbell

SENIOR MARKETING DIRECTOR Jana Weill

INTEGRATED MARKETING MANAGERS Verity Lister, Frank G. Prescia

INTEGRATED GRAPHIC DESIGNER Antoinette Childs

EVENTS MANAGER Gabriella Laimer

EVENTS COORDINATOR Rachele Daszkal

PARTNER + PROGRAM SUCCESS DIRECTOR, PARTNER SUCCESS Jennifer Kimmerling

PARTNER SUCCESS MANAGER + TEAM LEAD Brittany Watson

SENIOR PARTNER SUCCESS MANAGERS Lauren Krause, Susan Mallek, Molly Polo

PARTNER SUCCESS MANAGER Isabel Tragos

LUXE PREFERRED, PROGRAM SUCCESS MANAGER + ANALYTICS SPECIALIST Victoria Albrecht

LUXE PREFERRED, PROGRAM SUCCESS MANAGER Stephanie Fritz

NATIVE CONTENT EDITOR + TEAM LEAD Greta Wolf

NATIVE CONTENT EDITORS Elizabeth Johnson, Heather Schreckengast, Matthew Stewart

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Kevin Fagan

CIRCULATION + DISTRIBUTION

SENIOR MANAGER, MANUFACTURING + DISTRIBUTION Stacey Rigney

ARIZONA PUBLISHER Adrienne B. Honig

SALES ASSOCIATE Catherine McGlynn

AUSTIN + SAN ANTONIO PUBLISHER Jim Wilson

SALES ASSOCIATE Addie Szews

CHICAGO REGIONAL PUBLISHER Kathleen Mitchell

DIRECTORS Tracy Colitte, Carolyn Funk, Taylor Greene

COLORADO REGIONAL PUBLISHER Kathleen Mitchell

PUBLISHER Terri Glassman

DIRECTORS Travis Gainsley, Katie Martin

DALLAS + FORT WORTH PUBLISHER Rolanda Polley

SALES ASSOCIATE Addie Szews

GREATER NEW YORK PUBLISHER Trish Kirsch

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, NEW YORK Donna Herman

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, CONNECTICUT Amy McMillan Tambini

DIRECTOR, NEW YORK Maritza Smith DIRECTOR, HAMPTONS Michelle A. Giannone

HOUSTON PUBLISHER Amy McAnally

SALES ASSOCIATE Addie Szews

LOS ANGELES PUBLISHER Tiffany O’Hare

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Virginia Williams

MIAMI, PALM BEACH + BROWARD, NAPLES + SARASOTA

REGIONAL PUBLISHER Stacey Callahan

DIRECTORS Jennifer Chanay, Susan Goldstein, Karina Gonzalez

PACIFIC NORTHWEST PUBLISHER Debby Steiner

DIRECTOR Cathy Cruse

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLISHER Lisa Lovely

DIRECTOR Sara McGovern

SOUTHEAST PUBLISHER Sibyl de St. Aubin

DIRECTOR Suzanne Brandt

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLISHER Alisa Tate

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Kali Smith

Luxe Interiors + Design (ISSN 1949-2022), Arizona (ISSN 2163-9809), California (ISSN 2164-0122), Chicago (ISSN 2163-9981), Colorado (ISSN 21639949), Florida (ISSN 2163-9779), New York (ISSN 2163-9728), Pacific Northwest (ISSN 2167-9584), San Francisco (ISSN 2372-0220), Southeast (ISSN 2688-5735), Texas (ISSN 2163-9922), Vol. 21, No. 2, March/April, prints bimonthly and is published by SANDOW, 3651 NW 8th Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33431. Luxe Interiors + Design (“ Luxe ”) provides information on luxury homes and lifestyles. Luxe Interiors + Design SANDOW, its affiliates, employees, contributors, writers, editors, (Publisher) accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. The Publisher has neither investigated nor endorsed the companies and/or products that advertise within the publication or that are mentioned editorially. Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims made by the Advertisers or the merits of their respective products or services advertised or promoted in Luxe Publisher neither expressly nor implicitly endorses such Advertiser products, services or claims. Publisher expressly assumes no liability for any damages whatsoever that may be suffered by any purchaser or user for any products or services advertised or mentioned editorially herein and strongly recommends that any purchaser or user investigate such products, services, methods and/or claims made thereto. Opinions expressed in the magazine and/or its advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher. Neither the Publisher nor its staff, associates or affiliates are responsible for any errors, omissions or information whatsoever that have been misrepresented to Publisher. The information on products and services as advertised in Luxe are shown by Publisher on an “as is” and “as available” basis. Publisher makes no representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the information, services, contents, trademarks, patents, materials or products included in this magazine. All pictures reproduced in Luxe have been accepted by Publisher on the condition that such pictures are reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer and any homeowner concerned. As such, Publisher is not responsible for any infringement of the copyright or otherwise arising out of any publication in Luxe Luxe is a licensed trademark of SANDOW © 2011. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without

KRYSTA RODRIGUEZ

Actress, Stage & Screen

Founder, Curated by Krysta Rodriguez

DRESS IN: TAMBOURINE TRAPS

Redding, CT | $8,500,000

Welcome to 229 Umpawaug Road, the quintessential estate of exceptional quality on the premier scenic road in Redding, Connecticut.

William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance

Stacy Young — 917 816 6733

Search FXFL on luxuryportfolio.com

Minusio, TI | CHF7,950,000

Mediterranean holiday villa — Sophisticated ambience, spacious rooms, heated outdoor pool and lots of sunlight.

WETAG Consulting

Iradj ALEXANDER-DAVID — +41 91 601 04 40

Search DQKH on luxuryportfolio.com

La Jolla, CA | $3,495,000

Incredible opportunity to indulge in oceanfront living at La Jolla’s premier high-rise building offering an unparalleled lifestyle of luxury.

Willis Allen Real Estate

Drew & Tim Nelson — 858 215 3739

Search XRVK on luxuryportfolio.com

Islip, NY | $1,299,000

Historic 6,000 sq. ft. home located in the South Shore Hamlet of Islip. Coach Real Estate Associates, Inc.

Susan Simmons — 631 338 1936

Search LKQL on luxuryportfolio.com

©2023 Luxury Portfolio International.® Offering is subject to errors, omissions, change of price, or withdrawal without notice. All information has been supplied by third parties and should not be relied on as accurate or complete. Equal Opportunity Employer and pledged to the letter and spirit of Equal Housing Opportunities.

Drawn to Spring

Welcome to our March/April issue! It’s the season of renewal, green shoots and bucolic surroundings. In this issue, our editors bring fresh perspectives on landscape design and sculpture gardens, the latest in outdoor seating and incredible pool houses. We also head to a west Texas ranch that’s both laid-back and chic for a primer on alfresco entertaining. And, of course, our line-up of fabulous homes. May it all bring you endless inspiration.

Pamela Jaccarino VP, Editor in Chief @pamelajaccarino

SCENE

WRITTEN BY KATE ABNEY | PRODUCED BY KRYSTAL RACANIELLO

POINT OF VIEW

CHARLOTTE LUCAS

Beloved for colorful, pattern-mixed interiors that embrace maximalism without excess, Charlotte Lucas has been busy as of late, outfitting a showhouse, unveiling a line of vintageinfluenced hardware with fellow Queen City brand Modern Matter, and rebooting the signature candle by House of Harris—the textile label she co-founded in 2017 with her sister, fellow designer Liz Carroll. As Lucas approaches decade

two of her namesake firm, Luxe checked in for a peek at what she’s planning. charlottelucasdesign.com

Your capsule clothing collection with Cara Cara (worn at left) feels perfect for spring. We loved merging Cara Cara’s classic citrus print with House of Harris’ own Imperfect Stripe. Taking it to tabletop (left), we also created a tablecloth, napkin, apron, cocktail coasters and place mats, plus a candle with a radiant fragrance. House of Harris recently debuted the Destination Collection, featuring four fabulous floral wallpapers. Can we look forward to fresh launches soon? Stay tuned for a number of new fabrics and wallcoverings coming this year!

Where to next? Beyond our many residential projects, we recently branched out into hospitality with boutique resorts. We’re currently working on The Tree Farm: a private golf destination with a club house and 52 cabins found about 20 miles outside of Aiken, South Carolina.

BEHIND THE BRAND

LAURA ASHLEY

Long before there were so-called “lifestyle brands,” there was Laura Ashley, the British heritage company so named for its eponymous founder in 1953. Most folks recognize the delicate florals and Victorian-inspired flourishes core to the brand’s iconic style, yet few are aware its North American headquarters has called Fort Mill, South Carolina, home since 2000. In fact, Laura Ashley’s recent resurgence in popularity is thanks in large part to licensed collections (Même Chose, The Tile Shop and Graham & Brown among them) that emerged out of this Charlotte suburb. The fact of that influence may come as little surprise to Carolinians. “British and Southern American styles share a similar aesthetic,” Laura Ashley global president Carolyn D’Angelo notes. “Both are full of character and emphasize timeless luxury mixed with romantic charm.” Latest to release from Laura Ashley’s Southern hub are signature paints—the brand’s first since 1998—in soft historical hues. Factor in recent fashion fanfare, and Laura Ashley’s 70th year seems poised to be its very best yet. lauraashleyusa.com

ONE TO WATCH

ENGLISH VILLAGE LANE

Following 15 years in a sales and marketing career (most recently luxury skin care), Angie Burge pondered a return to her design roots. Rugs, she learned through decorating her own home, were the answer. Seeking out generational artisans in India, Afghanistan and Turkey, she unveiled English Village Lane in late 2021—with her e-commerce operation based in Birmingham’s English Village, to wit. Now, more than a year later, Burge has doubled down on her fast-growing venture, which emphasizes color harmony across the whole home via unique rugs with a designer-friendly twist. “We have 2,600 yarn colors, so we can create a custom pattern based off any swatch or color code,” notes Burge, who stocks some 125 units on her site (see the Dalmatian-spotted Salt n Peppa or the arabesque Tutti Frutti) but can make virtually infinite bespoke iterations. Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, almost half of her production is for members of the trade: with a roster that boasts Charlotte’s Lisa Mende, fresh L.A.to-Nashville transplant Becky Nielsen and Birmingham editor-turned-designer Zoë Gowen, who recently commissioned a rug for a client to mimic the falling leaves of Central Park. englishvillagelane.com

POST MASTER @COLSON__HORTON

WHO: A prop stylist and co-founder of the newly minted Preservation Society of Nashville, Houston-born Colson Horton grew up in Atlanta then moved to Music City two decades ago. Playful yet polished, her feed makes an impact through its curated color stories.

WHAT: Horton worked in art, fashion, marketing and advertising before launching her eight-year-old styling company, ADR Creative, with a client roster that soon included Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Soho House, Reese Witherspoon and others.

