Fifteen design teams participated in the 2010 Flat Rock Designer Showhouse, held at Saluda Cottages. The event was a benefit for Historic Flat Rock, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of buildings and scenic byways in Flat Rock, North Carolina.
Guest Bedroom: Ashley Smith and Lynn Brookshire, Benson & Babb Interiors
The Theme: Dominated by a 12-foot high arched double window, the room was conceived as guest quarters for a worldly, nature loving couple. The furnishings are a blend of French and Italian antiques along with a dash of Chinoiserie, punctuated by more modern—yet still vintage—accessories to create timeless appeal. The muted, earthy palette is drawn from the Italian ceramic majolica tiles that surround the room’s hearth.
Key Elements: The bed, with a custom headboard inspired by a French antique and upholstered in Italian damask, is centered against the casement and framed by printed linen draperies, adding a sense of intimacy within the room while taking advantage of the extraordinary light. Low sheer curtains block the nearby roofline while framing the garden views. Painted shutters provide privacy without bulk. Mirrored side tables add a touch of glamour and sparkle.
Juicy Details: A pale blue quilted silk bedspread speaks to the home’s French heritage. Turquoise hued McCoy pottery, scattered throughout the room, provides a subtle pop of color.
Secret Ingredient: The antique wrought-iron chandelier was once painted aqua and gold. Rescued from a dark corner at a yard sale, it has been reborn as an elegant focal point. With its custom pearl-painted medallion by Opulent Wall Designs, the effect is luxurious but not overstated.
Library: Bonnie Rash, Silver Fox Gallery &Interiors
The Theme: Eschewing the antiquated notion of the library as a dark, ponderous repository of assembled knowledge, this uncluttered haven invites flights of imagination and creative thinking.
Key Elements: A Jaipur hand knotted New Zealand wool and silk rug sets the tone in soft, neutral shades of earth and sky. The Palecek Campaign armchairs and console are substantial without being overbearing, while a Robert Motes iron café table keeps things firmly grounded. Above the fireplace, an Avignon clock by Luna Bella marks time artfully. Warm yellow walls, with a soothing touch of rose, impart a bright and welcome glow.
Juicy Details: Inspirational fine art pieces invoke an aura of contemplation. David McDonald’s meditative Mandala plates draw the eye inward. Above the fireplace, Melanie Leppla’s blown-glass “cairns” and Susan Madacsi’s forged iron “totems” add a primal note. Moss, ferns and a delicate white Vanda orchid provide zen counterpoints.
Secret Ingredient: Suzy Schultz’s evocative painting Waiting adds another dimension to the room, perceptually expanding the space beyond the four walls. In a clever visual pun, Shawna Stoney’s Paula steam-bent rattan armchair echoes the subject matter, pulling the image into the here-and-now.
Living Room: Mary Adams and Paula Benton, ASID, Cocoon Interior Design
The Theme: A grand salon in the European tradition that honors its country setting—the grace and beauty of nature are celebrated in the bird motif that is subtly woven throughout. Shimmering with lush finishes and worldly objects, yet grounded by its woodsy hues and textures, it is a pleasing blend of the rustic and the glamorous, seamlessly linking the interior with the landscape beyond.
Key Elements: Buttercup yellow, aviary print window panels—topped with unpretentious burlap—infuse the room with a golden glow and frame an idyllic view. A pair of twig-patterned, concrete garden chairs is tucked into the window alcove, flanking an ornate antique birdcage and marking the transitional area between indoors and outdoors. The pristine lines of the neo-classical sofa and armchairs are brought down-to-earth by the comfort of textured linen upholstery, creating a counterpoint to the room’s more elaborate appointments.
Juicy Details: Topping the round glass table with a lacy copper mesh fabric provides a stylish and functional surface without completely obscuring the intricately patterned carpet below. Several “Buddha” hands are displayed throughout the room; a sly, tongue-in-cheek reference to “a bird in the hand.”
Secret Ingredient: The designers embraced the scale of the room by embellishing the ceiling and chimney-breast with metallic treatments, then crowned the seating area with a filigree chandelier that echoes the tones in the draperies.
Gentleman’s Smoking Study: Harry Deaton, Harry Deaton Interiors & Window Treatments
The Theme: An aerie perched on the top floor; this gentleman’s retreat was inspired by the palette, patina and sense of history of the existing antique wallpaper that adorned its walls.
Key Elements: Masculine without being macho, this haven is designed to provide an uncluttered yet comfortable space. A substantial, overstuffed chenille upholstered club chair and ottoman, are flanked by an antique demi-lune side table and adjustable, vintage-style reading lamp—a perfect venue for puffing a pipe, pondering or settling down with a treasured volume. A simple painted desk with slender, gently curved legs and its attendant woven chair invoke Low Country plantation style. An artfully patterned rug in muted shades of brown provides a note of intimacy, balancing the room’s lofty proportions.
