Home Design & Decor Magazine - Charlotte Edition - May/June 2025
HD D& THE
Architect: Houghland Architecture; Designer: Carolina Design Associates; Photographer: Michael Blevins
ANDREW ROBY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN CHARLOTTE
, serving the community since 1950. That’s when Hungarian immigrant Andrew Robicsek founded a simple one-man remodeling and handyman service. Two years later, Roby (who changed his name) hired his first employee and superintendent, Glenn Haston. The two worked side by side for over twenty-five years. In 1976, Haston purchased the firm outright. Today, the third generation of Haston leadership continues the company’s commitment to quality and superior service.
Celebrating seventy-five years in 2025, Andrew Roby specializes in custom home construction, additions, full-home remodels, kitchen and bath renovations, and handyman services. Andrew Roby and its sister companies—Roby Services, Roby Commercial, and Roby Realty—comprise the Roby Family of Companies. Together, the companies are a one-stop shop for all residential and commercial construction and real estate needs.
Andrew Roby thrives on creating lifelong bonds with homeowners, architects, and designers. Their team works hard to bond with each client and professional partner to achieve the best results. By combining the finest materials with unsurpassed craftsmanship, providing excellent customer service, and never compromising quality by cutting corners, Andrew Roby clients enjoy the highest level of personalized service, communication, and follow-through from start to finish. Many of their clients are repeat customers and cherished friends that span generations. With offices in Boone and Asheville, the company has also expanded geographically to support local clients with their second homes or vacation homes.
As a family business with over seven decades of knowledge and experience, Andrew Roby produces high-quality work that lasts and will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Kitchen and Pantry. Architect: Charlotte In-Vironments / Designer: Anne Pearson / Photographer: Dustin Peck
We are proudly featuring several MADE IN AMERICA brands like O.W. Lee (Texas), Berlin Gardens (Ohio) and Lane Venture (Alabama & North Carolina).
DECORATIVE BURLWOOD TRAY
FEATURES
54 Alexis in Wonderland
Designer Alexis Warren’s love for pattern and color shine boldly in her Charlotte home.
66
Unified Front
One couple locks arms in design (and in color) with House of Nomad to refresh their home.
74
Home Again
Sentimentality drives the design in this colorful and timeless project by Amanda Louise Interiors.
REFINED HOME DECOR
In our workroom we believe that quality results from the pride and passion that go into each item we make. Our team is comprised of women from around the world who are finding empowerment and building confidence through creating beautiful custom home interiors. Your patronage plays a significant role in our mission to provide gainful employment opportunities for women in our community. We believe in the power of business to bring about social change, and with your support, we can continue to transform lives, one custom order at a time.
Designer Aston Moody spins her color wheel to create a home full of bold, daring hues. 30 New + Notable
Two Charlotte designers and longtime friends share office space in a Montford-area home. 35 Design
These bold spaces by local designers prove that color deserves to be seen.
38 Book Club
The most colorful and exciting book releases in the design and style world this year.
42 Trends
Artist Katie Howson collaborates with Twine & Twig to create an art-inspired collection with a coastal palette.
Curator of style Ashley Hotham Cox shares her haute bohemian hues for summer.
Tennessee is calling. Untangle for a weekend of respite at this luxury boutique property.
An insider’s guide to this summer’s gallery openings and exhibitions.
Scene + Seen Charlotte designers welcome spring at the Mint Auxiliary's annual symposium.
here are people in this world who can hear color. Synesthesia may be a mix-up of brain signals, but can you imagine the joy of hearing purple? What a feast it is to enjoy color with our eyes, and describe it with our language, but to hear it, too—it almost feels like showing off.
When asked what color she’d be if she were a color, Celerie Kemble said, “I’ve always been green, a bright green and olive green. It has a lot of energy but can also sit neutrally.” She seems pretty confident in expressing herself as a color and possibly knowing how she’s seen by others. In this way, she feels color.
It all comes down to this, doesn’t it? The way color affects our lives is immeasurable. What one person feels in a room, another sees; what one person hears in a room, another speaks about. Color infuses our senses. It oozes from the surroundings, and it screams from our thoughts. It’s a necessary part of life, and one that HD&D simply must celebrate every year.
From books on your shelves to jewelry around your neck, and from the walls in your home to the food on your plate, in this issue, color abounds. We found as many ways as we could to bring color to you, and we hope you love what we’ve found.
We leave you with this excerpt from Frida Kahlo’s journal, where she describes her new set of colored pencils. It’s quirky and perfect, and everything that’s joyful about color.
“I’ll try out the pencils sharpened to the point of infinity, which always sees ahead: Green—good warm light. Magenta—Aztec. Old TLAPALI blood of prickly pear, the brightest and oldest. Brown—color of mole, of leaves becoming earth. Yellow—madness sickness fear part of the sun and of happiness. Blue—electricity and purity love. Black—nothing is black. Really nothing. Olive—leaves, sadness, science, the whole of Germany is this color. Yellow—more madness and mystery all the ghosts wear clothes of this color, or at least their underclothes. Dark blue—color of bad advertisements and of good business. Blue—distance. Tenderness can also be this blue. Red—blood? Well, who knows!”
Blake Miller and Anne Marie Ashley Co-Editors-in-Chief
on the cover
Designer Alexis Warren infuses her personal home with bold colors and striking patterns (page 54).
CUSTOM CABINETS
HD D&
HOME DESIGN & DECOR
Publisher
Michael Kooiman
Associate Publisher
Oonagh Murray
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Anne Marie Ashley
Blake Miller
Associate Editor Karin Simoneau
Art Director
Lindsay Richards P
Production
Shelley Kemper
Writers
Brandy Woods Snow
Dana Todd
Photography
Anna Routh Barzin
Emily Bolt
Chris Edwards
Heather Ison
Dustin and Susie Peck
Brie Williams
DESIGNED TO WORK WHEREVER YOU DESIGN
Get smart, speedy and seamless color selection when you use our integrated color tools. ColorSnap tools are designed to work with you in-office, on-site, online and in-store.
Moody achieved her goal of beautiful, colorful spaces that seamlessly play off each other by weaving similar paints, complementary colorways, and fabrics throughout multiple rooms. The hallway paint down the ceiling and on the end walls of the hallway, for example, is the same paint she used on the cabinetry in the bar area. Runner: Textura. Paint: Sherwin-Williams Dard Hunter Green.
COLOR ME Irreverent
Designer Aston Moody spins her color wheel to create a bold, colorful home with unexpected twists.
Text by Blake Miller
Photography by Dustin and Susie Peck
The laundry room cabinets were a favorite of the homeowner. “She already knew she wanted to use this Tiffany Blue color, so our goal was to find a wallpaper that would complement it,” explains Moody. “This paper by Raoul Textiles was the perfect fit for the room." Wallpaper: Raoul Textiles. Artwork on counter: Harmony Faith Art.
Wthan
hen Aston Moody got the call from her client to design her Pinehurst home, the designer knew it would be a perfect match. “It was very clear from the start that she likes bold color, maximalism, animal print, and anything funky and unexpected,” says Moody. “What she wanted aligned well with my personal aesthetic, even pushing my boundaries a little bit! It was a little bolder than my personal aesthetic. A lot of the choices in this home stemmed from my gut instinct and really being allowed to be very creative.”
Creative she was. With her client’s love of wallpaper as the springboard for the home’s design, Moody curated nearly fifty paper options for her client to choose from. From each wallpaper choice, each room’s design scheme was created, layering intricate patterns in striking
“We chose the Dara fabric by Manuel Canovas for the lumbar pillow in the guest room because it was a tie-in to the Dara wallpaper we used in the owner’s bathroom on the second floor,” says Moody. “We used fabrics or papers in more
one place to create cohesion and continuity.” Drapery fabric: Emdee. Lumbar pillow fabric: Manuel Canovas. Artwork: Kristen Groner.
“Juxtaposition and a touch of irreverence are my jam,” says Moody. “You see that play out in the powder room with the timeless Lotus Garden wallpaper by Schumacher paired with rapper Biggie Smalls in an antique frame for contrast and an unexpected touch.” Wallpaper: Schumacher. Sconce shades: Brunschwig & Fils. Mirror: Celerie Kemble. Photo in hall: Slim Aarons. Stool fabric: Schumacher.
Moody wanted the mudroom to pop next to the neutral kitchen. She swathed the ceiling and back of the lockers in Schumacher’s orange Faubourg wallpaper and lacquered the walls and trim in black. The showstopper, though, is the striking, irreverent painting on the wall. “This piece was found at a gallery in Charleston and the picture does not do the craftsmanship justice,” explains Moody. “The piece has a 3D effect with various found materials used to compose her jewelry and garments.”