WHY: Her work is informed by design movements ranging from 19th-century French bohemian to Art Deco while going big on organic texture. The latter plays largely into her upcoming entertaining-oriented product line with another lauded local creative.

IN HER WORDS: “People come to Nashville to tell their story through songs or lyrics; as a visual storyteller, I like being surrounded by people who take the time to be curious.”

IN THE STUDIO

PETER FLEMING

An Australia native and Nashvillian of 20 years, Peter Fleming has collaborated closely with the likes of Bobby McAlpine, Robert A.M. Stern and Alexandra Champalimaud on their signature furniture collections. But it’s Fleming’s personal work that evidences the full breadth of his creativity. Through Building No. 9, the studio practice he established in 2011, the designer fashions the dynamic objects (mirrors, lighting, accent furniture, tabletop accoutrements) necessary to layer rooms of depth. These pieces “commemorate the small, intimate moments that allow you to enjoy your life through design,” shares Fleming, who favors ancient forms and materials—marble, silver and so forth—for their inherent “universality and permanence.” The former comprises a collection he debuted in September (below); another in cast-bronze just soft-launched at The Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville. Next up? A series of plasterworks and a modernist set of centerpieces composed of carbon fiber. bldno9.com

TOP OF THE STACK

THESE THREE UPLIFTING SPRING READS ARE A TONIC TO THE SPIRIT.

SACRED SPACES

Everyday People and the Beautiful Homes Created Out of Their Trials, Healing, and Victories

Although Carley Summers works chiefly as an interior designer, her debut title with Convergent Books— Sacred Spaces: Everyday People and the Beautiful Homes Created Out of Their Trials, Healing, and Victories, available April 18—shines the spotlight on her luminous photography instead. The Greenville, North Carolina, native combed the globe—from Guatemala and Morocco to France and England—for soulful, healing residences she presents in question-and-answer format with their owners. Summers says she hopes the 14 abodes contained within, including her own, which graces the cover, “will inspire others to create sacred spaces for themselves—no matter what trials they’ve walked through.” penguinrandomhouse.com

THE JOY OF HOME

Montgomery-based designer Ashley Gilbreath’s inaugural book, The Joy of Home, extends an invitation to celebrate the everyday. Out April 18 from Gibbs Smith, the tome reveals nine of the award winner’s proudest residential projects. Cultivating a sense of heritage and hospitality by mixing old with new, Gilbreath’s take on casual elegance is informed by sturdy textiles and stalwart antiques key to imparting spaces with history. Whether reviving the nostalgic palette of a childhood bedroom or incorporating objects that conjure a family’s fondest memories, Gilbreath demonstrates how to live comfortably and joyfully amid thoughtful details: be they fresh flowers or tables that expand to welcome unexpected guests for dinner. gibbs-smith.com

MCALPINE

Romantic Modernism

April 4 heralds the arrival of Bobby McAlpine’s fourth tome, McAlpine: Romantic Modernism, from Rizzoli. The leading architect describes his new book as “a sharp left turn” from the work his firm is best known, pairing the unexpectedly kindred concepts of modernism and classicism while showcasing his most edited architectural solutions to date. The 11 exemplary homes span eight idyllic locales—half in the Southeast—all united by the certain “courage and conviction” most evident in the cover home: McAlpine’s own boundary-breaking Atlanta residence. rizzoliusa.com

There's a word for the way an expanse of doors blends the indoors and outdoors into one space. It's called biophilic design. But whatever you choose to call it, the effect is the same – your favorite spaces become better, sunnier, and filled with fresh air as they're transformed into a paradise of nature. Another defining element of doors made with rich wood interiors, aluminum clad exteriors, and no compromises.

Invite More Outside, Inside.

ARCHITECT: Matthew Lechowick BUIILDER: Kinetic Partners

PHOTO: Kat Alves Photography

RADAR

From boundary-pushing landscape design to alfresco art, the world of outdoor living is as dynamic as ever.

Grounds for Celebration

THE LATEST SCULPTURE GARDENS FEATURE MUSEUM-QUALITY WORKS THAT ENGAGE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, INVITING WONDER AND INTROSPECTION.

WRITTEN BY MICHELLE BRUNNER

JAMES DOYLE DESIGN ASSOCIATES

It would seem that Mother Nature shouldn’t need much embellishment, but in his new book, Intersection of Nature and Art, landscape architect James Doyle makes a convincing case for using world-class sculpture to enhance outdoor environments. “Once you set the right piece in a meadow, it ends up making sense; the scale is correct, and it adds whimsy and artistry to the natural surroundings,” he says. For art connoisseur clients, outdoor sculpture gardens provide an opportunity to expand their collection and experience pieces while communing with nature. “Some homeowners may want these works front and center, while others will prefer them to be more of a surprise that’s discovered as the landscape gradually unfolds,” says Justin Quinn, partner at JDDA. At a historic estate outside Philadelphia, an Antony Gormley sculpture punctuates the expansive grounds. Whether situated to inspire public awe or private contemplation, an artfully placed sculpture has the power to beguile onlookers. jdda.com

ARTERRA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

While northern California vistas take pride of place in landscape architect Gretchen Whittier’s designs, even the most breathtaking scenery can need a little coaxing. “Sometimes you have to reshape the view, and we often use sculpture to accentuate the end of a vista or create a focal point,” she says. For a Napa Valley project, finding the right location for a monumental tree sculpture by Ai Weiwei required much deliberation. Whittier ultimately landed on the entry courtyard, where it serves as a crowning centerpiece. Placing art en plein air also helps to create a dialogue between interior and exterior spaces, visually extending the living area. “When you see a piece of sculpture through a window, and it feels like part of the decor, a beautiful connection is made.” arterrasf.com

MIRADOR GROUP

For architect Jerry Hooker, using sculpture in landscape design isn’t just about creating an aesthetically pleasing composition—it’s an opportunity to craft a personal narrative. A partner with Mirador Group, Hooker has used art to enhance the grounds of many projects, including the private roof terrace of a new condominium in Houston. Hooker created three separate garden “rooms” housing a sculpture that holds special meaning to the homeowner. Providing clients with such thoughtful landscapes encourages the kind of introspection one might experience in museums, a similarity not lost on Hooker. “Every single person will have a different interpretation,” Hook er says. “That’s the purpose of art.” miradorgroup.com

top photo: cesar rubio. bottom photo: divya pande.

Green Thumb

AVID GARDENER ELLEN ECKER OGDEN REFLECTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GREEN HUES AS A WELCOMING OF THE SEASON AHEAD.

It’s a gardener’s spring ritual: waiting and watching for hints of green. Who knew that a color could hold so much promise and ll me with such a sense of hope. Like listening to music wafting through the air, shades of emerald and sage begin to layer through my garden the surrounding Vermont hills. I notice how fresh, minty green buds give to blooming leaves, and celadon spears of asparagus poke through the soil. Emerging plants move to a tempo all their own like a well synchronized orchestra.

Weeks ago, I went through the sacred processes symbolizing spring: cupping a handful of soil and inhaling as I put it to my nose. Healthy and organic, the mixture smelled sweet like chocolate cake and felt rich and crumbly in my palm. Preparing soil was only my rst act before pushing and sowing seeds for peas and lettuce in long, straight rows. Within a week, tiny sprouts have given way to tendrils, then so much more.

garden in a lush valley between the Green Mountains and Taconic Range, where pine, pistachio and jade tones blanket the verdant landscape like a giant tapestry of color coming together to create a rich work of art. As I follow a well-worn path from the woods, freshly punctuated with lime-colored buds peeking through the ground, back to my own garden, I pause. A medley of green hues will soon emerge to mean one thing—spring is here.

Lush illustrations showcasing Ellen Ecker Ogden’s garden depict a variety of green tones found in the flora she plants. These include pea vines, ferns, tender lettuces, dandelions, ramps and herbs.

Whether soaring 20 feet above a bustling city street or punctuating a serene park, Jorge Blanco’s vibrant, aluminum sculptures are instantly recognizable. The playful silhouettes—depicting everything from human forms in motion to fruit and abstract shapes—are his vehicle for spreading joy. “Art is communication and feeling,” says the Sarasota-based artist, whose practiced sculpture for nearly 50 years. “I always have the same intention in my work: communicate happiness, energy and enthusiasm.”

Blanco’s penchant for art began in his native Venezuela. As a child, he discovered Auguste Herbin’s colorful and geometric paintings, which had a profound impact on

Bold Strokes

ARTIST JORGE BLANCO’S SCULPTURES

CAPTURE THE DELIGHT HE FINDS IN LIFE’S SIMPLE PLEASURES.

WRITTEN BY KELLY VELOCCI JOLLIFFE

his work. While Blanco’s early sculptures portrayed darker subjects, his artistic language shifted to express a more positive point of view upon meeting his wife, Elena, in 1984. “The world has two sides,” Blanco explains. “One is sad, scary and painful, whereas the other is about beauty, smiling and comfort. I choose to focus on the latter because it is encouraging.”

Bold primary hues or bright white coloring are hallmarks of his work, which include 30 permanent public sculptures, in addition to private commissions, throughout the U.S. and abroad. His pieces directly reflect the inspiration he finds in day-to-day life, whether that be sports or the color of a piece of fruit.

Before embarking on a new sculpture, Blanco closely surveys the site where the work will live, observing shadows cast by the sun, wind conditions, vegetation and surrounding architecture. Each design originates as a humble paper sketch, evolving into a model and then a technical drawing before reaching its final machinecut, powder-coated form. “It’s important to me that people smile when they see my work,” Blanco muses. “It is a gift that encourages me to continue working.”

jorgeblancosculpture.com

Nueve a large-scale, aluminum powder-coated commission, is a tribute to life and nature that lives on the grounds of a large Caribbean estate.

photo: elena hernandez-ron.

Home Grown

BETWEEN A THRIVING LANDSCAPE AND EXTERIORS BUSINESS, A DEBUT LINE OF PLANTERS AND A NEW MIAMI OUTPOST, THERE’S NO TIME FOR MOSS TO GROW UNDER ADAM SIRAK’S FEET.

WRITTEN BY MAILE PINGEL

Inspired by the rich history of Istanbul, Orion II and Saturn III are part of Adam Sirak’s new collection of cast concrete planters with The Future Perfect.

“My practice is about telling stories,” Adam Sirak explains. Whether creating the garden at Art House of San Clemente, an artist-in-residency program outside Los Angeles, or a rooftop green oasis in West Hollywood, Sirak takes an uber-creative approach to exterior design. This approach has brought him residential projects throughout L.A., where he lives, and new hospitality work including a forthcoming hotel near Joshua Tree National Park.