Juicy Details: Picking up on the pastoral scenes depicted in the wall covering, Deaton chose “lord-of-the-manor” accessories: a taxidermy deer head, mounted antlers and a set of vintage golf clubs.
Secret Ingredient: Highlighting the architectural features with simple treatments—crisp white woodwork and exposed, buffed herringbone floors—respects the character of the room while imparting a bright, modern sense of space.
Back Porches: Harry Deaton and Joe Deaton, Harry Deaton Interiors & Window Treatments
The Theme: This well-appointed dining area is infused with the casual elegance of Southern hospitality. To link it with the surrounding landscape, Deaton pulls the image of white hydrangeas onto a table runner, set against a rich, chocolate brown background and features the flower in tall potted topiaries, which define the space.
Key Elements: The mix of natural fabrics and upscale elements create a “Diamonds and Denim” appeal. Rich, earthy color and dark wrought iron furnishings add weight and substance, while retaining an outdoor sensibility. Burlap tablecloth and fiber rugs introduce a rustic, numbly texture that is tempered by clean, finished borders—a pleasing contrast with the glossy black decking.
Juicy Details: Mossy brown custom draperies by Joe Deaton sport a lattice pattern that repeats the seating and gives a nod to the al fresco setting. Accessorized with tasseled pullbacks, they provide a formal, sheltering backdrop while highlighting the garden views.
Secret Ingredient: A pair of calligraphic, mismatched wrought iron chandeliers is accented with crystals—an unexpected and delightful bit of whimsy that plays with the natural light and recalls refined, interior dining rooms.
Front Porches: Dan Ferebee, ASID, Outdoor Living by BRAVO; Cory and Erin Thompson, Thompson Landscape Professionals
The Theme: A lush, verdant celebration of summer in the South, these genteel outdoor rooms extend a welcome respite from the sun and an elegant venue for entertaining.
Key Elements: The sensibility is sub-tropical, from the a custom live-edge cypress table to the woven screens—hung with luxuriant foliage— that anchor the edge of the porch to the breezy cotton draperies. The container plantings are low maintenance: vertical walls, made of pressure treated lumber and trimmed in cedar, contain an irrigation system to make them self-watering. To accommodate the shaded setting, indoor plants were chosen: caladium, ferns and impatiens intermingled with drought-tolerant succulents. Woven rattan seating is evocative of a bygone era.
Juicy Details: Wrought iron sconces and hanging grid “chandelier” provide illumination with a light touch. A folding tea tray is easily stowed away once it has served its purpose.
Secret Ingredient: Putting a modern twist on the old Southern tradition of sky-blue porch ceilings, the deeper, more vibrant hue used on these verandas imparts a slightly formal, aristocratic atmosphere.
Dressing Room: Terry Gillespie, ASID Allied, Hennessee Haven Design Group;
Sally Lindsay-Madrid, Opulent Wall Designs; with: The Stone Connection
The Theme: An elegant, 1920s inspired dressing room where the lady of the house could prepare for the evening’s entertainments—in the downstairs Sitting Room, perhaps?
Key Elements: A subdued color palette and refined textures unify the diverse fabric patterns. The neutral tile and white trim give the eye rest, while infusing the space with brightness. A mirrored antique vanity is topped with cool white marble from The Stone Connection and presents a bowl in the form of a ginkgo leaf—a nod to one of the specimen trees on the home’s property.
Juicy Details: Terry Gillespie covered the ceiling with patterned ceiling tile, which was given a bronze paint treatment to bestow the impression of vintage pressed metal. An antique French dress form keeps milady’s party frock wrinkle-free. The magnolia bloom chandelier recall’s the house’s Charleston connection and is worthy of any Southern Belle.
Secret Ingredient: A bit of witty sleight of hand: the designer mounted an empty, ornate gilt frame directly onto the opulent bird motif wallpaper to create a charming vignette.
Ladies’ Sitting Room: Terry Gillespie, ASID Allied, Hennessee Haven Design Group; Sally Lindsay-Madrid, Opulent Wall Designs
The Theme: A jewel box that calls to mind a bygone era when conversation was an art form, this salon is elegant and airy with a touch of pizzazz, combining Old-World refinement with bold color choices.
Key Elements: Extraordinary wall and ceiling finishes by Opulent Wall Designs give the space its “wow” factor. To visually balance the soaring proportions, the upper walls were given a horizontal, faux grasscloth texture, then painted a celestial blue. The lower portions boast a Venetian plaster treatment—with a glasslike surface—in vivid coral. The pearlized, champagne colored ceiling and crown molding detail keep the eye, and the light, moving around the room.