To infuse the bar with a masculine feel, Moody painted the cabinetry a rich evergreen with inset accent detail to complement the black-and-white mural on the walls, painted by North Carolina artist Kristen Groner. Chandelier: Visual Comfort. Bar stools: Worlds Away. Bar stools fabric: Scalamandré. Cabinetry paint: SherwinWilliams Dard Hunter Green.
colorways with rich fabrics and textures. “Some of the wallpaper selections are bold but also traditional,” says Moody. “We tried to blend the new and the old. I don’t like for everything in a room to feel brand new. We tried to bring in a few vintage, or seemingly vintage, pieces into each room to balance everything.”
Balancing modern and traditional architectural details also came in the form of lacquered walls and trim paired with a playful wallpaper on the ceiling in the mudroom. It came in crown moldings, often painted in a complementary high-gloss finish. “In any room where there is wallpaper, the trim was painted a contrast or complementary color to give those traditional details a modern edge,” says the designer. “We were constantly trying to balance somewhat traditional and timeless elements with something unexpected and almost irreverent.” Finishing touches, like a small piece of art featuring Biggie Smalls in the hallway powder room, were just the right additions for a project such as this.
With no room left untouched, the project became a lesson in how to design with color—without overdoing it. “We wanted to incorporate as much pattern and color as possible but in an elegant, sophisticated way,” says Moody—a target easily hit when the designer and homeowner are in funky sync.
AT GRAND ENTRY DOORS,
we believe your front door is more than just an entrance.
It’s the warm embrace for your family, the friendly hello to friends, and the heartfelt welcome to your guests.
It’s the gateway to your world— where you nurture loved ones, share laughter, and create lasting memories. It’s where you open your heart and home to those you cherish, offering your unique hospitality. Your entry door connects your home to the world, and we’re here to help you make that connection warm, inviting, and uniquely your own.
One Love
Two Charlotte designers share office space, a love of color, and a passion for serving clients through interior design.
Text by Anne Marie Ashley
In an old house on in the Montford area of Charlotte, two interior designers usher in clients across the hall from each other—and although they’re technically competing for business, their friendship knows no professional bounds.
Ashley DeLapp has operated her interior design business in the home for over eighteen months, and when the flipping and renovation portion of her business outgrew the other suite of the office space, she invited friend and fellow designer Wendy Fennell of Bohemian Bungalow to take it over. “We’re such good friends and share a love of color,” DeLapp says, “and we often share samples, so it seemed like a no brainer!”
As her lease was up, Fennell knew the timing was perfect. “When the seamstress I used for drapery got my order mixed up with Ashley’s years ago, as soon as we met to exchange, I knew I had a new design bestie,” recalls Fennell. “When she asked if I wanted to take over the space this year, it just made perfect sense.”
Fennell's vision board is constantly changing with the latest projects and inspirational samples, and it's also a really cool design element.
Fennell (left) and DeLapp (right) love to share color stories, samples, and the occasional glass of wine in DeLapp's pink-clad office kitchen.
Now, the pair operate separately in the same building—but with the comfortability and convenience of sharing samples, and often design ideas, working in the same space is an everyday joy.
Both designers are known for their unabashed approach to color and pattern, and while one designer’s style may zig where the other’s zags, they always find common ground in textiles and wallpaper, and color is at the heart of their design inspiration. “Color is what gives life to a space,” Fennell says. Their shared space is no exception to this rule.
This May, DeLapp finally realized her dream of opening a retail store—Belle—which sits at the front of her office space in the old home. “It’s a colorful resource for home decor, furnishings, barware, and Southern-inspired goods,” she says. “It is also be a great way for potential clients to get a feel for my aesthetic.” Fennell, on the other hand, is excited to launch new introductions this year with longtime wallcoverings partner Mitchell Black, and is heading up the Charlotte chapter of Savvy Giving by Design, designing rooms for children in medical crisis at no cost to the families—a charity that DeLapp is a part of too, of course.
While both women are constantly juggling new clients, projects, and dreams individually, they agree there is plenty of work, and love, to go around.
The hallway that leads to DeLapp's office was handpainted by Summer Savin of Stand Out Creative Design.
A vintage table greets clients and is a great space for meetings and coffee.
SHOW SOME HUEBRIS
No matter how small a space or how offbeat a room, these designers prove that with color comes purpose.
Transport
This room, designed by Marie Cloud of Indigo
Studio for the Kips Bay
was meant to be a showstopper. A vibey lounge with a relaxed feel, Cloud chose colors that were both moody and energizing. “I love using color as a mode of transportation for moods and vibes,” she says. “It really sets the tone for the right functionality of a room.”
Pruitt Design
Showhouse,
Text by Anne Marie Ashley
The Feels
Sometimes color means warm and cozy, like in the case of this den designed by Hobby Sherman “We wanted this room to feel snug despite the high ceilings, so we painted the paneling blue,” explains Sherman. “We actually started with one of my favorite textiles, Jane Shelton’s Chestnuts & Lilacs, and from there we chose Farrow & Ball Light Blue on the walls. I love using earthy colors to bring the outdoors in and add a dose of comfort when cozy is the goal.”
Day to Night
This basement, designed by Hadley Quisenberry of West Trade Interiors, aimed to cross the barrier of a big-kid hangout space and an adult speakeasy escape. “When Schumacher introduced Backdrop, I fell in love with their Fairfarren paper in the dark multicolorway, but it didn't fit my typical project profile, so I tucked the sample away,” recalls Quisenberry. “As this client described her wish list for their dual-purpose space, I knew this was the perfect application for the colorful abstract paper.”
Feminine Mystique
When designer Collins Cherry’s clients moved to Charlotte and bought a condo, it was a big change coming from a large home in Virginia.
“We wanted the feel of a big home inside a condo, so we went bold and colorful in certain spaces,” says Cherry. “A powder room is a fun place to be daring. This client loves color with a feminine touch, so pulling in colors from the wallpaper made perfect sense on the mirror and vanity.”
Deeper Meaning
This library-meets-home-office was designed by Marie Matthews as “a deeply personal, multifunctional space—ideal for both focused solo time and collaborative team meetings,” she says. “The color palette is unapologetically bold, with walls upholstered in a rich navy wool that wraps the room in warmth and dampens sound. It’s the kind of space you can sink into—literally and emotionally.” The vibrant greenpainted trim and ceiling elevate the drama while infusing the room with a spirited energy. “This palette works because it’s layered and intentional; each color has a job, a feeling to evoke, and a moment to shine.”
Visual Feast
Pattern-play and color are designer Hannah Ozburn’s calling card, so when she designed this dining room for a color-loving client, she wasn’t afraid to mix and match. “We selected a bright and cheerful color palette throughout the house with a lot of green and coral tones, and this Lake August wallpaper was one of our first selections, so the design flowed from the dining room,” Ozburn says. “I love the energy that the contrast between the vintage 1stDibs geometric host chairs and the floral paper brings to the room.”
/be-spōk/: a philosophy of beauty, by Beth
Benton Buckley
Released November 2024
Featuring Charlotte designer Beth Conant Keim and Raleigh designer Heather Garrett, this collective by Beth Benton Buckley pulls together thirty of the world’s most innovative, visionary interior designers. Design projects are showcased in twelve color-drenched pages each, with editorial speaking to each designer’s ethos. Buckley’s introduction calls on us to appreciate the profound impact wellcrafted spaces have on our emotional and physical experiences. amazon.com
Color Correction
Inspired by the release of /be-spōk/: a philosophy of beauty, these new and upcoming releases will not only school you on color mixing—they're also eye candy.