His love of gardens was inherited from his parents, both of whom are landscape designers in South Florida. “I grew up in a masterpiece garden, and we were always taking trips to botanical gardens or the Everglades. It was plants, plants, plants,” he says, laughing. Now, Sirak is working with them to establish an office in Miami from which he can operate.

“Gardens are transportive, they’re living expressions of time and place. I find that endlessly inspiring.”

For his latest venture, a line of planters, the designer was inspired by an interest in classical antiquities and ancient civilizations. “I’ve used every planter under the sun and thought, where’s the one that’s really cool?” Sirak let ideas develop organically, sketching hundreds of prototypes by hand. Soon a collection developed; the drawings digitized, the molds made, and casting done at his California facility.

The made-to-order planters caught the eye of David Alhadeff, founder of The Future Perfect, who now carries the line, which takes cues from the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires of Istanbul’s history. At once ancient and modern, the designs can tell any story one might imagine. sirak.com

“I think of front yards as portals: They should welcome you into the garden and set the tone,” Sirak explains of this West Hollywood project. Although short on space, the fountain acts as a centerpiece while the sound of bubbling water adds a serene note.

“The key to the design was openness. We wanted to bring the outdoors in, especially on the main level, and allow for outdoor areas on different levels of the home.”

Adam Steiner, Cornerstone Architects

DesignBetter

DISCOVERIES

LEFROY BROOKS

The XO range of bathroom fittings, covering showers, taps and accessories, takes inspiration from designs of the 2000s. This modern, minimalist collection offers clean, straight, angular lines. Available in polished chrome and brushed nickel. lefroybrooks.com

GROTHOUSE

Grothouse crafts the ultimate in luxury wood surfaces, making gorgeous bespoke pieces for every room in the home. Designs are fully customized, like this walnut butcher-block table with brass accents. grothouse.com

J. TRIBBLE

A premier builder of custom-designed sink bases, J. Tribble’s handcrafted cabinets are a valuable asset for designers with a discerning eye, and for homeowners looking for something truly distinctive. jtribble.com

TEAK WAREHOUSE

Modern and eclectic in design, this hand-poured concrete tabletop with warm teakwood legs would make a bold statement in a clean, contemporary home or turn-of-the-century villa. teakwarehouse.com

DISCOVERIES

ARCADIA CUSTOM

THERMADOR

Your private showcase awaits at Thermador Experience & Design Centers. Explore bespoke kitchens and discover how true craftsmanship, design and innovation can bring visions to life. thermador.com/showrooms

the collection to enhance Experience

real wood can without on and unlimited

Explore the reimagined VistaWood window and door collection to enhance unique architectural style. Experience the warmth and character only real wood can provide, without compromising on today’s designs—narrow sight lines, large glass and unlimited configurations and customizations.

arcadiacustom.com

NOIR TRADING, INC.

The Mars chair is a unique statement in hand-carved walnut that features an arching back and armrests with a graded arch design on each plane of the frame. Arch reliefs are highlighted in white for a graphic emphasis. Priced at $2,607. noirfurniturela.com

STARK

A contemporary take on a traditional Moroccan design, the Lesa rug features soft neutrals and bold graphics. Stark Performance Acrylic fibers provide the perfect union of luxury and high-end performance. starkcarpet.com

Step Foot Outside

Jenni Bonura is one of the Southeast’s most inspiring real estate leaders.

Big-picture knowledge, passion for the process, optimism and dedication, warm personality ...

Many times, such influential people find their model in the legacy of those who came before, and such is the case for Jenni. “Harry Norman was established as Atlanta’s first residential luxury brokerage in 1930 by Mrs. Emmaline ‘Miss Emmie’ Norman,” Jenni Bonura, president and CEO of Harry Norman, REALTORS® shares. “This was no ordinary time and Emmaline Norman was no ordinary woman. Despite the harsh reality that many businesses did not survive the Great Depression,

EVOLVING BUSINESS

• We are implementing additional innovative technologies for a seamless and integrated experience.

• Through a full suite of complimentary services that relate to the purchase or sale process, we are always enhancing the client experience.

Miss Emmie held fast to her vision for the future—one that is still going strong more than 90 years later.” As the current president and CEO of Harry Norman, REALTORS®, Jenni strives to bring the founder’s vision and devotion to the community into everything the firm does.

Outside the office, Jenni might be found enjoying nature with her husband and son or digging in at one of her favorite local eateries— namely, South City Kitchen for their classic fried chicken.

• Our connections, locally and worldwide, are vetted and regularly refined, which delivers a luxury experience for clients throughout their homeownership tenure.

A PLACE TO STRIKE GOLD

From the family life supported in suburbs outside the perimeter to the chic ITP lifestyles of districts like Buckhead and Midtown, the Atlanta area offers something for everyone and a variety all can enjoy. It has also become a haven for thriving businesses. Jenni explains why: “It is of particular interest because of our relative affordability compared to other metropolitans; the diversity of talent that lives here and is cultivated through our various higher education institutions; and the generally pro-business ethos.” Jenni Bonura, President & CEO at Harry Norman REALTORS® 404.504.7300 | hnrealtors | harrynorman.com

Walls

MARKET

Discover performance fabric masterpieces, America’s diverse natural terrain and must-have outdoor seating.

Common Thread

WITH SPRING RENEWAL AS THEIR PROMPT, FOUR ARTISTS CRAFT ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART USING THE LATEST PERFORMANCE FABRICS.

HOPEFUL JOURNEY

“It’s like a bouquet of flowers,” says Atlanta-based Jamele Wright Sr. of his colorful creation drifting, 01 The piece was made with Pierre Frey’s newest performance lines—Outdoor Prints, Guethary and Enchantee—as well as objets trouvés like copper wire, broaches and driftwood from nearby Lake Lanier. “I’m always bringing found materials into fine art,” says the multidisciplinary artist. Wright’s hanging

pouches are reminiscent of gris-gris bags carried by African Americans during the 20th century’s Great Migration from southern states to northern and western cities (Wright’s own grandparents were among the millions who uprooted, moving from Alabama to Ohio). The pouches held good luck charms and tokens for those in search of a better quality of life. septembergrayart.com; pierrefrey.com

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY KATHRYN GIVEN AND SARAH SHELTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FRANCES

Designed by Nina Magon

BLOSSOMING BEAUTY

Textile artist Maggie Dillon specializes in portraiture, and while her color palette is usually more subdued, the saturated hues and bold prints of Sunbrella’s new Perspectives collection led her to compose the stunning portrait, You Belong Among the Wildflowers

“I seek a feeling of calm in my work, and the title felt like a deep breath of fresh air,” says the

Sarasota resident. The collection’s orangey red fabrics inspired the striking scene featuring a woman surrounded by poppies (a fitting choice as the flower blossoms in springtime).

“I toyed with the idea of a woman smelling the flower,” says Dillon, “but came up with a more playful version with her hiding behind the bloom.” maggiedillondesigns.com; sunbrella.com

LIGHT TOUCH

Dana De Ano starts each piece with an examination of the materials. “I hear what they have to say,” says the Chicago-based visual artist. “We have a conversation and then I play.” In this case, De Ano listened to the colors and textures of Donghia’s Lake Hill Performance/Outdoor collection. She was particularly drawn to the neutral colors and textural feel of its rich boucle and chenille designs.

For Front Lawn, the artist was inspired by Chicagoan’s determination to regrow their surrounding landscapes after the long winter months. An alumna of the Art Institute of Chicago, she categorizes the piece—and her work as a whole— as drawings that use untraditional materials, whether that be paint, fabrics or found objects. danadeano.com; kravet.com

BLUE PERIOD

“I love working with textiles because there is such a wide range of possibility and freedom to experiment,” says Liz Collins, a Brooklyn artist and designer who conceived Blue Window No stranger to performance fabrics, Collins recently launched a capsule collection with Pollack which she used here alongside standouts from the brand’s latest line, Art School. Collins relied on her years of

textile experience to create this graphic arrangement featuring layers of rectangular cuttings in an echo chamber-like framework that successfully aligns with her selfdescribed “vibrant, electric, textured and contrasting” style. When it came to color, Dynamic Expansion on the outer frame (a personal favorite) guided her selection of blue patterns that followed. lizcollins.com; pollackassociates.com

LLOYD FLANDERS

lloydflanders.com

Today’s elevated outdoor lifestyles demand furnishings that offer elegant design, and enduring quality and ease. Since 1906, Lloyd Flanders has been crafting superior furniture that takes outdoor living to new heights. “The outdoor environment can be harsh, so designing products that withstand the elements while providing beauty and comfort drives our design team daily,” says CEO and creative director, Jess Flanders. “To achieve this, we use

all-aluminum frames, the highest-quality vinyl and our unique loom material.” Patented in 1916, Lloyd Loom is the firm’s proprietary process for creating wicker furnishings. “And our special loom material comes in 20 different finishes to meet the aesthetic wants and needs of our clients,” says Warren Juliano, president of Lloyd Flanders. “We’re proud to be the only manufacturer of woven outdoor furniture made entirely in the United States.”

EXTERIOR INSIGHTS

Bryan Echols, senior vice president of sales and marketing, shares the ins and outs of outdoor excellence.

Name some unique places that have included your designs. We’ve seen our furnishings on cruise ships, high-rise condominium balconies, in outdoor seating areas at restaurants and breweries, at landmark locations like New York’s Waldorf Astoria and The Breakers in Palm Beach, in films like The Green Mile, TV series like Revenge, as well as music videos like Kenny Chesney’s Old Blue Chair

How do you include clients in the creative process? We offer Lloyd Loom Lounge Galleries with a dedicated Lloyd specialist to our retail partners to showcase our multitude of design, material and color options. Digitally, clients and salespeople can build their own look online and collaborate with us virtually to achieve a final custom design.

How are you responding to the increased demand for sustainability? We pay careful attention to the availability and sustainability of the materials we use, the energy resources required during the manufacturing process and the impact our products have on the environment.

What’s new and next? While neutrals will always be important aesthetically, we’re seeing significant growth in our brightly-colored finishes and fabrics. Our Sea Glass, Denim Blue and Woodland Green are all extremely popular right now.

Top From the Southport Modular Seating Collection, this sofa, lounge chair and square end table boast an ebony frame finish with Peacock color panel inserts. Bottom An All Seasons settee, settee swing and end table in ivory are the perfect complement to these high-back porch rockers and ottoman in a charcoal finish.

Photography Top by Alan Cresto; Bottom by Dustin Halleck

“We design and create outdoor furnishings that deliver exceptional durability, style and comfort right here in the U.S.”

PARKS & REC

From sea to shining sea, get to know the latest landscapes to join the National Park Service.

