Once the summertime retreat of the Low Country gentry, Flat Rock is justifiably proud of its heritage. “Little Charleston of the Mountains,” as it was known in the 1800s, boasts dozens of exquisite antebellum “summer cottages” — grand estates, actually — and many other period structures that give the village a unique charm.
Fortunately, the village also has an active community organization, Historic Flat Rock, Inc., with over 600 members dedicated to preserving this architectural legacy for future generations. This summer, the organization held its biennial fundraiser, the Designer Show House, at “Interlude,” the gracious, French Château style home of Dr. Allan and Mrs. Lynn Huffman.
At Interlude, the past meets the present. Designed by Frank Snodgrass and built by Paul Taylor, the 1997 estate incorporates traditional elements such as arched doorways and windows and refined landscapes by Ed Lastein with modern features: an open floor plan, abundant natural light and multi-level terraces. Personal touches — secret passageways and an extraordinary spiral staircase in the library — designed and built by Forest Millwork — provide added interest.
A talented cadre of designers was enlisted to transform Interlude into an exquisite mélange of decorating styles and visions — each unique, yet sympathetic to the home’s classic references. Legendary designer Carleton Varney of Dorothy Draper, Inc. was on hand to offer a keynote presentation, encourage the creative endeavors and present his eponymous award for excellence. But a stroll through Interlude confirms that every room is a winner — treasuring the precedent and inspiring the future.
Covered Terrace by Dreamweaver and Harry Deaton Interiors
Photo: David Dietrich
Low-key and low maintenance, this terrace adjoining the family room offers extended gathering space in mild weather; a place to catch the cool summer breezes or enjoy the warmth of a fire on an autumn afternoon. Key Elements: The clean-lined, Contemporary style indoor-outdoor wicker sectional is dressed in “Canvas Spa” Sunbrella fabric — virtually impervious to the elements. An intricate, filigree chandelier adds a touch of old-world elegance. Beside the couch, a bright red occasional table of Indonesian wood displays a rustic lantern with a metal dome bearing a cutout fleur-de-lis pattern. Its counterpart is a turquoise wrought iron and wood end table. Perched on a painted, louvered shutter cabinet, the faux bois metal lamp — with resident songbird — seems perfectly at home in the surrounding greenery. A vivid striped rug and wheelbarrow style cocktail table keep the mood light and festive.
Office by Hennessee Haven Design Group
Tropical colors uplift the small space and impart a casual — but energized — appeal. The walls are painted a bright “Kiwi” color with furnishings clad in autumnal orange. A cream and rust hounds-tooth fabric dresses the low chair and the valance, which sports a complementary solid panel, fabric covered buttons and beaded trim. A trio of joyous floral paintings by local artist Connie Vlahoulis introduces a vibrant touch of turquoise. Above the desk, four white, notch-cornered-square mirrors add flair. In a clever up-cycling trick, the desk is actually a hollow-core door that has been wrapped in fabric, propped on a base and topped with plate glass. A shaggy area rug in shades of tangerine and lemon softens the space.
Bedroom/ Artist’s Garret by Cocoon Interior Design
Photo by David Dietrich
A Bohemian artist’s garret combines a functional workspace with sleeping and sitting areas; the bold color palette and diverse patterns and textures inspire creativity while providing a relaxed environment for drifting and dreaming. The built-in bookcase was painted espresso brown, enfolded in lime-green-lined, fringed evergreen draperies and topped with a festive, folkloric fabric cornice. A pair of fire-engine red, Italian “Futura” leather chairs offers a sleek, and restful counterpoint. A refined matelisse bedspread contrasts nicely with a raw silk bed skirt and primitive-art pillows. A pair of glass doors, lined with chicken wire to echo the wall sconces, flanks the painting alcove, creating a visual separation between the working and living sections of the room while reflecting light to maintain an airy, open feeling. Burlap coffee sacks cover the floor in the work area, protecting the carpet and adding a rustic textural element.
