This young, hip couple relocated from Colorado to the charming historic district of downtown Wilmington. When the new homeowners reached out to us in early January for design services, they brought a unique and challenging request to the table – to complete the empty in time for the Azalea Festival Historic Home Tour in April. The couple wanted to honor the architectural details of the home that they fell in love with, while bringing a fresh modern vibe to create a space for entertaining. Together we collected imagery for warm, inviting spaces with southern flair. Their collection of bourbon became the inspiration for color, seen in the bold butterscotch leather wingback arm chairs in the library. Original details were highlighted instead of renovated: we painted the original anaglypta wallpaper in a moody blue for a bold, modern pop of texture. Instead of costly renovations to the original coal burning fireplaces, we painted them a high gloss black to accentuate the details and use them as an art feature unique to each room – birch log slices in the library, creamy candles in the master, and worn books in his office.
The couple works remotely from home, which meant they needed separate office sanctuaries. His masculine and sexy is complete with a wet bar and distressed leather swivel chairs. Hers, feminine and serene, is airy and open with lots of natural light streaming in from the full-length windows looking out to the front porch. New light fixtures throughout instantly modernize the home. The lounge, once the dining room, is full of textures and a soft color palette to create a cozy space for a favorite pastime… lounging with a glass of red wine. Each accessory was selected purposefully, and every detail meaningfully thought through for a truly turnkey renovation just in time for the 1,000+ guest reveal during the Historic Home Tour.