Sandy Spectacle

New Mexico’s ethereal White Sands marks state’s second addition to the National Park name hails from the rolling gypsum dunes 275 square miles, earning it bragging rights world’s largest gypsum dune field. Not your beach sand, gypsum is a hydrous, soft mineral that’s used in a wide range of applications, including architecture and art. The otherworldly terrain is a popular backdrop for commercials, music videos and films. nps.gov/whsa

the to list. Its name hails from the gypsum dunes covering 275 square it as the world’s gypsum dune field. Not your typical beach sand, gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral that’s used in a wide range of architecture and art. The terrain is a for commercials,

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY SARAH SHELTON

Clockwise from top right: Junit To ee and Junit Fruta Lamp by Julia Jessen for Schneid / $473 each / stillfried.com Pecosa Wallpaper in Air / $375 per roll / eskayel.com Rhythmic Bold Mask Sunglasses in Rainbow / $260 / zimmermann.com X Chair in Lavender by Sun at Six / $660 / foromshop.com Ru e Co ee Table / Price upon request

Desk by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Glas Italia / $6,550 / artemest.com Addled Tall Glass in Strawberry / $191 / shoprira.com

DeCamp

Lune

Sofa from McKinnon & Harris in Cestino. Pillows in Saraband and Kaia Stripe.

Mountains Majesty

The origin of California’s Pinnacles National Park traces back some 23 million years after volcanos erupted and formed the unparalleled landscape that exists today. From caves and foot trails to woodlands and canyons, the park’s extraordinary reddish rock formations are particularly noteworthy. Located east of the Salinas Valley in Central California, near the infamous San Andreas Fault, and just 40 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the climate is as diverse as the land, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. nps.gov/pinn

Clockwise from top right: Lapis Lazuli Square Clock / $645 / seamanschepps.com Sedona Travertine / Price upon request

Marmo Footed Glass Bowl by Vetrerie di Empoli / $1,800 / lustare.com

Bambole Two-Seater Sofa in Ochre Boulée by Mario Bellini / Price upon request / bebitalia.com Ombrelle Pedestal Table by Cristián Mohaded / $2,265 / roche-bobois.com

Rug / Price upon request / samad.com Fireleaf Golden Coral Necklace / $28,800 / mishfinejewelry.com

Bridge the Gap

Don’t be fooled by its name: Though West Virginia’s New River Gorge was recently added to the National Park Service, the New River is one of the oldest rivers in North America. Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, the park covers 70,000 acres of forestland which provides visitors plentiful opportunities for hiking, whitewater rafting and rock climbing. This postcardworthy destination is also home to the New River Gorge Bridge—the third highest in the country. nps.gov/neri

Clockwise The shinola.com Claret Dolomite / Price upon request / demurodas.com Petrova Fire Screen / $1,495 / arteriorshome.com Chair Price Tura Seeded Glass Low Voltage Sconce / Price upon request / hubbardtonforge.com Ombré Fog

Clockwise from top right: The Runwell Shoulder Bag / $650 / . Gem Cabinet in Claret Dolomite / Price upon request / . Cleo Chair by Marcel Wanders Studio / Price upon request / fendicasa.com . Tura Seeded Glass Low Sconce / Price upon / Ombré Table Runner in Fog / $80 / stfrank.com

Sourcing the highest quality marble, quartzite, quartz, granite, and soapstone for a meticulously curated collection to ensure your search for surfaces ends with Architectural Surfaces. Visit a showroom today.

Three Generations of Design

LILLIAN AUGUST DESIGN DEITY CONFESSIONS of a

Some say that three is a magic number. For Lillian August, it certainly is. For more than three decades she has been a leading figure in the world of high-end interior and lifestyle design. With her son and co-founder, Dan Weiss, and now the addition of her granddaughter and marketing director, Eliza Weiss, by her side, August’s world-renowned brand boasts three generations of talent, skill and expertise that continues to bring traditional elegance and innovative ideas to her celebrated lines of fine indoor and outdoor home furnishings, textiles, wallcoverings, lighting, wall décor and rugs. In the following interview, August shares insights into her history, design aesthetic and unique eye for quality, detail and color, as well as the 15-year partnership she shares with Sherrill Furniture– all of which has made both Lillian August the woman and Lillian August the brand truly legendary.

Share a bit of your brand’s history and evolution. I began designing textiles in the 1970s with a line of English country house-inspired quilts and crafts. This allowed me to expand into licensed collections of fabrics, wallcoverings, and later, furniture with outstanding makers like Sherrill Furniture. With my granddaughter joining, we are reaching younger lifestyle customers with fresh designs and creative expressions like our recent outdoor fabric license with Tempo Fabrics and exciting new wallcovering designs with Wallquest.

Describe your aesthetic. Whether it is historic or fresh from the Paris runways, color, patterns and textures have always inspired me.

What are the hallmarks of your brand’s personality? Lillian August is a go-to brand for interior designers wanting to achieve unique lifestyle looks with exceptional quality and classic design.

We work in a wide variety of styles because our customers live in different parts of the country and have different wants, needs, tastes and visions. And the fact that we offer so many fabrics, finishes, colorways and customization options allows our pieces to adapt to any fresh design ideal our clients can dream up.

What is exciting you creatively right now? Our latest designs are leaning into three unique lifestyles. First is Hollywood Regency, which blends maximalist glamour with bold, bright colors and patterns. Next is New Traditional, which will expand into indoor and outdoor textile collections that combine a traditional coastal concept with a fun, youthful twist. Finally, our Vintage Roundtop mixes natural materials and relaxed finishes for a masculine, mountain house feel that represents Dan’s aesthetic point of view.

What constitutes good design? Timelessness, great taste and an original mix of colors, materials and creature comforts.

“I am so proud to be celebrating 30 years and 3 generations of hard work and success with our family, friends, colleagues and fans of great design.”

LILLIAN AUGUST

Outdoor Invitational

TAKE A SEAT ON ONE OF THESE FABULOUS ALFRESCO FINDS AND SAVOR A MOMENT IN THE SUN.

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY KATHRYN GIVEN AND SARAH SHELTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK FRANCES

EN MASSE

Los Angeles-based Bend Goods takes cues from modern architecture and midcentury design to craft their wide range of wire furniture. The sleek powdercoated Rachel Chair, shown in Peacock Blue, White and Yellow, features grated construction that allows air to easily filter and water to drain from the seat, making it an ultra-practical outdoor option. On the floor, Chilewich’s Boucle Woven Floor Mat in Tangerine and Bamboo Woven Floor Mat in Spring Green are fitting en plein air accompaniments. bendgoods.com; chilewich.com

FLEXIBLE FORM

Silicone rubber is Philadelphia-based designer Nick Missel’s material of choice. For his Cube series—exclusive to Frampton Co. in New York City—Missel devised perfectly imperfect textured perches that begin as a mold made from discarded cardboard and layered with silicon until the ideal shape and size are achieved. The gel-like surface of each one-of-a-kind piece comfortably cradles the sitter, allowing them to ever so slightly sink into its surface. shop.framptonco.com

LANGUID LOUNGER

Meet the Sloth Chair, the latest debut from Maximilian Eicke’s studio Max ID NY. Portable, foldable, stackable and handwoven of a synthetic fiber, the dramatic curves of the chaise mimic the shape of waves and sand dunes. Available in six colors, this uniquely cool take on the classic sun chair remains lightweight for toting to the beach yet stylish enough to be a permanent poolside fixture. maxidnystore.com

JARDIN DELIGHT

French flair is synonymous with Fermob, the chic outdoor furniture and accessory company whose work can be found scattered across Paris’ parks and green spaces. Fermob tapped Frédéric Sofia to rethink legendary designs in their Luxembourg collection (shown), which are inspired by the iconic garden of the same name and its original furniture from 1923. The low-back, aluminum Compact Bench (in foreground) is Sofia’s latest interpretation. The 57" Bench in Ice Mint, 2/3-Seater Bench in Frosted Lemon and 2-Seater Garden Bench in Opaline Green—their newest hue—round out the colorful offerings. fermob.com; chilewich.com

STACK ‘EM UP

Quincy Ellis is the color guru behind Facture’s molded resin furniture and objects. Working out of a large Brooklyn warehouse, he brings designs to life that push the boundaries of color to realize striking combinations and gradation shifts that appear simple to the eye but require complex construction. Featuring smooth, matte finishes with gradual hue variations, the Meld Stool, Scale Pyramid and Meld Side Table (from top), can function as compact outdoor perches or bold tabletop surfaces. Custom shapes and colors are available. tulestefactory.com; chilewich.com

FORTINA for

Fortina is an exceptional architectural system that deceives the senses by mimicking the appearance of wood slats and louvers using lightweight aluminum with hyper-realistic nonPVC surfaces.

This system was the ideal choice for this luxury residential home as it not only provides the same organic feel and warmth of real wood, but also offers several advantages such as lower cost, reduced environmental impact, ease of installation, fire rated, and consistent color and finish. The Fortina Louvers offers the perfect solution for emulating the look of wood without any of the limitations.

ICON REIMAGINED

On the cusp of their 20th

anniversary, Danish design brand HAY was approached by American legacy manufacturer Herman Miller to reimagine a selection of Eames mid-century furnishings and accessories, including the classic Wire Chairs, shown here in Powder Yellow, Black Blue, Mint Green and Iron Red. With HAY’s fresh take on color and Eames’ world-famous designs, the collaboration bridges the past and present to excite modern-day collectors and vintage enthusiasts alike. hermanmiller.com

LIVING

Elevated entertaining in west Texas and a round-up of next-level pool houses have Luxe yearning for sunny days ahead.

Home on the Ranch

THE MARFA, TEXAS, RETREAT OF HOSPITALITY MAVEN LIZ LAMBERT SPEAKS THE LANGUAGE OF PLACE.

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY KATHRYN GIVEN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BUFF STRICKLAND

STYLING BY LAUREN SANDERS

“I strongly believe that a home should feel of a place,” Liz Lambert explains of her Marfa, Texas, abode, which is a true reflection of the surrounding area’s distinct culture. For the Austin-based hotelier, who made her mark designing some of the country’s top hospitality destinations, far west Texas inspires everything from materiality and building techniques, to the items she uses for decorating and entertaining.

Lambert’s residence is situated on her family’s sprawling cattle ranch located between

the Chinati and Davis Mountains. When she returned home to Texas after a stint in New York City, Lambert set out to find a home near where she grew up. Fortunately, she didn’t have to search far after realizing an existing bunk house structure on the property could be transformed with a few tweaks. Soon, a screened-in porch and section of the kitchen were built using traditional adobe masonry and outfitted with regionally sourced furniture. “A lot of friends helped me put this house

together,” Lambert explains. “Most of what you see in here is local and really speaks to where we are.”