Backed with understated, golden cut velvet, the Bergere armchairs chairs are enlivened by fresh, coral patterned front and cushions, in contrast with the more stately brocade of the settee. A Murano-style chandelier floats above like a constellation of stars.
Juicy Details: Antique European wrought iron railing from Terry Gillespie’s personal collection surrounds the fireplace, grounding the furniture grouping to the hearth. Gillespie covered the existing dark green marble of the fireplace with mirrored tiles to maintain the room’s sense of lightness. Wall sconces bedecked with orchids were placed well above eye level to draw the eye upward, embracing the high ceilings.
Secret Ingredient: Since the room lacked electrical wiring in the ceiling for the chandelier, Gillespie ran extension cords from the wall outlets and cleverly integrated them into her design by covering them with over 75 feet of ruched fabric.
Porte-cochère: Peggy Thornton and Christine Raymond, Raymond’s Garden Center
To create a grand entrance, the designers went formal…with a twist. Against the backdrop of a vast expanse of lawn—anchored by the stage of asymmetrical stone paving—topiaries create a striking, sculptural display that is at once kinetic and reserved. Spiral and pom pom Alberta Spruce give the arrangement of container plantings a jazzy note, playing harmoniously against a textural base of boxwoods and grasses. Coleus provides color and pizzazz. To contrast with the very proper urn planters, simple burlap wrap on the surrounding pots adds an earthy element to this abundant composition.
Kitchen: Linda Spry, ASID Allied, RS Mountain Home Interiors
The Theme: Envisioned as the hub of a family home, the light-filled kitchen is an inviting spot to linger and share stories of summertime adventures.
Key Elements: Soft white and grey provide a classic backdrop for wood, ebony and wrought iron. A compact, slender chandelier creates a focal point without overwhelming the space, and is fitted with large filament “Edison” bulbs—reminiscent of lighting that may have been used over a century ago. An antique circular table allows for easy traffic flow, with rush-seated chairs providing country comfort. The braided rug was custom made for the space by Mountain Rug Mills.
Juicy Details: The designer chose to leave the windows unadorned, framing the view of one of the country’s largest White Basswood trees in the garden just beyond. The exposed radiators were encased in cabinetry and topped with “soapstone” laminate to provide a ledge/window seat. Hunting trophies acknowledge the importance of game animals as a source of sustenance, rather than sport.
Secret Ingredient: Spry stripped the plank floors down to the bare wood. After applying a coat of white wash, she painted them with a diagonal pattern and re-glazed with a soft grey to create the subtle impression of afternoon shadows.
Dining Room: Susan Nilsson, ASID, Susan Nilsson/Interior Design
The Theme: Although modest in size, the dining room was conceived to serve a lofty purpose; a gathering place suitable for any occasion—festive, formal or casual—infused with the character and history of the home and the people who inhabit it.
Key Elements: The exotic hardwood table, found at Brunk Auctions, was handcrafted in Mexico but complements the classic lines of the existing fireplace and its rustic majolica tiles beautifully. Spindle back chairs prevent the room from appearing crowded—although the table seats 12—and the exquisite gilt mirror, with its evocative, foxed silvering visually extends the space. An antique French armoire provides stylish storage for linens and place settings.
Juicy Details: Nilsson has set the table with her own Mottahedeh Blue Canton porcelain dinnerware, a tip-of-the-hat to the home’s Charleston connection and the exquisite imports that pour into that port city. The massive Swedish chandelier by Paul Ferrante makes a statement yet remains relatively neutral set against the matching walls, ceiling and trim, all painted in a soothing celadon green.
Secret Ingredient: In the interest of foot traffic, the dining room’s rear wall could not accommodate a piece of furniture. Rather than overpower the space with an oversized canvas, Nilsson chose to create a floor-to-ceiling collage of portraits from The Portrait Source and European and Russian Impressionist paintings from Tricia Beall of Gallery Studio B.
Foyer: Dan Ferebee, ASID, BRAVO Interior Design
The Theme: Focusing on the exquisite architectural features of the main foyer, Ferebee intermingles the traditional and the modern to create a statement entry that is regal but relaxed.
Key Elements: French blue walls beckon the visitor and highlight the sculptural quality of the marble-white woodwork. Chrome, metal and glass bring this period setting into the 21st century. The elegant, abstract “Wisteria” table, gestures towards the rooms that lie beyond.
Juicy Details: Glazed ceramic planters introduce a solid, organic counterpoint to the sleek lines of the table and lamps and the refined, geometric insets in the tile flooring. Frothy palm fronds provide a light counterpoint to the precision and intricacy of the large gilt mantelpiece mirror.
Secret Ingredient: The fireplace inset was created from a remnant of an existing cast iron detail. Sally Lindsay-Madrid and her team at Opulent Wall Designs reproduced the piece in wood, expanded the pattern to fit the surround and faux painted the surface to replicate aged metal.