Produced by Anne Marie Ashley
Living with Flowers, by
Aerin Lauder
Released February 2025
Legendary hostess and style icon Aerin Lauder’s love of flowers runs deep, passed down from her celebrated grandmother, Estée Lauder. From fresh bouquets to floral patterns on wallpaper, fabric, and tabletop pieces, Lauder shares ideas for how to bring flowers into our home, inspiring both special occasions and the everyday moments. rizzoliusa.com
Live with the Things You Love: And You'll Live Happily Ever After, by
Mary
Randolph Carter
Released March 2025
Mary Randolph Carter, former creative director of Ralph Lauren, takes readers into the homes of some of the world’s most famous tastemakers in her new book, Live with the Things You Love. Explore how interior design acts as a form of self-expression as Carter hones in on the collections and prized possessions filling each home, giving decorating tips on how to stylishly live with our treasured items. amazon.com
Drawn Together: Studio DB: Architecture and Interiors, by Britt Zunino and Damian Zunino
Released February 2025
Studio DB’s debut book makes the case that playfulness and traditional design can indeed coexist in one home. With vibrant, layered projects featured in every chapter, dive deep into the duo’s creative process while learning how to thoughtfully mix materials, forms, and patterns like an expert. rizzoliusa.com
Photo by Laura Sumrak
Design Reimagined, by Corey Damen Jenkins
Release September 9, 2025
In his second book, designer Corey Damen Jenkins celebrates his blend of vibrant maximalism and youthful traditionalism, taking readers inside ten glamorous projects. The saturated pages highlight his embracement of classic architectural bones, rich color combinations, and dynamic pattern play. rizzoliusa.com
The World of Peter Dunham: Global Style from Paris to Hollywood, by Peter Dunham
Release May 2025
Holly Hunt: Fearless in the World of Design, by Holly
Hunt
Released October 2024
The designer who popularized modernism with American homeowners shares her nearly forty years of interior design wisdom in a new book. Through stunning imagery and thoughtful text, iconic designer Holly Hunt relays the philosophy behind her modern, elegant designs and chic furniture that made high-end design accessible beyond New York and Los Angeles. rizzoliusa.com
With an eye-catching cover that begs to be displayed, renowned designer Peter Dunham’s debut book is a fascinating biography that takes a deep dive into his exuberant and optimistic designs. Showcasing his approach to colorful, patternfilled design, each chapter is dedicated to a different design ideology, with exclusive looks at never-before-seen projects from across the world. vendomepress.com
The Waterfront House: Living with Style on the Coast, by Phoebe Howard
Released April 2025
Coastal living is part of the fabric of North Carolina, and local designer Phoebe Howard takes readers on a tour of nine waterfront homes in her newest book. From a colorful, family-friendly Florida Victorian to a sophisticated neutral home in Antigua to her own new house in Jacksonville Beach, each one is showcased in satisfying detail, reinforcing the timeless design philosophy of the designer herself. abramsbooks.com
ENCAPSULATED
Artist Katie Howson unites with Twine & Twig to create a capsule collection celebrating natural materials.
Text by Karin Simoneau
“FROM THE JEWELRY to the artwork, the spirit of this collection is art as a celebration of nature—the ultimate creator,” says Katie Howson, the mixed-media artist behind the newest collaboration with North Carolina jewelry design house Twine & Twig. When Biancca Rivera, operations director at the handcrafted jewelry boutique, first saw Howson’s work at Isabella, “it instantly brought me joy,” she says. “Every piece was crafted with so much love and effort.” So, the collaboration was born. At the Twine & Twig studio, Howson pored over baskets of natural materials, from shells to delicate wood rings, to create each piece. The artist took them back to her Raleigh studio and began to play with different combinations, and she knew there was something special there. “The longer I stared at them, the more I saw colors coming to life in them,” says Howson. “I wanted to honor the natural materials and turn up the volume on what was already there.” That sentiment envelops each piece in this collection, and Howson’s love of color and passion for life shines through.
In 2025, our firm proudly celebrates our 50th anniversary. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey with us. Helen Adams Realty is more than a company—it’s a family, a community, and a legacy. Here’s to the next 50 years of serving you with the same trust, care, and excellence that Helen envisioned in 1975.
helenadamsrealty.com | @helenadamsrealty
Meet the Designer
Why This Palette Natural, organic elements will always transcend trends
Favorite Pick It’s a toss-up!
The Sol Convex Mirror by Mike Diaz or the Savona Bamboo Task Lamp by Christopher
WITH ITS SINUOUS LINES, undulating forms, variegated color, and textural hand, this hippie-dippie palette exudes free-spirited, laid-back vibes. And I’m 10,000 times, as my daughter would say, here for it. From plum, mauve, nut brown, ochre, and ecru, these earth tones meander through their organic hosts, demonstrating that Mother Nature truly knows best. Here, I’m envisioning bare, summer-kissed skin. She has her sandy, windswept hair down while the warmth from the ground permeates the soles of her feet. She’s a natural, down-to-earth beauty.
krbnyc.com 3. Isla Geo Stone Earrings ($350) ullajohnson.com
Macchia Viola Calacatta Marble (call for pricing) basstonenyc.com
Seaweed Woven Fabric in Plum ($336 per yard) salvesengraham.com 6. Spongeware Stretch Vase ($355) morganpeck.net
Quill Wallpaper in Porcupine (to the trade) schumacher.com 8. Lee Aviator Sunglasses ($320) ullajohnson.com 9. Sabba Dress ($595) us.isabelmarant.com 10. Savona Bamboo Task Lamp ($1,975) tennantnewyork.com 11. Essence of Nightshade Paint ($59) backdrophome.com 12 Celerie Kemble Glassware in Violet ($330 for a set of 6) chairish.com
Ashley Hotham Cox
Ashley Hotham Cox, LLC
Favorite Design Style Haute Bohemian
Tennant
COME AWAY WITH ME
Unravel yourself from the grind of day-to-day and retreat to the Tennessee mountains for restoration, pampering, and connection.
Text by Anne Marie Ashley
THERE IS SOMETHING inherently romantic about nature, which is to say, perhaps, that nature makes us feel intimate and vulnerable. Likely because we’re connected to it, tethered millennia ago. So, when you return to it in a way that’s comfortable yet unfettered, it feels like pampering—which is exactly the way Southall Farm & Inn intended their guests to feel. Anciently at home.
Driving through rural landscape in Franklin, Tennessee, the farm greets you suddenly with its greenhouses along the road. Fifteen-thousand squarefeet of hydroponic and traditional conservatory
greenhouses, including an orangerie and plenty of room for rare and wonderful cultivars of fruits, greens, vegetables, and food-producing shrubs, these greenhouses are the lifeblood of Southall and sustain the property and its signature fine-dining restaurant, January.
As you wind around the driveway, passing open fields, lazy hammocks, and a small peaceful lake, the true working farm vibes give way to something more special when the modern inn comes into view. Sleek black-wood siding, black ironclad windows, and washed brick accents are the telltale sign that you’re about to enter a different side of farm life—one that begs your reverence in exchange
Lake Mishkin, a seven-acre lake created by Southall Farm & Inn's owners, is beautiful to overlook in its own right, but adventurers can rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and fishing gear to take full advantage of the outdoors.
The Sojourner at Southall serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a side of hand-crafted cocktails and style. Behind it sits January, the fine-dining restaurant dedicated to daily farm-to-table dinners worthy of worship.
Interiors at Southall were designed by IndiDesign and are inspired by the beauty of rural nature. Guests are invited to embrace the luxury that comes with simplicity. Local artwork and tailored musical experiences highlight the cottages and suites.
for some ultra-comforts. With sixty-two guest rooms and suites, along with sixteen cottages that dot the farm, Southall keeps their friends close and their family even closer. The 425 sprawling acres seem to shrink down to cozy corners the moment you enter the doors. Stunning views, luxe linens, oversized soaking tubs, roaring fireplaces, and evocative local artwork—not to mention the grounding spa—open a world of relaxation opportunities, each one minutely better than the last.
From handwritten notes in the guest rooms and jam homemade onsite in The Jammery, to thoughtfully crafted cocktails, s’mores by the firepit, and locally made clothing
and goods in their gift shop, Southall has curated every facet of their guest’s experience to bring them back to themselves. Southall aims to evoke a sense of connection, a sense of yearning for simple, a sense of appreciation for craftsmanship and the luxury of using your hands to create something. The onsite orchard and apiaries speak directly to this philosophy; with over eight million bees in seven apiaries and more than thirteen-hundred apple trees with over forty cultivars, the farm practices what it preaches.
The onsite restaurant, January, is literally farm-totable and is a study in simplicity amplified. The decor is minimal but impactful, letting the food speak first, and the surrounding farm and trails speak second. The open kitchen offers a peek into the farm’s passion for food, taken very seriously, from the sous chef to the line to the pass.
The fire-roasted oysters are some of the best you’ll find in the South—and that’s saying something.
Whether you’re searching for yourself, or nature, or rest, or romance, Southall is your girl—she will be whatever you want her to be, and nothing short of memorable.
Embracing luxury through simplicity the Southall way includes oversized soaking tubs, natural textures, and soothing palettes.