Whether guests prefer lounging by the water tank or escaping the Texas heat with a dip in the alfresco bathtub, the ranch celebrates life outdoors and the natural beauty found in this corner of the country. When it comes to the interiors, there is an honest purity to the space that allows for an easy, laid-back lifestyle in which friends

At Liz Lambert’s home in Marfa, the screened-in porch acts as a gathering spot for relaxing and entertaining. On the table are terra-cotta plates collected in Mexico and textiles from Lambert’s collection, Perennials by Far West, including pillows in Serape Stripe and placemats in Baja Stripe.

With a view that stretches for miles across far west Texas, the porch features a Playa Stripe runner along with a dog bed upholstered in Baja Stripe and pillows in Campo Stripe.

come and go with ease. Most meals are served family style by Lambert’s brother, acclaimed chef Lou Lambert, who uses the Wolf Range for pinto beans as much as he does the campfire for grilling dinner.

For the table, Lambert gathers pared down native flora and fauna along with objects collected from the land. Place settings feature beautiful terra-cotta plates and bowls made in neighboring Mexico. “I think simplicity is beautiful,” Lambert notes.“I gravitate towards places where things fall away; the simpler a place is, the more you feel at home.”

One motif the aesthete does collect in abundance, though, is stripes. The classic print was the starting point for her new textile collection, Perennials by Far West, made in collaboration with the performance fabric and rug company. “I’ve had a history with stripes,” Lambert explains. “From using them in projects to collecting hand-woven Peruvian

textiles and Nepalese saddle blankets. So we began by examining each of these patterns.” And what evolved was a colorful, bohemian-inspired line comprising five fabric and three rug designs that work just as well indoors as they do outside.

Lambert, a partner at MML Hospitality, and her team at Lambert McGuire Design, put their heads together with Ann Sutherland at Perennials—bonding over Texas and tequila— to dream up patterns fitting in any number of applications while still evoking the place for which they were inspired: far west Texas. “T he idea was to start with stripes and put together a collection where each pattern could live on its own while also complementing one another,” she says. The line is already right at home on the ranch: Lambert’s used it for upholstering vibrant throw pillows, dog beds and even a camper van. At home indeed. perennialsfabrics.com; farwestcollective.com

The open-air bathtub behind the bunkhouse becomes essential during dusty, dry summers on the ranch. Hanging is a striped robe used at El Cosmico, Lambert’s hotel at the southern edge of the city.

2023 KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN COMPETITION

BEST OVERALL BATH

FIRST PLACE | PRIMARY BATH

Mary Maney, CKBD

Crystal Kitchen + Bath

crystalkitchen.com | crystalkitchenbath

Photography Rob Grosse of Spacecrafting

The Serene Luxury primary bath by designer Mary Maney, CKBD, of Crystal Kitchen + Bath in Crystal, Minnesota, won Best Overall Bath due to an elegant design that overcame myriad structural challenges. Marble is incorporated throughout the bath to add a feeling of luxury, while a rug pattern with a mosaic inlay centered in front of the freestanding tub creates interest. The resulting space, with its minimalistic style and fluid lines, combines a mix of tradition and modernism for a truly compelling bath.

Mary Maney CKBD

There are many different rooms and moments that make up a home. But it is an undeniable truth that the kitchen and bath are at the center of it all. They bring the function every household must have, but they’ve also become the hub of the home in another way: they often serve as a design foundation, setting the tone for everything else. Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association celebrates the very best of these all-important spaces in its Kitchen & Bath Design Competition. Keep reading to explore the iconic concepts that are taking their place in NKBA history in 2023. nkba.org/designcompetition

BEST OVERALL KITCHEN FIRST PLACE | SMALL KITCHEN

Sarah Robertson, AKBD Studio Dearborn studiodearborn.com | studiodearborn

The Creek Lane Kitchen by Sarah Robertson, AKBD, founder and principal of Studio Dearborn in Mamaroneck, New York, was designed for privacy, serenity and a connection to nature. It was also a kitchen that had to effectively accommodate the homeowners’ five cats, hence the “must-have” floor drain for the pets’ watering station. The beautiful mix of materials and integrated details combined with the practical storage and functionality of this kitchen made it a clear winner.

Photography Adam Kane Macchia Photography

Sarah Robertson AKBD

FIRST PLACE

Crystal Kitchen + Bath Crystal, Minnesota crystalkitchen.com | crystalkitchenbath

Photography Rob Grosse of Spacecrafting

PRIMARY BATH

FIRST PLACE

D’Amore Interiors Denver, Colorado damoreinteriors.com | damoreinteriors

Photography Tim Gormley of TG Image

SECOND PLACE

Kendall Ansell Interiors Coquitlam, British Columbia kendallansell.com | ka_interiors

Photography Janis Nicolay Photography

Kendall Ansell Principal Co-designer: Katelyn Woods, Senior Interior Designer

SECONDARY BATH

THIRD PLACE

EOLO A&I Design Miami, Florida eolodesigns.com | eolodesign

Photography Eugenio Willman of Emotion Works

Sandra Diaz-Velasco Principal Architect

SECOND PLACE

Henrietta Heisler Interiors Inc. Lancaster, Pennsylvania henriettaheislerinteriors.com

henriettaheislerinteriors

Photography Justin Tearney Photography

THIRD PLACE DeMane Design Gig Harbor, Washington demanedesign.com

Photography Tammy Dwight Architectural Photography

Mary Maney CKBD, Designer

Gina D’Amore Bauerle Owner

Nichol Hollinger CKBD, Senior Interior Designer

Nancy Finneson CKBD, Interior Designer

FIRST PLACE

Lori Carroll & Associates

Tucson, Arizona loricarroll.com | lori_carroll

Photography Jon Mancuso

Lori Carroll

Interior Designer

Co-designer: Kat Saucedo, Designer

POWDER ROOM

FIRST PLACE

Welton Design Group Surrey, British Columbia

welton_design_group

Photography Tracey Ayton Photography

SECOND

PLACE

Jaque Bethke Design

Scottsdale, Arizona jaque.design | jaquebethke

Photography Edward Zak Photography

Jaque Bethke Interior Designer and Architect

SPECIALTY KITCHEN

THIRD

PLACE

Jaque Bethke Design

Scottsdale, Arizona

jaque.design | jaquebethke

Photography Phil Johnson of Provisuals Media

Jaque Bethke Interior Designer and Architect

SECOND

PLACE

Doug Walter Architects Denver, Colorado | dougwalterarchitects.com dougwalterarchitects

Photography Justin Tearney Photography

THIRD

PLACE

Studio Stratton

San Diego, California studiostratton.com | Studio Stratton Inc.

Photography Martin Mann Photography

Lance Stratton

Residential Designer

Co-designers: Kate LeCount and Tom King

Rebecca Foster Director of Design

Douglas Walter CMKBD, Architect

FIRST PLACE

Bluebell Kitchens Wayne, Pennsylvania | bluebellkitchens.com bluebell_kitchens

Photography Christian Garibaldi

LARGE KITCHEN

FIRST PLACE

Studio Dearborn Westchester, New York studiodearborn.com | studiodearborn

Photography Adam Kane Macchia, Macchia Photography

SECOND PLACE

Marla Nazzicone Designs Toronto, Ontario mndesign.ca | marlanazzicone

Photography Mike Chajecki

THIRD PLACE

Bluebell Kitchens Wayne, Pennsylvania | bluebellkitchens.com bluebell_kitchens

Rebecca McAlpin

SMALL KITCHEN

SECOND PLACE

Estee Design Interiors

Toronto, Ontario esteedesign.com | esteedesigns

Photography Mike Chajecki and Victoria Malanowski, Mike Chajecki Photography

THIRD PLACE

Nar Design Group Sacramento, California nardesigngroup.com | nardesign

Photography Fred Donham, PhotographerLink

Photography

Lori Kurnitsky Designer

Marla Nazzicone Integrative Designer Lori Kurnitsky Designer

Sarah Robertson AKBD, Founder and Principal

Svetlana Tryaskina Co-Founder

Nar Bustamante President and Principal Designer

NKBA’s 2024 Kitchen & Bath Design Competition opens for submissions on April 1, 2023. All entries are welcome, including non-member submissions. Cash prizes of $100,000 will be given out to award winners, with Best Overall Kitchen and Best Overall Bath each taking home $20,000. For more information and to enter, please go to nkba.org/designcompetition.

Chosen by a panel of NKBA-Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designers, these distinguished projects and their creators represent the best and brightest in the industry.”

- BILL DARCY, CEO

Sweet Escape

TODAY’S HAUTE POOL HOUSES ARE BEING DESIGNED AS DESTINATIONS UNTO THEMSELVES.

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY GRACE BEULEY HUNT

The louvred façade of this South Carolina retreat creates a shaded dining terrace. Designer Elly Poston Cooper lined the pool deck with crisp white chaises to echo the symmetry of the architecture by McAlpine.

DAILY SANCTUARY

Elly Poston Cooper’s clients would have loved a vacation house, but there simply wasn’t time for one. The solution? Transform their South Carolina property into a getaway. “They wanted to create the magic of taking a holiday in their own backyard,” elaborates Poston Cooper, who joined forces with McAlpine on the design of an enchanting pool house boasting a chef’s kitchen, bunk room and lofted lounge. “We wanted it to feel like a destination,” she adds, pointing to kicky flourishes like the rattan drums, shuffleboard table and Peter Dunham Fig Leaf fabric on the lounge chairs and pillows. “It plays off the grounds and feels great for summer, but fresh and funky the rest of the year,” the designer notes. Meanwhile, beanbag chairs in Heather Chadduck’s Little Bamboo print can easily move to the pool deck or lawn, where the thoughtful addition of a white stone wall caters to movie screenings. While the outbuilding has hosted fundraisers, birthday parties, and even a wedding, the everyday delights are what assure Poston Cooper of a mission accomplished. “On Sunday nights, they’ll order pizza to the pool house and have family dinner,” she says. “It’s where they go to unplug.” ellyposton.com

RUSTIC RAUCOUS

“It truly is a catchall,” shares Julie Massucco Kleiner of the souped-up pool house she designed for a sports-loving family of entertainers. Kleiner’s clients sought to create a party HQ on their new San Juan Island, Washington, property, and an existing storage barn at the edge of the forest was just the answer. In collaboration with Studio AM Architecture & Interiors and Wygal Builders, Kleiner revamped the structure from head-to-toe, refinishing the exterior with a dramatic charcoal stain. Inside, the team implemented a world-class entertaining program tailored to large gatherings that includes a full kitchen and bar (replete with beer keg and wine systems), “the world’s largest sectional,” per Kleiner, and rolling pool and ping-pong tables wi th hard-top covers that can easily be pushed together to create a makeshift 60-person dinner table. Carrying the space’s blue-and-white scheme through to the exterior living areas, Kleiner selected an Ann Sacks tile with “a retro, Slim Aarons feel,” to rim the pool, complemented by striped chaises and scalloped umbrellas. From its flexible, fun-first amenities to the preppy palette that nods to the family’s east coast roots, the finished result is “very atypical,” Kleiner admits. Just as intended. massuccowarner.com

GANGS ALL HERE

It’s not often that clients buy a house specifically because its acreage is perfect for erecting the pool house of their dreams. But that’s exactly why a young family purchased their Scarsdale, New York, abode, tasking Alisberg Parker Architects and Lucy Harris Studio with rendering an entertainer’s paradise on its outskirts. “It was our job to design something that belongs with the landscape and aligns with the architecture of the main house,” says principal Ed Parker, who echoed the existing structure’s palette and stonework while spinning things in a decidedly modern, laid-back direction. “It really feels like a retreat—almost like having a weekend home in the backyard,” reflects director of architecture, Shaun Gotterbarn.