Family Room by Harry Deaton Interiors
Using her signature color of deep red, Deaton draws the eye through the rooms. A trio of square Turkish rugs with a consistent palette — but differing patterns — is layered in a curve to physically connect the family area and breakfast nook. Curvaceous, dark brown leather sofas — custom upholstered in fresh, white linen — and a high-backed leather chair create anchor points at the two far corners of the space. A painted blue French secretary picks up on a detail color in the rugs and, paired with a delicate painted reproduction chair with deep red cushion, refers to the home’s French chateau aesthetic.
Living Room by Blue Ridge Design
A vibrant, “citified” environment for gathering and entertaining that is high style and low maintenance, this sophisticated space is definitely on trend but appointed with classic elements. The walls are painted “Tangerine Tango,” Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year, and accented with a creamy white trim that emphasizes the graceful arched entryway, square columns and elegant fireplace surround. The spectacular orbed chandelier combines the modern and traditional, drawing the eye into the center of the room where it is grounded by a bespoke square cocktail table by local craftsman John Fulton. In the fireside niches, a pair of custom cabinets — designed by the BlueRidge team and executed by John Fulton — feature inset lighting beneath their glass tops. A deliciously soft felt area rug by Surya invites guests to kick off their shoes and relax on the retro-style Nathan Anthony down filled sofa.
Terrace Ward Hamilton by Design Group
Designed to gently transition the built environment into the natural surroundings — and the flow of the day from morning coffee to cocktails to al fresco dining — the terrace that sweeps along the rear of the home is a deft blend of the organic and the artful. Off the living room, a quartet of rustic rocking chairs beckon.The lower dining area is defined by a one-of-a-kind “rooting chandelier” by Boxwoods, Atlanta, supported by a moss-covered branch (from Arnett’s property on Lake Summit) that has been cantilevered with an antique bracket from Needful Things. The tree-stump based table was custom made by Todd Barrow. Log planters by Richard Tate create a sense of enclosure and separation. The table is set with leather placemats and handmade artisan dinnerware from France.
Guest Bedroom Silver Fox Gallery & Interiors
This restful retreat echoes the surrounding woodlands with warm, soothing shades and organic sensibilities. Serene hues and clean lines create a Zen calm without sacrificing luxury. A contemporary and sophisticated sanctuary. Chocolate brown on the accent wall and within the bookcase niche adds architectural definition and intimacy to the space — bold, but not stark. A hand-planed, Honduran headboard from Blue Fish is rustic, yet refined. The patterned Nourison rug pulls together the color palette while anchoring and softening the room. Botanical pillows complement a handcrafted bedspread and one-of-a-kind velvet patchwork pillow by Kevin O’Brien. At the foot of the bed, a Palecek “bridge bench” of woven banana leaf fiber is sculptural and functional. Artworks with a meditative quality invite introspection. Above the bookcase is a ceramic “Mandala” by David McDonald while an opaque glass “pod” by Jeremy Newman sits on the shelf. The square canvas is from the “Color Field” series by Knoxville artist Margaret Scanlan.
Master Bedroom by Linda Spry Design Interiors
Subtle differences in tone define the elements of the Master Bedroom while providing a restful sense of harmony. A reproduction Drexel Heritage bed was painted in a subdued blue-grey and distressed to impart a sense of age. To draw attention to the gardens beyond the French doors, Spry utilize a window treatment she had seen in a European design journal a decade ago. Swaths of silver-grey fabric in a “bishop’s sleeve” drape are accentuated by white bows, with exposed blush-colored linings. The soft grey walls were given a silvery glaze by faux-painter Lyna Farkas to create a pearlized radiance and add visual texture to the walls. The glow of gilt mirrors and metallic table lamps accentuates the sheen of layered silk cloths on the bedside table and the exquisite Chinese silk throw and shams on the bed. Black toile bed linens evoke a gentler era.