Black and White: An Exhibition of Duality and Opposites
JERALD MELBERG GALLERY | THROUGH JUNE 14
Showcasing art that is powerful, evocative, and timeless, evoking simplicity and purity, this exhibition comprises works of art in black and white, from small to large, including works on paper, paintings, and sculpture, and featuring works by Robert Motherwell, Brian Rutenberg, Wolf Kahn, Katherine Boxall, Raul Diaz, James Rosati, Christopher Clamp, Romare Bearden, Lee Hall, Charles White, Ida Kohlmeyer, Oscar Bluemner, Dennis Mitchell, Thomas McNickle and Dennis Lee Mitchell, Roland Poska, Tula Telfair, and Donald Sultan. As Robert Motherwell said, “Then what more natural than a passionate interest in juxtaposing black and white, being and non-being, life and death?” jeraldmelberg.com
Groundbreaking: Anniversary Exhibition
ANNE NEILSON FINE ART | MAY 22–JUNE 21
Anne Neilson Fine Art presents Groundbreaking, a special exhibition to celebrate their eleven-year anniversary. Featuring new work by Emily Morgan Brown, Peggi Kroll-Roberts, Ani Kinyon, Kevin Morris, Joey Lancaster, and Lisa Noonis, the works in this exhibition evoke the sense of beauty, wonder, and renewal the peak of the spring season brings. As the trees begin to blossom in their pastel colors, and as the seeds begin to break through the ground and turn into flowers, the presence of insects, buzzing around and pollinating flowers, adds to the atmosphere of vitality and change. Each piece evokes the wonder of nature’s cycles, from the quiet emergence of new life to the busy activity that sustains it. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the beauty of rebirth, both in nature and in the creative process, as new ideas and life forms bloom together in harmony. Opening celebration on May 22, from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. anneneilsonfineart.com
ANNIE LEIBOVITZ / WORK
THE MINT MUSEUM | THROUGH AUGUST 31
Whether capturing photographs of rock stars or royalty, photographer Annie Leibovitz is known throughout the world for her signature ability to capture intimacy and personality. Leibovitz’s remarkable career began in the 1970s, when she made her mark as Rolling Stone magazine’s chief photographer. In the early 1980s, she transitioned to photographing for Vanity Fair and later Vogue, broadening her scope and establishing herself as the definitive portraitist of the world’s most fascinating figures. Now, experience her vision at the exhibition ANNIE LEIBOVITZ / WORK at Mint Museum Uptown. The exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity to experience her work in an engaging dual format, with prints on paper complemented by cutting-edge digital tower displays. This immersive presentation highlights the timeless quality of her earlier work and her embrace of new photographic technologies through a compelling mix of new and rarely seen photographs that portray the figures defining today’s cultural landscape. mintmuseum.org/annie-leibovitz
Walker Zanger delivers a curated selection of tiles and natural stone sourced from the world’s finest quarries crafted to inspire. Experience the textures, colors, and unique character in person at a showroom near you. Your design vision comes to life with Walker Zanger. What will you create next? Visit walkerzanger.com
SHOWROOM: 2122 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208
Product:
Geometric
Lilac
Fluted
Designer:
Tristan
Gary Designs
Photographer:
Kara
Mercer
Scene + Seen
Mint Museum's annual Room to Bloom symposium brought together Charlotte's interior design community to celebrate the spring season.
Mint Museum Auxiliary SPRING SYMPOSIUM
1. HD&D magazine co-editor-in-chief Anne Marie Ashley, Leslie Culbertson, Logan Dix, and Trudi Norris. 2. Cate Gutter. 3. Jennifer Waugh, Paige Roselle, and Kim Gordon. 4. Victoria McDade and Lindsey Lucenti. 5. Jenny Teller and Liz Brown. 6. Mary Celeste Beall, Mint Auxiliary president Amy Moore, and Veranda editor-in-chief Steele Marcoux. 7. Alexis Warren, Renata Gasparian, and Lauren Mackin. 8. Jennie Winston, Liz Hilliard, and Rocky Trenkelbach. 9. Kinsey Fennebresque and Krissie Nuchols.
CHRISTINA HUSSEY
KIM SCHUESSLER
For the Love of Feathers Mixed Media on Canvas 48x32in
INTERIORS
Text by Blake Miller
Photography by Anna Routh Barzin Styling by Kendra Surface
A floral House of Harris wallpaper inspired the living room’s design. “I wanted it to be feminine and juxtapose nicely with my husband's masculine den behind it,” says Warren of the room where the couple entertain and sit for morning coffee and evening drinks. Drapery fabric: Titley and Marr. Rug: English Village Lane. Artwork: Morgan Elvington Walker of MelvinG.
Designer Alexis Warren infuses her Myers Park home with color and pattern.
Alexis Warren was very pregnant. And as the baby grew, the walls of the two-bedroom, one-bath Dilworth bungalow she shared with her husband, Bob, seemed to be closing in alongside. “I knew we needed a bigger home once the baby arrived, but Bob was adamant that our home was big enough. It definitely was not,” laughs the designer.
So four months before her due date, Warren reached out to a Realtor friend to help them find something larger and more fitting for a growing young family. While the initial search turned up a lot of noes, one listing eventually caught their eyes: a charming 1946 traditional English cottage in Myers Park that was move-in ready and required simple cosmetic updates. The blank canvas was exactly what the color- and pattern-loving designer was yearning for. “Color is my way of expressing my personality,” Warren explains. “To me, color is calming. Neutrals are fine and they’re great for certain spaces and people. But when I try to go neutral, I inevitably start to add color.”
Where to start was simple: wallpaper—with lots of color and pattern. Warren began by installing an elegant floral design by House of Harris in her living room. “With it being one of the first rooms you see when you enter the home, I knew I wanted a whimsical wallpaper in this space, and this House of Harris pattern was perfect,” she says. “It was important to me that our home spoke to our personalities, which is why every room is slightly different while also keeping a common thread.”
That unifying thread: yellow.
For Warren, it was less about color-drenching and more about introducing subtle nods to the hue throughout the home. Custom draperies in a Titley and Marr fabric seamlessly tie in with the goldenrod Thibaut
ABOVE: “I love a moody dining room with very traditional elements,” says Warren. “With so much pattern going on in the adjoining rooms, I went with a full dip in Farrow & Ball Sulking Room Pink and mixed in more patterned drapery and valances.” Chairs: The Chinoiserie Squirrel. Chair fabric: George Spencer Designs with Samuel & Sons contrast welt. Chandelier: Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort.
LEFT: Warren has an affection for all things bunny, and, in fact, has a collection of them throughout her home. In the living room, bronze and porcelain rabbits mingle discretely with other accessories atop tables, in bookshelves, and even in the wallpaper landscape. Wallpaper: House of Harris.
wallpaper that wraps around the connecting foyer. Across the entry, the dining room is dipped in a striking but moody Farrow & Ball Sulking Room Pink accented by draperies by Décors Barbares that feature that same yellow thread. A chickadee yellow on the walls sets the stage in the game room off the living room.
While color and pattern were high priorities for Warren, it was also important for the home to feel comfortable. “Whenever I design a home, whether it be for myself or a client, I want it to feel lived in and have layers of charm,” she says. “I love to weave in personal details to add to the storied aspect of the home. I never want people to walk through the door and feel like they are in a showroom or a sterile space. I want everyone to sit down and feel welcomed and at home.” For years, the designer has amassed a collection of bunnies, which are discretely styled on side tables, shelves, and even in artwork like the “bunny” art by Hunt Slonem in the foyer. “Collections are so personal to a home,” says Warren.
For her, color is easy, relaxing, and personal—without it, a house doesn’t feel like a home. “I’ve always had an eye for, and adoration of, color, and I love to play with it in all of my designs,” she says. And her personal home was the ideal laboratory to infuse color and pattern in a way that was exactly as she had imagined.
The den functions as the couple’s main gathering space and play area for their son, Davis, so it needed to be comfortable and functional. Warren added the Coley Home sofa with chaise for easy TV watching, and the artwork by Slim Aarons adds to the laid-back vibe. Sofa: Coley Home.
Sofa fabric: Holland & Sherry. Ottoman fabric: Schumacher. Roman shade fabric: Zimmer + Rohde.
“I’ve always had an eye for, and adoration of, color, and I love to play with it in all of my designs.”
—ALEXIS WARREN
“This space reminds me of the Beverly Hills Hotel,” says Warren of the breakfast room dipped in Farrow & Ball Bridge Green. In lieu of the existing glass cabinetry, Warren concealed her collection of glassware with custom curtains in a playful and colorful Lisa Fine Textiles fabric. Roman shade fabric: Lisa Fine Textiles. Café curtain fabric: Décors Barbares fabric with a Samuel & Sons trim. Chandelier: Chairish.