“They wanted a place to relax, k ick back with friends and feel like they’re getting away from it all,” adds designer Lucy Harris who, aided by team members Kelley Roach, Jaclyn Doherty and Stephanie Saltzman, channeled the hospitable, hard-living chic of a boutique hotel for the interiors. Custom furnishings in sinuous shapes, natural material details and a fresh palette of blues and neutrals energized with red accents lend an off-duty vibe that’s “still elegant, but less buttoned up,” Harris notes.

While boasting plentiful amenities (including guest quarters and a semisubterranean basketball court), the beating heart is the pool-level lounge with its showstopping wet bar backed in book-matched marble. “It’s a little bit show business and a little bit sculpture,” muses director of interior architectural design, Will Jameson. “We got to play with some fun ideas, like the wooden slats on the front that shimmer as you move like a Bridget Riley painting.” The swank space merges seamlessly to the outdoor living areas, aided by bifold glass doors and garage-style windows. “You can have 30 people over at the drop of a hat with all the different seating areas,” notes Parker—and the clients often do. The husband hosts a basketball league, the wife runs a tennis group, and the kids’ entourage lives in the pool come summer. Concludes Harris, “It really is a playhouse for everyone.” alisbergparker.com; lucyharrisstudio.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Tomas Espinosa

PROFESSIONAL

Claire Rosen, B.F.A., photography, 2006, Parakeet 1, archival pigment print, 60 x 40 in.

CURATION, CUSTOM COMMISSIONS, AND WHITE-GLOVE INSTALLATION

INDOOR + OUTDOOR LIVING

Indoor-outdoor living is undergoing a true renaissance right now. As more people embrace working, playing and entertaining from home, pursuing a rich and varied lifestyle—both inside and out—has become essential. That is precisely why today’s homeowners are demanding that their interior and exterior spaces provide them with the same flexibility, luxury, highly-personal style and gratifying creature comforts. In response, designers, brands, makers, manufacturers, artisans and craftspeople are conceiving and producing innovative goods, services and designs that deliver on these wants and needs, while allowing homeowners and their families to move seamlessly between the two environments. Turn the page to meet these creators and learn how their talents and skills are taking the indoor-outdoor lifestyle to new and greater heights.

Basin Pool Designs

ATELIER VALS

502.498.0840 | aterliervals.design | ateliervals

Sometimes a moment of inspiration can last a lifetime. Todd Hart, founder and creative director of Atelier Vals, was awed on a journey to the Swiss Alps mountain town of Vals, renowned for its natural stone. While there he visited architect Peter Zumthor’s creation Therme Vals and shares that, “Visiting the Therme Vals and observing the interaction of elements—stone, concrete, light and water—was inspirational and guided my vision in establishing Atelier Vals.” Hart has more than 40 years of experience in the hardscape industry and specializes in creating bespoke designs. “Atelier Vals culture is to communicate well and create customized projects,” he says. “I set out to collaborate with the people and projects that appreciate a high level of detail—clients with an expectation of direct, personal attention throughout the construction process and who demand a product of the highest quality.”

POPULAR PRODUCTS

The most frequent requests made of the Atelier Vals team include large module Vals Stone, coping and deck material, as well as custom elements like large dining tables, fire and water features and planters. Hart adds that some of the more unique requests have included “large water basins, custom fire features and floating steps with build-in light niches.”

INDOOROUTDOOR FLOW

With the expansion of living spaces from the indoors to outside, flexible usage has become the norm for homeowners. Hart says, “Landscape architects and designers are being challenged to come up with aesthetically pleasing spaces that draw you from the inside to the outside.” Vals Stone can be used inside and out, and creates a consistent hardscape that “makes the interior feel larger and the outside more intimate,” Hart explains. “It’s all about the flow.”

Top This outdoor firepit seating area features Vals Stone stepping stones and wall caps. Left The Bellinzona dining table with a hand-selected timber base and Vals Stone TZ finish top perfectly suits its natural environment on a farm in West Tennessee. Right A TZ finish on the infinity overflow wall of this pool is accentuated by a custom fire feature with TZ accents. Photography Top by Tim Furlong

“We personalize every project to deliver premium Vals Stone furnishings and tile that are the ultimate in function and form.”

TODAY’S TRENDS

Homeowners are looking for sophisticated, timeless pool designs. Buchholz says, “Creating a watershape that blends easily into the space is incredibly important.”

Speaking to yesterday’s looks, he shares:

“I am hopeful that the days of the rock water features and grottos are gone. Streamlined, sleek and sexy will always be timeless—and creating a watershape that speaks more to understated luxury is truly our goal.”

WELLNESS CENTERS

Another item clients are asking for is a full-service creation Buchholz has termed “wellness centers.” He explains: “In addition to pools and hot tubs, we are seeing an increased interest in saunas and cold plunges. Studies show the benefits of cold and heat immersion, and clients are catching on.” The company is proud to create these healthy environments, as Buchholz enthuses: “Few things excite me more!”

BASIN POOL DESIGNS

615.790.0299 | basinpooldesigns.com | basin_pool_designs

The easier one makes something to use, the more likely it is to actually be put to use. Believe it or not, that’s even true of home swimming pools. Designer and builder Nick Buchholz of Basin Pool Designs says, “When a watershape is designed away from the home, the client uses it less. It becomes more of a chore to pack up and head out to the pool. It’s better to be able to open the back door and jump in!” He adds, “Viewing the pool from inside of the house can also create a zen-like setting if it’s integrated fluidly into the environmental backdrop.” In the journey to creating the perfect spaces for their clients, Buchholz notes that the path isn’t always quick and easy and he recommends clients lean on Basin’s expertise. He shares, “Stepping back and letting a watershape designer approach the backyard with an eye for efficient use of space will ultimately produce a better project.”

Above The serene feel of this watershape was enhanced through a collaboration with Atelier Vals. Top This vanishing-edge pool provides a low visual screen to invite the surrounding landscaping into the living area of the home. Bottom Tight lot lines offer an opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind environment.

Photography Top & Bottom by Jimi Smith Photography

“Clients want to tie backyard areas into indoor living spaces, and with smooth transitions we create an inviting environment.”

615.790.0299

Photography by Jimi Smith Photography

FIREROCK FEATURES

Edmonds shares a few ways FireRock stands apart:

• FireRock offers more than 40 variations of masonry fireplaces, all featuring our patented, curved lintel to aid in smoke-draw, something particularly important for outdoor use.

• Wet-cast concrete pavers are a safer and more affordable alternative to natural stone. Our suite of five color and two finish options provides customization to fit any aesthetic.

• Steel windows and doors are not only beautiful and practical, they’re also built to last, with more durable materials than traditional windows.

FUNCTION

+ FLOW

Utilizing FireRock pavers, in conjunction with steel doors, creates a natural flow for living and entertainment that is both functional and beautiful.

FIREROCK BUILDING MATERIALS

888.876.1025 | firerock.us | firerock_inc

It’s more than just the house that makes a home what lies beyond the four walls of a residence is just as important. Outdoor living, today more than ever, is an investment not only in one’s property but in quality of life, something FireRock understands well as a provider of high-end building materials for both inside and outside living. “We began 20 years ago as a manufacturer of pre-engineered masonry fireplaces, so understanding the heart of a home is key to our business,” explains CEO Bryson Edmonds. He adds, “Our products set the stage to help the homeowner better enjoy their property.” Since its founding, FireRock has expanded production to include architectural-grade concrete pavers, and added custom steel doors and windows, slate and cedar roofing, and hardwood floors to its product offering. FireRock is also a preferred partner for luxury home builders across the country.

Above FireRock’s vent-free fireplace, featuring a split herringbone firebrick pattern, serves as the focal point in this quaint home office. Top FireRock 24-by-24-inch Oyster pavers and 12-by-24-inch steel coping in a modern finish line this zero-entry pool. Bottom MT50 thermallybroken steel windows and doors improve energy efficiency and condensation resistance.

Photography Bottom by Katie Bricker Photography

“Optimize your outdoor living investment by giving it the same attention and care as your interiors.”

PEACOCK PAVERS

800.264.2072 | peacockpavers.com | peacockpavers

Creating the perfect indoor-outdoor lifestyle begins with the best materials. That is why Peacock Pavers are the natural choice for homeowners and design-build professionals who demand the finest-quality pavers that provide exceptional beauty and enduring function both inside and out. First developed in 1978, Peacock Pavers offer durability and affordability, while staying current with design trends and retaining the unique handcrafted appeal that makes them an absolute design must. “Made with a unique patented process—U.S. Patent No. 11,000,970—Peacock Pavers have a startling similarity to crosscut travertine,” say founders and owners, Don and Ann Gordon. “They offer an ideal surface that easily transitions from interior to exterior spaces. Handcrafted in a multitude of materials and colors, our pavers create uninterrupted elegance that enhances any taste or environment.”

SOLID FOUNDATIONS

Ann and Don Gordon share their insights on exceptional indooroutdoor living.

• What are homeowners’ most popular requests?

Outdoor kitchens are as integral to today’s lifestyles as those indoors, and Peacock Pavers is the perfect flooring to seamlessly transition between the two. Our large-format pavers are a particular favorite with our clients right now.

• Talk about your collaborative approach with clients.

Although our pavers are available in six standard colors, we frequently collaborate with designers to create custom colors and unique trim pieces like baseboards, coping and treads that add the perfect finishing touch.

• Share a tip for keeping outdoor environments in top condition.

Work with landscape designers and outdoor maintenance professionals to keep pavers well-drained as well as sealed with high-quality sealers.

• How are you responding to the increased demand for sustainability?

Handcrafted from concrete, our Peacock Pavers qualify as an LEED-certified, sustainable material source.

Top Dolphin Grey and Slate pavers add dramatic impact to this courtyard’s chic classic design.

Photography Courtesy of Peacock Pavers

“Peacock Pavers’ ability to seamlessly transition from indoors to out makes us the perfect choice for today’s lifestyles.”

In Living Color

A designer revitalizes a vintage Charlotte abode boasting special ties to the city’s most iconic museum.

WRITTEN BY MAILE PINGEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUSTIN PECK

Interior Design: Jolee Fennebresque, Fennebresque Interiors

Home Builder: John Bourgeois, Bourgeois McGinn Builders

In the breakfast room, a Villa & House console partners with Darnell & Company-sourced lamps and a Charles Stewart ottoman upholstered in Brunschwig & Fils’ Bellary cotton. Schumacher’s Malaga wallpaper provides the backdrop for a Hego collage mounted by Campania Fine Moulding.

s an original driving force behind The Mint Museum, North Carolina’s first art museum, the late Mary Myers Dwelle would likely be tickled to know that the family inhabiting her former Charlotte abode is carrying on her artistic interests. “The homeowners are a super dynamic couple, very involved in their community and inspired by art and culture,” shares their designer, Jolee Fennebresque. So passionate, in fact, is her clients’ interest in collecting that Fennebresque shelved her usual creative approach—to start with the rugs—and instead let their artworks serve as the springboard for eclectic, vivacious rooms.

Fortunately, the dwelling, found in the city’s historic Eastover neighborhood, had been renovated a few years before by revered residential designer Frank Smith, a fact that allowed Fennebresque to focus her efforts on the more decorative aspects of the home. Still, the family’s arrival of a third child during the project required revising course, as it meant the owners suddenly needed another bedroom. To create more space, they called upon general contractor John Bourgeois, a longtime family friend, to build a garage and guest suite drawn by Smith. Now, a generous retreat designed in keeping with the main residence, both inside and out, awaits visiting grandparents. “This property is classic Eastover architecture,” explains Bourgeois, pointing to the whitewashed brick façade and shuttered sash windows. “By keeping the existing details, you can really see the evolution of the house over the years.”

“It’s a very traditional layout,” Fennebresque adds. “When you walk in the front door, the living room is to the left and the dining room is to right, with the kitchen and family room all the way to the back.” But that’s where the commonness stops. “Each room evolved from the art,” she reveals. “The clients would show me new pieces they’d found, then we added furnishings to complement and highlight their eclectic tastes.” For the living room, composed with assistance from designer Kate Duffy, Fennebresque placed a bright, green painting by Lithuanian-based artist Lina Lago above the fireplace, countered by an emerald-

hued sofa. “We didn’t want to match the painting, but we needed that level of saturation; the nailhead trim adds strength, as well,” she notes. Bringing in blue lounge chairs with deep bouillon fringe, sculptural side chairs, and multicolored pillows and drapery fabrics assembled the space in a refreshingly unconventional way. “We wanted to mix things up,” Fennebresque adds. A perfect case in point? The pairing of Hepplewhite-style side chairs with an acrylic games table—for a surprisingly sympatico result. “The forms of the chairs are familiar, but we pushed them a little with the red geometric upholstery,” the designer says. “The Southern homes of today are about having elements of traditional design but making them fresh and fun.”

Fennebresque approached the coral-hued dining room in a similar fashion. “The artwork set the palette, then we found the rug, and the rest fell into place,” she shares. A commissioned piece by Sally King Benedict depicts the couple’s children, for example. And rather than put the striking wallpaper where it might be expected, Fennebresque took it to the ceiling, where it balances the patterns of the rug and armchairs. Still, reception rooms weren’t the only spaces to take their cues from the artwork. The greens and blues of the kitchen and family room respond directly to an azure landscape by Mary Rountree Moore, while the breakfast room gets a caffeine boost from a collage of bright yellow tea bags composed by Australian artist Hego, a friend of the couple’s, plus a target painting by Florida talent Stephanie Henderson.

Meanwhile, a few existing wallcoverings already felt perfect for the house, so Fennebresque and her clients agreed to keep them. Take, for instance, the primary bathroom’s Chinoiserie wallpaper in a pale seafoam shade simply too pretty to alter. “Why not retain the charm that’s there?” posits Fennebresque, who emphasized the hue in the adjoining bedroom. “Why not make it last?”

Much like the vibrant family that now calls it home, “This is a warm and happy house, where every space is joyful,” says Fennebresque, summing: “I find it inspiring to draw upon classic Southern traditions but have a little more fun with art, color and pattern.” And beginning with the art, she believes, would have left Mary Myers Dwelle just as delighted.

“Each room evolved from the art . We added furnishings to complement and highlight the owners’ eclectic tastes .”

–JOLEE FENNEBRESQUE

Pillows of Clarence House’s Kasbah textile accent a Bunny Williams Home sofa in the living room. Above is a framed tapestry from Blowing Rock Antiques. Lee Industries swivel chairs, an Interlude Home coffee table and a Currey & Company ceiling fixture—all from A. Hoke Ltd.—gather atop the Moattar rug.

Right: Scalamandré’s Tortoiseshell wallcovering, brass pulls from Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath and a coordinating Brizo Artesso faucet outfit the bar. The Oushak runner is from Charlotte Rug Gallery.

Opposite: Maxwell Fabrics velvet panels flank a Sally King Benedict painting against Schumacher sisal walls in the dining room. Hickory Chair side chairs wear Clarence House’s Avery textile; Charles Stewart skirted seating dons Quadrille’s Fairie Enchantee Toile.

“This is a warm and happy house , where every space is joyful .”

–JOLEE FENNEBRESQUE

Charles Stewart counter stools covered with Duralee vinyl in Shamrock line the kitchen island below a Visual Comfort pendant. The sofa and club chair in the adjoining family room are by the same brand.

A Palecek rattan klismos chair mingles with the faux-shagreen coffee table by Lillian August.

Right: The primary bathroom’s Cole & Son Hummingbirds wallpaper was retained from a previous iteration of the home’s design. Existing marble tile floors and a streamlined soaking tub add a modernist verve.

Opposite: Schumacher for Matouk linens dress the guest house bed as Celerie Kemble’s Parasol table lamp for Arteriors rests beside it. Red Egg’s rattan Indochine Horseshoe armchair sits beneath a Manuel Vicario seascape.

Learning Curves

This Atlanta ceramicist’s free-form white stoneware fixtures celebrate the intrinsic allure of imperfection.

WRITTEN BY MICHELLE BRUNNER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY BLACKMON

While taking art classes at Ignacio Ramírez Center in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Dana Castle had a revelation.

“At the time, I was studying pre-Columbian art and I noticed a lot of the objects were utilitarian,” the Atlanta ceramicist recalls. “That was when I started to feel that art is beautiful, and beauty has its purpose, but I wanted art to be beautiful and have a purpose.”

The sentiment stuck with Castle through the decades, ultimately becoming the foundational idea behind her current-day company, Crosland + Emmons Sculptural Lighting. A trained ceramicist, Castle could have been content to mold clay into objets. Instead, she thrives on the technical challenges of experimenting with forms and negative space to create illumination. “Complexity is what I love about lighting,” she says. “Ceramics are the easy part.”

Handmade from earthenware or stoneware clay with chalky matte or glossy underglazes, Castle’s work adheres to a strict monochromatic palette that values texture and form over splashy pigments and finishes. “Color feels distracting to me; it detracts from seeing my hand in the work,” she notes. Like the contours of a corporeal form or the surface of some distant moon, flaws, bumps and dips are part of the landscape of her pieces. That delicate humanity is intentional; one fixture calls to mind a graceful tangle of bones, another a chain of stacked vertebrae. “I could make a round globe with no imperfections,” she says, “but it wouldn’t feel of-the-soul.”

Castle’s journey from student to artisan has proved as unexpected as her handmade creations. After graduating with an art history degree, her fateful sojourn in Mexico cemented her art philosophy. But upon returning to the States, she put her artistic dreams on hold for a conventional career, eventually helming a successful marketing firm. More than 20 years onward, still longing for creative release, Castle enrolled in a ceramics workshop at the Mendocino Arts Center in California. Just as she began to feel the time was right for a change, tragedy struck; she lost both of her parents to Covid. “That was the pivotal moment,” she says, “when I decided to no longer fear the unknown.”

Today, from her full-time lighting studio in Atlanta, Castle attests: “Life may not always be comfortable, and it can be scary, but I’ve committed myself to live it to the fullest.”

A multistrand stoneware chandelier dangles from the ceiling of artist Dana Castle’s Atlanta studio (opposite). Creative at heart, Castle (left) waited decades to pursue her passion for ceramics as a career. Shaping the clay by hand (below) produces the imperfections she appreciates about her organic works. Shelves in her workspace (bottom) display objects reminiscent of nature, the cosmos and the corporeal form.

BRIGHT SIDE

Layered textures and earthy accents knit a Kiawah Island vacation home to its marsh-side setting.

VENCILL

Architecture: Michael E. Karamus, Michael E. Karamus, Architect, LLC Interior Design: Angie Persson, Swell Décor Interior Design Home Builder: Maurice Mangan, Mangan Inc.

WRITTEN BY KELLY

SANCHEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA SUMRAK

Designers Angie Persson and Merrin Lowe anchored the home’s foyer with an Uttermost Ivena bench. A rattan Andes mirror and fluted-glass Hanley chandelier—both by Arteriors—accent the space. Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White keeps the background light.

mid the storied landscape of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Kiawah Island is something special to behold. A haven of unspoiled natural beauty whose resident wildlife includes bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, bobcats and alligators, the prized destination can feel worlds away from the peninsula of Charleston, located just 25 miles north. “When you arrive on the island, you immediately exhale—it’s very peaceful,” shares designer Angie Persson, who had plentiful opportunities to savor the locale’s charms while completing a vacation home that puts a premium on relaxation.

Although Kiawah boasts 10 miles of Atlantic shoreline, a couple from Charlotte had fallen for a secluded site overlooking its tidal marsh. Having visited and owned land in the area for several years, the owners’ first call was to Maurice Mangan, a general contractor they’d worked with on the renovation of their former vacation abode close by. To fashion a structure that would fulfill the clients’ vision for an easygoing and free-flowing family retreat, Mangan, in turn, suggested a frequent collaborator of his own: architect Michael E. Karamus. The duo’s task? To create an escape that would help the couple transition from quiet weekends with their children to spirited gatherings with friends.