ABOVE: “Most of the time, guest rooms end up getting all of your leftover furniture, but I really wanted this space to have charm and character,” explains Warren. “This is such a happy room in our home. It’s a cheery space for friends and family to stay when they visit.” Headboard: Custom in a Molly Mahon for Schumacher fabric. Chandelier: Stray Dog Designs.
BELOW: Wanting the nursery to grow with her son, Davis, Warren designed the space with a neutral wallpaper and charming embroidered Roman shades that tie back into the daybed that will eventually be his “big boy bed," says Warren. "We also opened up the dormer in his bedroom and created a secret playroom that can hide all of his toys." Daybed fabric: Lisa Fine Textiles. Roman shade fabric: Schumacher. Wallpaper: Thibaut.
ABOVE: Because the laundry room is viewable from the foyer, it needed to be a “pretty focal point,” says Warren. “I call this my ‘bunny shrine.’ Because our last name is Warren, which is an underground burrow where rabbits live, I have loved incorporating bunny motifs into our home. This home is a space where I have really leaned into that in such a fun way.” Wallpaper: Lake August. Bunny-head artwork: Jimmy, by Taylor Fawlkner, from Miller Gallery, Charleston. Ceramic yellow bunny: Lucky Fish Gallery.
RIGHT: “I originally thought I wanted a very neutral primary bedroom, but then immediately started adding more color into it,” laughs Warren. “I matched the headboard, bed skirt, chairs, and drapery panels to create a soothing and calming feel in the space and serve as a backdrop for the additional layers.” Wallpaper: Thibaut. Headboard, drapery, bed skirt, and chair fabric: Highland House from A. Hoke Ltd. Artwork: Dawne Raulet from Anne Neilson Fine Art.
ABOVE: Warren stands outside the main entrance of her home. While the interior is chock-full of color, the exterior is traditional and timeless.
LEFT: Formerly a screened-in porch, the game room doubles as a place to gather with friends to play mahjong, as well as a home office for Warren. “It’s a great space for me to tuck away when I need to get a lot of work done,” she says. Wallpaper: Thibaut. Game table: OMG! Adrienne Davis Design.
OPPOSITE: Because the foyer connects to five different spaces in the home, “it needed to be bright and cheery and pull together the entire house,” says Warren. The Thibaut wallpaper in the goldenrod colorway sets the tone for the home with a positive energy. Wallpaper: Thibaut. Chandelier: Hudson Valley. Runner: Mirth Studio.
A nod to Fields Norwood's hunting background, a variety of birds were styled into the decor and complemented by melting roots, carved teak wood statues, and vintage finds. The House of Hackney wallpaper on the ceiling adds another dimension of interest to the moody, navy-dipped room. Sofa fabric: Younger Furniture. Wallpaper on ceiling: House of Hackney.
OPPOSITE: Minkhorst wanted to carry the blue from the home office, kitchen, and den into the breakfast area. In lieu of color-drenched walls, the designer infused blue via artwork by Melvin G. and velvet on the dining chairs. Chair: South + English. Artwork: Melvin G. Chandelier: Made Goods.
UNIFIED FRONT
One couple locks arms in design (and in color) with House of Nomad to refresh their South Carolina home.
TEXT BY BLAKE MILLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIE WILLIAMS
When Leah and Fields Norwood got the call, their minds were blown. “My in-laws were like, ‘Do y’all want our house? We’re moving to Charleston,’” says Leah. “It definitely caught us off guard!” The timing, though, could not have been better. The couple was about to launch architectural plans to renovate their 1950s ranch, and, while they loved their home, they knew the opportunity to move was too good to pass up. “We’ve always loved my in-laws’ home. It’s so beautiful, and we knew we could make it our own,” says Leah.
With elegant traditional architectural details and dark wood accents throughout, the Florence, South Carolina, home boasted strong bones. While Leah has a background in fashion and design, she felt overwhelmed by the interior design process. “When you’re designing the interiors of your forever home, which this is for us, you just want to get it right,” she says. “I wanted someone to make sure we made the best decision every time.” A casual visit to House of Nomad’s former showroom on King Street in Charleston proved to be serendipitous, as Leah immediately felt a connection with designers Kelley Lentini and Berkeley Minkhorst. “You know when you just click and there’s a synergy between you and someone else? That’s exactly what I felt with Berkeley and Kelley,” says Leah.
Soon, the Norwoods locked arms with Minkhorst, the project’s lead designer. “They wanted the home to feel like them,” she says. “Leah is a fun-loving, colorful person, and our styles really aligned. Kelley and I love color, we love pattern, and we love clients who love to incorporate those things into their homes. It’s rare to have a client that wants all the color and pattern—a dream, really! So we had to balance how far we could take it while allowing things to breathe at the same time.”
With “beautiful molding and attention to detail, lots of paneled wood and brick,” Minkhorst was keen on not distracting from those elements, but rather complementing them with pattern and color. At the time, Leah had just taught herself how to install wallpaper, and, as such, wallpapers became the springboard for many of the rooms’ designs. “Typically, we’re pushing clients to take risk with pattern and color, the wallpaper, and the fabrics,” says Minkhorst. “But for Leah, more is more.”
A bold, colorful wallcovering by House of Hackney in the dining room served as inspiration for the whole project. Right off the entry, “the dining room paper had to be just right, and that took a lot of looking,” Minkhorst explains. “We wanted to embrace Leah’s and Fields’s Southern roots but give it edge with the color combinations.” The chunky millwork was painted in a complementary green hue, which, adds Minkhorst, took a lot of trust from her clients due to its boldness.
But for the Norwoods, bold was best, and in the home office across the foyer, that boldness shines. Dipped in a cool navy blue, the space is awash in color with the addition of another House of Hackney graphic wallpaper on the ceiling, while honey wood millwork warms the cool tones. “The wallpaper from the dining room and the office have this synergy,” explains Minkhorst. “It feels like there’s some history to the wallpaper, a little bit of tradition to it. There’s just something about these bold, colorful prints that really embody Leah and Fields.” Adds Leah, “You really have to know what you’re doing with color to get that blue in the office to work well with the maroon and the chartreuse in the dining room.”
For the Norwoods, their choice to enlist House of Nomad and Minkhorst to bring their dream of a colorful home to fruition proved to be spot on. “Berkeley and Kelley knew what we liked, but they also pushed us to do things that we may not have chosen but are still in our wheelhouse,” Leah says. “The team completely hit the mark on this home. We had an idea of what we wanted, and they made it happen.”
it being
“With
one of the first rooms you see when you enter the home, the dining room wallpaper had to be just right,” says Minkhorst. After an extensive search, she and her clients landed on this pattern by House of Hackney. “It really embodies Leah’s personality and their Southern roots.” Wallpaper: House of Hackney. Chairs: Coley Home. Chandelier: Visual Comfort. Table: South + English.
The powder room was previously dark and uninviting, so Minkhorst chose a colorful, whimsical mural wallpaper with a bird motif. “We wanted to have fun in this small space, and this paper was perfect for that,” she says. The custom sconces “are the perfect shade of teal to complement the wallpaper’s colorway, too.” Wallpaper: Voutsa. Vanity: Worlds Away. Sconces: Custom from Murano.
mural wallpaper by
was a must-have for Leah in her daughter’s bedroom. “Originally it was just going to be an accent wall,” says Minkhorst, “but Leah loved it so much we decided to wrap the whole room in it.”
The
Gucci
Wallpaper: Gucci. Chandelier: Stray Dog Designs. Bed: Made Goods.
To create a cozy place to gather in the living room, Minkhorst opted for a pair of sofas to flank the woodburning fireplace coupled with a pair of chairs for ample seating. In lieu of all-over color, the designer accented with pops of blues and greens via the Moroccan rug, draperies, and throw pillows.
To brighten the kitchen, Minkhorst painted the red-brick backsplash all white and painted the cabinetry in a complementary blue to tie in with the adjacent breakfast, dining, and living rooms. Cabinetry paint color: Farrow & Ball De Nimes No. 299. Countertops: Bottega Surfaces.
HOME AGAIN
Text by ANNE MARIE ASHLEY
Photography by EMILY BOLT
“Entryways typically don’t have many opportunities for textiles, so incorporating a fabric console was a must,” says designer Amanda Louise Campbell. A custom hutch was also added for functionality, since the hallway feeds into all the main spaces in the home.
OPPOSITE: “We wanted this room to feel like a gathering spot with a large round table,” explains Campbell of the dining room. “We opted for painted floors as opposed to a rug for a unique way to give the space its own personality.”
Floors: Handpainted by Hayden
Designer Amanda Louise Campbell honors the sentimentality of one family’s dream home.
Gregg. Wallpaper: Thibaut.
Laurie Koch grew up minutes from her grandparents’ home in Greenville, South Carolina, where her mother was raised. Many years later, the opportunity arose for Koch and her husband Shay to move into the home across the street. Without hesitation, they jumped at the chance. The couple enjoyed another decade of memories with Koch’s grandfather before he passed, and when deciding what to do with her grandparents’ house, Koch and her husband felt pulled to keep it in the family.
“We have so many beautiful memories there, and we adore the neighborhood. The property backs up to a sweet little children’s park, and we love our neighbors,” explains Koch. The couple decided to raze her grandparents’ home and build their forever home on the property to keep the memories alive. “It was surreal and wonderful to build our dream home in such a special place. We kept a huge, decades-old blueberry bush as well as garden beds and roses as nods to my grandparents.”
To guard the sentimentality as well as infuse their style into the home, the Kochs called on designer Amanda Louise Campbell of Amanda Louise Interiors to design it soup to nuts, and Trehel Tailored Homes, a division of Trehel Corporation, to raze it and create
their new space on the property. Having worked with the Kochs on their previous home, Campbell was able to walk into the project with a good idea of what her clients wanted. “The surrounding neighborhood is filled with traditional and timeless homes, so it was important that the architecture and color schemes reflected the surrounding neighborhood,” says Campbell of the home design. “We hoped to bring the same charm and character to the interiors with extra doses of color, personality, and nostalgia.”
Before Trehel broke ground, Campbell’s team completed thorough design plans that not only included decisions regarding the build, but also fabrics, wallpapers, and tile. “We knew this would be the most fun—but also the most important—element of the entire home to our client, so everything was built off of those decisions,” Campbell says.
The shared vision included a bright and airy home that was both happy and cozy. Given Koch’s “sunny disposition,” as Campbell describes, it was important that the home felt inviting. “We wanted a mix of bigger, more open entertaining spaces, but with cozy nooks that we could retreat to,” explains Koch. With the footprint in place, Campbell looked to color and pattern to infuse that same cozy feeling. “She’s a lover of color and was super open-minded when it came to the design process,” says the designer.
Campbell layered traditional and nostalgic elements like vintage sconces in the stairwell, landing, and powder bath hallway; green-hued spindles on the railing; and a customized dog nook. She also added custom elements such as the benches flanking the fireplace, the mantle in the main living room, and, the Kochs’ favorite, the yellow vanity in the powder room. When asked about their favorite room, Campbell and Koch hesitate. The designer reluctantly declares the foyer the winner. “It’s so unlike any other entry we have designed, and it truly is the heart of this home,” says Campbell. Koch finds it difficult to answer, too, but remembers how her family found themselves spending most of the winter in the cozy front library full of bookcases with the fire on.
“We love that we were able to add knots to this family history through commissioned art, family photos, and, of course, Laurie, protecting the garden in the back,” says Campbell. “Honestly, this was one of our smoothest projects to date, a lot of which had to do with the Kochs’ positivity, and an exceptional build team headed up by Matt Ruth who was very collaborative and really made all of our dreams become reality!”
“The most rewarding part of this process for me was giving honor to a home that has been in my family for generations,” says Koch. “While the finished house is all our own, we thought of them every step of the way, and Amanda surprised me on reveal day with a piece of commissioned art of their original home by Kate Comen that hangs in the office. We see it and think about them every day.”
The new home, which sits on Koch's grandparents' original lot, is an updated ode to the place she visited as a child so frequently. They preserved the original gardens and rose beds around the home.
Tons of color and plenty of seating was the goal in the living room.
“Textiles and upholstery ground this open white room and make it feel approachable with a place to sit, rest your feet, and set down a drink at nearly every turn,” says Campbell. Chairs and ottoman: Coley Home. Sofa and settee: Rowe. Barstools: Ballard Designs
One of the family’s favorite rooms in the home is the library, which is decidedly cozy and bold. A custom built-in dog kennel (not pictured) hides behind a panel along the bottom of the wall in the corner and is one their favorite features.
A custom window seat fabricated by Cornish Cabinetry makes lazy mornings in the living room perfect for coffee and reading. Sconces: Regina Andrew Detroit. Chairs: Coley Home.
ABOVE: A bold custom-matched color in the pantry makes it easy to find the labels you need. Tile: Cemento.
LEFT: The library and office are across from each other, and, as such, Campbell wanted one to feel like an extension of the other. A cozy daybed makes the office pull double duty as a guest room. Artwork: Jean Wilson Freeman. Pillow fabric: Molly Mahon.
"We wanted a mix of bigger, more open entertaining spaces, but with cozy nooks that we could retreat to.”
—LAURIE KOCH
ABOVE: “I am obsessed with the upstairs landing,” says Koch. “This wasn’t part of the house that I was particularly thinking a lot about in the planning process, but it’s one of the most special spaces for me.” Above the custom built-in bookcases, Campbell hung dozens of family photos and keepsakes framed in various ways. “That space warms my heart and even brought tears to my mom’s eyes the first time she saw it.” Pendant: Shades of Light. Runner: Vintage.
The owner’s suite was meant to feel like a retreat, with muted colors and lots of texture and interest alongside subtle patterns and a soaring ceiling. “This space is so peaceful and reminds us of a vacation we took to
RIGHT:
The Dunmore on Harbour Island,” adds Koch. Artwork: Laddie Neil Art. Drapery fabric: K.O’Neal. Chair: Coley Home. Settee fabric: Baker Lifestyle.
The boys' bedrooms are masculine but fun, with layers of color and plenty of pattern. Wallpaper: Schumacher. Coverlet and pillows: Schoolhouse.
ABOVE: The sunny porch doesn’t need much to match the bright sunshine, but all the same, color pops are included. An accordion folding door completely opens the family room to the back porch, which can be open-air, screened, or enclosed with vinyl, executing the indoor-outdoor lifestyle the homeowners wanted. Furniture: Lee Industries and vintage.
LEFT: Each boy's room has an en suite bathroom and colorful yet simple design, perfect for rambunctious kids. Wallpaper: Schumacher. Sconces: Serena & Lily.
Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary
Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden Gardens that inspire
SEED Wildlife & Children’s Garden
RESOURCES
Through Her Lens
ANNIE LEIBOVITZ / WORK brings decades of iconic photography to The Mint Museum.
Text by Brandy Woods Snow
WHAT DOES IT MEAN to encounter a legendary photographer’s work in a way that goes beyond simply viewing it, but truly experiencing it? When it comes to ANNIE LEIBOVITZ / WORK , currently at the Mint Museum Uptown, it means immersing yourself in fifty years of extraordinary artistry and storytelling, where every image resonates with depth, emotion, and unparalleled vision.
This exhibition offers a rare chance to see new and never-before-seen images from Leibovitz’s personal archive, alongside her most iconic portraits.
“Annie Leibovitz’s career as a photographer has developed alongside the United States’s obsession with well-known personalities, both their public image and their private side. Leibovitz’s images manage to capture both—the individual in a private setting that reflects what the public expects and what we could never see— naked John Lennon curled around clothed Yoko Ono, Whoopi Goldberg immersed in a bath of milk, Steve Martin painted like a Franz Kline striking a pose in front of a Franz Kline,” says Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD, chief curator and curator of contemporary art at The Mint Museum. “What this show illustrates is that not only has Leibovitz documented popular culture in this country for fifty years, but her images have also defined what we expect that culture to look like.”
Organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, ANNIE LEIBOVITZ / WORK takes a fresh curatorial approach. Leibovitz herself selected the images, reflecting her love of photography and the medium’s role in storytelling. The Mint Museum marks the third stop on the exhibition’s limited run.
“We hope visitors walk away with a deeper understanding of the artist's vision and the broader cultural context.”
—Todd Herman
Visitors will experience the exhibition through a dualformat installation: striking prints on paper paired with immersive digital towers showcasing new large-scale work. The result? A powerful look at the evolution of both her technique and the cultural figures who have shaped our world.
The list of standouts reads like a pop culture hall of fame: Adele, Johnny Depp and Kate Moss, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Megan Rapinoe, Queen Elizabeth II, the Obamas, the Supreme Court’s female pioneers, and it goes on.