Key to Mangan and Karamus’ concept are steep gables and a windowed stair tower with deep overhangs—classic features along the home’s approach that are keeping with local vernacular. Once across the threshold, however, visitors are rewarded to a much more modern floor plan: wide-open spaces, 10-foot-high ceilings and the unobstructed sight of the marsh straight ahead. Capturing this commanding vista, in fact, became the linchpin of the entire project. “It was all about maximizing the views,” Mangan notes. To wit, generously proportioned windows ensure every space feels immersed in the surrounding kaleidoscope of greens, golds and browns that shifts along with the seasons.

Counting three new construction projects under their belts already, the clients greeted this one with considerate ideas about how the spaces in their new home would be used. “We knew we didn’t need an office or formal dining room; that’s just not how we live out here on the island,” the wife points

out. “We’re super early risers,” she adds. “We like to sit with our coffee and watch the sun come up.” Windows all along the marsh side of the house (“for a sun room feel,” Mangan says) allow them this reality. Because Persson had previously appointed the couple’s primary residence in Charlotte, she also knew precisely how to articulate their wish for a place where nature could take center stage. “They aren’t fancy, showy people,” reveals the designer, who collaborated on the project with her former firm partner, now-retired designer Merrin Lowe, to layer unexpected patterns atop an ethereal backdrop. “She loves to cook, he loves to fish, and both love to entertain. While we went a little more colorful for their house in Charlotte, they wanted this one to be neutral and calm.”

Letting the marsh’s organic palette take center stage, Persson and Lowe specified shades of sandy beige, caramel brown and driftwood gray. Strategic strokes of black complement Mangan and Karamus’ material envelope of pale oak floors, shiplap paneling and reclaimed timber beams. A finishing layer of natural-fiber seating and performance fabrics keep rooms feeling as warm as they are practical. “Our clients are at the beach or in the pool every day, so we needed to think about durability,” Persson says. “They wanted a home where they could come in, immediately drop their beach bags and kick off their shoes.”

In Persson and Lowe’s capable hands, functional, distraction-free rooms did not equal interiors that faded into the proverbial woodwork. Their selections range from the glam fluted glass-andbrass pendant and rattan-encircled mirror in the foyer, to whimsical floor lamps and a dimensional abstract by Charlotte artist Mickey Brown above the living room fireplace—all of which hold their own against the eye-catching panorama beyond.

Landscape architect Heyward Townsend likewise looked to this fabled scenery as his muse. His team installed boxwood, native grasses and palmettos to contrast the sculptural loblolly pines poised near the rear deck and pool.

Life along the tidal marsh means the family and their guests are treated to an ever-changing spectacle of dolphins swimming up the creek, alligators sauntering past and throngs of water birds gathering to feed. “What sets Kiawah Island apart is its landscape, and the clients wanted to embrace that,” Persson concludes. By creating a home that celebrates Kiawah’s allure, the design team accomplished this much and more.

“THE FAMILY WANTED A HOME WHERE THEY COULD COME IN , IMMEDIATELY DROP THEIR BEACH BAGS AND KICK OFF THEIR SHOES .”

–ANGIE PERSSON

Reclaimed barnwood ceiling beams from Southern Lumber Supply define the living area. Vanguard sofas and leather-upholstered Bernhardt swivel chairs sit beneath a Currey & Company wrought-iron chandelier. The abstract artwork is by Mickey Brown. The pillows wear Kate Loudoun Shand’s Pow! linen.

Above: Expansive windows by Andersen Windows & Doors proffer views of marsh and creek while flooding the dining area with sunlight. Arteriors’ whitewashed Finch chandelier suspends above a CFC Douglas fir dining table and Four Hands rattan seating.

Opposite: Regina Andrew’s Sigmund pendants harmonize with the palette of the kitchen—completed with AGM Imports-sourced quartz countertops, custom cabinetry fabricated by S.L. Horning Woodworks, Inc. and Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron. Arteriors’ Richmond counter stools contribute woven texture.

“WHAT SETS KIAWAH ISLAND APART IS ITS LANDSCAPE , AND THE CLIENTS WANTED TO EMBRACE THAT .”

–ANGIE PERSSON

Occupying the gabled space above the foyer and hosting a Bernhardt sectional and high-pile Nourison rug, the lounge has become a favorite spot for the homeowners’ children to gather. The rattan chair is by Dovetail and the asymmetrical ashen walnut coffee table is by Four Hands.

Left: A blackened-steel armchair by Dovetail rests in the daughter’s bedroom. A satin-brass floor lamp by Moe’s Home Collection contrasts a ceramic vessel from Blue Ocean Traders. The Jaipur Living rug lends softness.

Opposite: Four Hands’ Anderson bed sets a serene tone in the daughter’s bedroom. The en suite bathroom beyond includes Uttermost’s Balkan mirror and matte-black Kohler fixtures.

Along the pool deck, Four Hands teak tables complement woven chaise lounges and a streamlined umbrella, both by Casual Trade. Varied palmettos balance the mature loblolly pines already on site.

Family Values

The transformation of a brood’s beloved North Carolina cabin cements its status as a legacy property for generations to come.

WRITTEN BY CHRISTINE DEORIO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS LITTLE

Architecture: Sam Edgens and Sarah Frances Herzog, Edgens Herzog Architects Interior Design: Rita Lashmet, R.L. Design Interiors Home Builder: John Lupoli and Scott Sloop, Lupoli Construction Landscape Architecture: Jeremy Smearman, Planters, Inc.

Visual Comfort’s Darlana lantern illuminates the main entry, where an Ebanista rug and Clubcu carved vessel establish a warm welcome. A steel-framed glass door by Arcadia provides a preview of the freshly renovated property’s expansive scenery.

n 1960, a humble cabin took shape in Highlands, North Carolina: poised on a ridge facing the wooded flanks of Satulah Mountain. The centenarian trees and granite outcroppings surrounding the dwelling became a playground for the youngest members of the family that summered there, and who came to know every branch, rock and rainwater pool.

As the ensuing years became decades, the cabin passed from parents to children to grandchildren who all, in turn, made updates to the property. But it was the latest alteration—completed for the original owners’ grandson and his family by architects Sam Edgens and Sarah Frances Herzog along with interior designer Rita Lashmet—that would prove most transformative.

Initially, the property’s newest stewards envisioned modest revisions to the ranch-style home: more gathering spaces and bedrooms for their large family and a second primary suite. But as the plans took shape, it became clear that minor changes simply wouldn’t do justice to the property’s awe-inspiring views.

“Here was this wonderful site, and the house didn’t take advantage of it in any way,” Edgens says. “The doors and windows weren’t very tall, and the roof overhangs were deep, so you couldn’t take in the view—and there wasn’t a place outside to enjoy it either. It became evident that we needed to raise the ceilings and roof and create a ribbon of glass at the back of the structure.” His and Herzog’s efforts thus expanded the kitchen, dining area and living room to the panorama beyond.

A new main-floor primary suite took the place of the garage, which was relocated across the driveway; the resulting gap between buildings reveals a glimpse of the dramatic vista, now fully appreciated around a fire pit that landscape designer Jeremy Smearman installed on axis with Satulah Mountain across the valley. From there, the family and their frequent guests traverse the exposed bedrock to reach a new rear terrace and screened porch. “We tried to map out the path that would be most comfortable to walk,” Smearman says, “but it was intentional to make you experience the granite,” just as the homeowner did as a child.

Giving the augmented dwelling what Edgens calls “California ranch attitude” are wide expanses

of glass. These help the home blend with its native surroundings, while a team led by general contractor John Lupoli and builder Scott Sloop clad the exterior in dark-stained board-and-batten and Tennessee fieldstone hammered to reveal imperfect edges. Smearman followed suit with a hardscape of local granite and Tennessee gray crab orchard stone intermixed with native plantings— among them mountain laurel, rhododendron and bush honeysuckle. Each variety was chosen so as not to compete with the scenery. “Because when you have a view like this, you’re never going to win,” the landscape designer notes.

That same ethos guided Lashmet’s interior updates, which “never veered from nature’s palette before us,” the designer says. For the white oak shiplap walls, she suggested a custom gray-green stain “reflective of tree bark.” For the bathrooms, she sourced etched and chiseled stones “with an outdoor feel.” And for the kitchen backsplash, “we found a white marble with veining that, when book-matched, resembles a mountain,” Lashmet adds. The kitchen cabinetry, designed in collaboration with designer Mary Kathryn Timoney, balances blue-gray painted wood with rift-sawn oak, while the accompanying bar smolders in dark metal. Each of these finishes complements the blue-streaked, leathered quartzite island countertop. “Because there’s so much natural stone in the area, it felt fitting, like a slice of the mountain,” the wife notes.

Having previously designed two Midwestern residences for the couple, Lashmet understood their desire for approachable rooms. “Comfort was important, so there are deep sofas to lounge on, cashmere throws for cozying up and chairs that swivel to face the fireplace or the view,” the designer says. Upholstery in softly colored wools, mohairs, suedes and hair-on-hides adds to the sumptuousness. “In each room, there’s at least one piece that can stand on its own as art,” Lashmet adds. “There are wooden armoires, chests and mirror frames with intricately carved details, plus a custom bronze chair in the primary bathroom that reads as sculpture.”

“Our goal was to create a place that our own children and grandchildren could continue to visit; a house we could keep in the family,” shares the wife, praising the design team’s attention to material, craftsmanship and detail. The result? An inheritable home that is sure to carry on.

The living room seating includes a carved-wood Aussonne sofa and bouclé-cushioned ebony Lem chair, both by Alfonso Marina. The Dmitriy & Co Vallone lounge chairs are from Holland & Sherry.

Above: A nook near the main entry invites relaxation via a custom banquette upholstered in Holland & Sherry mohair. Formations’ Scarpa table and Rose Tarlow Melrose House’s complementary Buttercup pendant are from Holly Hunt.

an Englishman’s Fine Furnishings oak

Opposite: Gregorius Pineo’s Vassaro chandelier in hand-forged iron hangs above

trestle table in the dining area. Custom-stained white oak shiplap adds interest here and throughout the house.

“We found a white marble with veining that, when book-matched, resembles a mountain.”

–RITA LASHMET

Stone slabs from Ciot—book-matched Calacatta Extra Premium marble on the backsplash, honed Calacatta Lincoln marble along the perimeter cabinets, leathered quartzite on the island—bring natural beauty to the kitchen. The custom cabinetry and vent hood are by Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio. Gregorius Pineo’s Vassaro Round chandeliers shine overhead.

Right: The primary bathroom’s mosaic floor is composed of Waterworks’ Signet marbles. The brand’s Voltaire cast-iron tub in burnished nickel, a custom bronze chair by Olivya Stone and The Urban Electric Co.’s Campion fixture lend metallic layers.

Opposite: In the primary bedroom, Formations’ Sienna chandelier suspends above a hand-forged iron bed. Rock Crystal Column table lamps by Vaughan—through John Rosselli & Associates—top Alfonso Marina nightstands.