Leibovitz’s accolades are as storied as her subjects; she was the first woman to have a solo exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, and is a Living Legend per the Library of Congress. But it’s her ability to reveal the soul behind the personality that continues to resonate.
“The opportunity to present ANNIE LEIBOVITZ / WORK is a tremendous honor and privilege. Our goal with each exhibition is to create an experience that not only showcases world-renowned artists but also sparks meaningful connections within our community,” says The Mint Museum president and CEO Todd Herman, PhD. “We hope visitors walk away with a deeper understanding of the artist’s vision and the broader cultural context.”
Throughout the exhibition, there will be docent-led tours and special programming. Tickets are $10 plus museum admission. Admission is free on Mother’s Day, with on-site portrait photography included on a firstcome, first-served basis. Digital images will be shared at no cost to participants.
For more information, visit mintmuseum.org or call 704-337-2100.
RESOURCES
Thin Is In
General Shale expands thin brick offerings to include a range of colors and finishes.
Rendering of Ghostown thin brick, part of the Old Town Traditions collection that features a vintage gray patina that nods to historical reclaimed brick.
Text by Dana W. Todd
BELOVED BY homeowners for their versatility in interior and exterior design, thin brick products are perfect for homeowners who want the appeal of a brick look without the structural weight associated with traditional brick. Thin brick products are genuine fired clay bricks that are sliced thin for tile-like application. The bricks stand out as an accent wall, add character as a backsplash, provide rustic and durable flooring, create a cozy bricked wine cellar, clad a home’s exterior, and much more.
General Shale, North America’s largest clay brick manufacturer, recently announced the launch of two new thin brick product lines: Old Town Traditions and Summitglaze. The new lines expand the existing thin brick family of products, which provide looks that span from old-world rustic charm to modern urban appeal.
Old Town Traditions, produced by General Shale’s Watsontown Brick, is manufactured in the company’s Columbia, South Carolina, plant. Inspired by brick found in historic towns, its tumbled appearance adds textural interest and a vintage vibe to projects. “Old Town Traditions is a low country–inspired thin brick product line that evokes history,” says Luke Guinn, director of marketing at General Shale. It encapsulates eight different colorways, from the traditional red of Downtown to the neutral gray Ghostown, all with an aged patina.
The Summitglaze product line is made by adding glaze to thin brick. It features eighteen high-gloss colors,
“Glazed thin brick combines contemporary sophistication and timeless craftsmanship with unparalleled durability in both interior and exterior settings.”
—Luke Guinn
including orange, yellow, olive green, deep blue, and red, and five earth-tone matte finishes. Manufactured by General Shale’s Ohio-based Summitville Tile, this line is a sleek, modern choice with vibrant colors. “Glazed thin brick combines contemporary sophistication and timeless craftsmanship with unparalleled durability in both interior and exterior settings,” explains Guinn.
Like all of General Shale’s thin brick products, Old Town Traditions and Summitglaze are eco-friendly choices. Brick products are inherently sustainable with a decades-long lifespan. General Shale’s advanced manufacturing processes also reduce environmental impact.
The lighter weight of thin brick ensures its versatility for any indoor or outdoor application without additional structural support. It adheres to almost any construction surface—concrete, drywall, and cement board. Its ease of installation makes it an ideal do-it-yourself project, with YouTube installation videos and in-stock inventory available at General Shale showrooms.
Sleek and modern, Summitglaze bricks come in five earth-tone matte finishes and eighteen high-gloss colors.
Summitglaze bricks are made by applying glaze atop genuine clay thin brick.
Small Details, Big Impact
Mix metals, choose timeless finishes, and create a look you’ll love for years.
Decorative
&
Text by Brandy Woods Snow
DOOR HARDWARE, cabinet knobs and pulls, plumbing fixtures, and bath accessories—these may seem like finishing touches on an otherwise completed design, but they are proof positive that sometimes the smallest details have the biggest impact. These complementary components can make or break the aesthetic and elevate a design from everyday to exceptional.
Aesthetically, hardware and finishes create continuity, tie together different elements, add personality to a space, and define a room’s style, be it traditional, modern, or industrial. Functionally, well-designed hardware and luxurious finishes ensure longevity, keeping spaces beautiful and practical for years to come.
Katy Leischner with Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath says that while brass-tone finishes remain popular, the demand for flat-black options is leveling off in favor of an emerging interest in graphite and gun-metal tones. Unlacquered brass continues to attract homeowners who appreciate the beauty of natural patina, but new trends are also taking root. “We are seeing more warm tones with a bronze base, very reflective of the Pantone Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse,” Leischner says. “These bronze tones feature medium depths of color and warmth—very different from the ’90s oil-rubbed bronze phase.”
Bird represents hundreds of plumbing and hardware vendors. GRAFF and Classic Brass are two standouts, known for their hand-finished approach. Classic Brass, a family-owned company in Jamestown, New York, offers a slew of customizable options and superior customer support. Over the years, Bird has collaborated with them on unique custom pieces. GRAFF is known for their amazing craftsmanship and collections ranging from classic to modern, and offers twenty-five different finishes while continuing to add more. They produce all their plumbing components in-house from their facility in Krakow, Poland. Both GRAFF and Classic Brass simplify the selection process by offering all their designs in every finish.
“We search the world for beautiful fixtures and hardware to offer our clients.”
—Katy Leischner
Today’s most thoughtfully designed spaces embrace mixed metals for depth and interest. Polished nickel plumbing fixtures paired with Classic Brass’s Revere Tarnish cabinet hardware create a harmonious blend of tones. In bar areas, a brushed onyx faucet against an unlacquered hammered sink adds richness and character. By mixing sheens, textures, and metal tones, designers craft spaces that feel curated rather than contrived.
For homeowners or designers looking to update their aesthetic, Leischner says choosing what you truly love over chasing latest trends is the key to longevity.
“If you truly love it now, you’ll love it years from now. Classic profiles are timeless and allow you to update accompanying items to freshen things up as needed.”
Bird continues to expand their selection by onboarding new vendors, most recently adding lines from England and Australia. “I love that this industry continues to morph through the years, bringing exciting new options to the table,” Leischner says. “We search the world for beautiful fixtures and hardware to offer our clients.”
RESOURCES
Endless Summer
Maximize your outdoor living experience with the Timeless Forest curation by Summer Classics.
Text by Brandy Woods Snow
Timeless Forest seamlessly combines design, aesthetics, and craftsmanship for lasting beauty with minimal maintenance.
—Summer Classics
color and structural integrity for many seasons. While its finish echoes the classic appeal of rattan, its highperformance material and expert craftsmanship offers unparalleled resilience. Likewise, the responsibly sourced teak, known for its natural oils and dense grain, offers tremendous resistance to the effects of pests, weather, and aging while exuding timeless elegance sure to last generations.
Blending materials is key to creating a dynamic outdoor aesthetic. The Playa Collection pairs the organic richness of teak with a refined wicker weave for a contemporary take on traditional outdoor furniture, while the Savannah Collection’s dramatic high-back silhouette and intricate chevron pattern showcase both the beauty and craftsmanship behind the brand’s design philosophy.
With over 150 outdoor performance fabrics available, Summer Classics allows homeowners and designers to tailor a cohesive design aesthetic that matches their personality across all livable spaces in the home.
Summer Classics provides the foundation for an elegant and comfortable outdoor lifestyle by layering teak and wicker pieces to add depth and using green textiles to enhance the connection to nature. Homeowners can complete the look with ambient lighting such as resin wicker or iron chandeliers to prolong al fresco entertaining opportunities, plush Wendy Jane pillows and rugs to warm the outdoor space, and potted greenery to complement the organic palette and create an inviting space to sit and relax.
For those seeking a balance of classic elegance and natural beauty, the Timeless Forest curation by Summer Classics delivers style, durability, and easy maintenance in an elevated outdoor experience built to last.
THE PATIO, the porch, and the garden seating area—these are the transitional spaces that seamlessly blend the lines between indoors and out, merging interior design with nature. One of the biggest challenges of crafting the perfect outdoor living area is creating a space as durable as it is beautiful. With the hot Southern sun, high humidity, and unpredictable environmental elements like wind, hail, and rain that put outdoor furnishings to the test, Summer Classics answers the call with their signature N-Dura resin wicker and sustainably harvested teak collections in their newest curation, Timeless Forest.
A thoughtfully curated line designed by professional furniture consultants, blending tremendous quality standards with modern and classic design styles, Timeless Forest seamlessly combines design, aesthetics, and craftsmanship for lasting beauty with minimal maintenance.
N-Dura resin wicker is embedded with UV resistance throughout its hand-woven construction, making it resistant to the elements and able to maintain its vibrant
Wander Luxe
SHANNON PUMNEO of Studio Prajex has a different approach to interior design, and she’s bringing something new to Charlotte. With a design philosophy rooted in the idea that your home should be a visual experience of your soul, Pumneo has redefined what it means to have a home you love. This project, coined Sage and Tranquil, is a perfect example of how Studio Prajex has taken an outdated, uninspiring space and reimagined it into a modern Zen escape. After returning from a trip to East Asia, these clients, who are avid world travelers, came to Pumneo with a desire to transform their untouched early 2000s owner’s bathroom into a modern spa that captures warmth, tranquility, and authenticity. Through natural elements and modern detail, Studio Prajex offers luxury organic interiors tailored for those who want their home to feel soulful, elevated, and uniquely theirs.
For more information, visit studioprajex.com.
SARAH ANNE PHOTO GRAPHY
BECKY MCGRATH TEAM
LEIGH C. CORSO
CAY CRAIG
LUCY BUTLER GROUP
CHRISTIE HANSEN
THE HUNEYCUTT TEAM
CHIP JETTON
HEATHER MONTGOMERY
KALIE KOIVISTO
LINDA HENLEY
SARA ROCHE TEAM
LINDSAY REDFERN
CINDI HASTINGS TEAM
TREY SULLIVAN
LISA WARREN
HEATHER WOLKING
TUCK TEAM
LISA RUPP
Jim Noble Contributor
The French Evolution
Text by Jim Noble, Executive Chef and Owner of Noble Food & Pursuits
CHARLOTTE HAS been my home for twenty-five years now, but my first home was in the Triad. I grew up in High Point and opened my first restaurant there in 1983: J. Basul Noble. It was going to be a sandwich shop, but during construction I changed my mind, and it became a French restaurant. (If you know me, you know I follow my heart, and I’m glad I did.) The restaurant also had a bakery. It was out of necessity, really, because any good French restaurant must have great bread.
Fast forward four decades. That French restaurant is closed, but I just had the honor of returning to the Triad to open Copain, our French bakery, in Winston-Salem. As with the Copain in Charlotte, this one is in the same building as Rooster’s: 380 Knollwood Street, Suite I.
Copain has been a few things since its inception in 2018. First, it was a ghost kitchen and caterer with artisan bread, pastries, dinner items, and specialty holiday items for preorder. Then, in 2020, it became a small-scale retail shop
SOUL FOOD
with much of the same plus gourmet provisions like olive oil and wine. Today, at both locations, it is the full French bakery experience that our team has been working toward. You can now enjoy a glass of wine, cheese and charcuterie, sandwiches and salads, breakfast, a full espresso bar, and pick up your daily bread, prepared foods, and provisions.
Our bakery team uses centuries-old French techniques and practices, 100 percent North Carolina–milled organic flour, and European-made steam-injected deck ovens to ensure the utmost quality in every loaf, scone, croissant, cake, and more. It is truly special.
The Winston-Salem location of Copain is our first expansion for the brand, and we hope there will be more, including around Charlotte. It’s always a good feeling to go home, and this time has been no different. The space
“Our bakery team uses centuriesold French techniques and practices.”
is warm and inviting. We worked with Kerf & Burled, a Triad-based business, to build our custom cabinets and shelving, white-oak tables, a gorgeous tufted leather and white-oak banquette, and—the biggest necessity—bread baskets. My wife Karen and I sourced a lot of plants and flowers and stems to bring in even more natural textures, adding to the sense of freshness. Someone on Instagram said it reminded them of a Nancy Meyers kitchen, and, boy, is that a compliment. If you’re ever in the area, I hope you check it out. (And if you’ve never tried the almond croissant, I suggest you do it as soon as possible.)
For more information, visit noblefoodandpursuits.com.
Beth Conant Keim
Alter Ego
Text by Beth Conant Keim, Owner of Lucy and Company
Contributor THE SCULLERY is a small room, often hidden, off a kitchen that provides extra space for appliances, storage, and sometimes food prep. A necessity in the Victorian era, most new builds now include these sought-after rooms, and these days, the big decision homeowners must make is whether their scullery will remain purely functional or serve as an opportunity to create a little hidden gem reflecting their personality. Of course, it can be both.
While these cabinet-filled rooms can complement the kitchen and adjoining rooms, because a scullery is often visible from the kitchen, I love creating something special with a dramatic contrasting paint color or wallcovering, or even a scene-stealing tile—an alter ego of sorts. If bold is what you’re after, choose a patterned wallcovering in a daring color like kelly green to line the walls. Attach floating shelves to display the prettiest serving pieces while storing more functional pieces
ROOM SERVICE
below. Paint the cabinets a dark color that contrasts the kitchen and adjoining spaces, and include other contrasting elements like countertops, hardware, and light fixtures. Black-and-white checkerboard floor tile is a striking feature in any room and can make your scullery a standout. Pair with a white marble granite countertop and cabinets painted in a deep, rich tone for a refined yet eye-catching space.
If you prefer a more neutral room, pull all the earthy tones from the kitchen and style with glass containers, chargers, and platters consisting of unique patterns and textures. Paint the walls a soft hue and adorn with bespoke art for a personal touch. If space allows, include an oversized center island for additional prep space for big parties and gatherings. This is convenient and practical, since we all know that guests love to converse and linger in the kitchen.
The scullery is a perfect opportunity to explore your style. Patterns, contrasting colors and textures, counters, and hardware can create a functional yet beautiful room that you will want visit often.
Interior Alternative Fabric Outlet
At our family-owned business, discover the ultimate fabric haven for premium designer quality upholstery fabrics, one-stop-shop window treatments, custom bedding and more. Our experts will guide you through the latest styles and choices of colors, patterns and textures whether you are shopping for customized window treatments, breathing new life into a beloved furniture piece or creating the perfect bedding ensemble. With the belief that creating a beautiful and comfortable home should be affordable, we offer competitive prices without compromising on quality. Interior Alternative is here to make your interior dreams a reality.
THE PINNACLE OF WINE PRESERVATION
Designed for those who appreciate both form and function, this built-in wine refrigerator provides a sleek, integrated storage solution. Its advanced technology ensures temperature-controlled wine storage, while customizable features allow you to tailor the refrigerator to your home’s aesthetic.
1. K. Taylor Creative's Paper Flower Sculptures
“Raleigh artist and dear friend Katelyn Taylor creates architectural yet delicate floral sculptures. Her approach is so methodical, deconstructing fallen flowers and reimagining them by hand with colorful papers.”
2. Lioconcha Hieroglyphica
“I’m so inspired by the naturally occurring patterns in these odd saltwater clams. They’re such a reminder that nature is the penultimate artist.”
3. My collaboration with Twine & Twig
“In March 2025, Twine & Twig and I released a capsule collection of one-of-a-kind hand-painted jewelry, wearable art, and small works. The color-blocked cowries and shell-symbol art pieces are my favorites.”
Meet Katie Howson
KATIE HOWSON is a bit of a unicorn. As a fifth-generation Charlottean, Howson’s roots in the Tar Heel state run deep. The mixed-media painter recently moved back to Charlotte after living in Raleigh the last several years with her husband, Art, and daughter, Lee Lee. And since coming back, Howson has teamed up with Twine & Twig to design a limited edition jewelry collection that released this spring (read more on page 42). A self-described “Raleigh regular,” the creative has a penchant for all forms of design, including interiors. “I love interior design as a sort of language,” says Howson. “The choices we make in our homes communicate our histories, our emotional patterns, and our priorities. Stepping into someone’s home is like spending a moment in their mind.” Here, the artist shares her favorite things for spring.
4. A turquoise and olive color combo
“This jacket from Brooks Avenue feels like a mod, elevated version of a traditional blue-andgreen pairing. I find myself wanting to use this combo everywhere!”
5. Beatrice Bernier’s Vessels
“Charleston artist Beatrice Bernier creates these otherworldly vessels from raw clay and found driftwood. They feel like a discovery from another time.”
6. Inner Child Seashell Serving Set
“Who knew serveware could be such a mood boost. I love that all of Inner Child’s products are handmade, sustainable, and supportive of global artisans.”
7. HOME by Areeayl Jewelry
“Designer Areeayl Goodwin’s imaginative jewelry items are pure works of art. Each piece is inspired by her dreams, a world I’d love to live in even if just for a moment!”
