Marie Matthews’s clients were relocating to Charlotte from Colorado when they enlisted the designer to revamp their new Myers Park home. The 4,800-square-foot house, built in 2016, was a blend of English cottage and Colonial Revival influences. The bones were good, but the style wasn’t theirs. As newly minted empty nesters, the couple wanted a sophisticated but approachable home that could keep up with their comings and goings.
“He travels a ton for work, and she travels for aging parents,” Matthews says. “They wanted a place where he could entertain for work. A huge focus for me was on their comfort, so they could breathe deeply and recharge when they get home.”
For a bold statement in the entry, she covered the walls in a botanical pattern from Morris & Co.
“Whenever I start, I pick the star of the room—one thing they’ll fall in love with and not get sick of,” Matthews says. “She loved those soothing aqua blues and greens.”
With a fireplace, coffered ceiling and built-in shelves already in place, the living room offered an ideal backdrop for Matthews’ design. She furnished the space with Wesley Hall sofas upholstered in performance velvet and teal swivel chairs for a pop of color. A burlwood coffee table from Made Goods adds warmth and texture.
In the kitchen, Matthews kept the existing cabinetry and backsplash but installed new gold pendant lights and quartz countertops.
“(The homeowner) wanted waterfall edges in that beautiful white kitchen,” she says.
The barstools, from Fairfield Chair, are upholstered in a teal faux leather for another playful burst of color.
The adjoining breakfast nook got a refresh with Cowtan & Tout’s bamboo pattern wallpaper. Matthews upholstered the Tritter Feefer dining table and chairs in a neutral faux leather and topped off the space with a two-tiered chandelier by Kate Spade.
In the powder room, she chose a Harlequin wallcovering with slender branches and delicate leaves.
“It’s right next to the dining room, which was color-drenched in lavender, so we wanted it to relate but not be too feminine,” she says.
Matthews layered the dining room with lavender grasscloth from Thibaut and velvet performance drapery, which she elevated with tassel trim for a more custom look. Steering clear of anything too sparkly, she anchored the space with a sculptural chandelier from Visual Comfort.
In the primary bedroom, Matthews left the trimwork and shiplap accent wall intact but replaced the chintzy drapery panels with more tailored Roman shades. She gave the bedroom an update with new lavender bedding from Classic Bedroom Design, located in Cotswold Marketplace. The swivel accent chairs got reupholstered in wool tweed to echo the lavender palette.
“I love that (this home) fits them so well, and it really makes room for the things they’ve inherited and collected from travels,” Matthews says. “It also feels very fresh and very Charlotte. When you’ve lived in a lot of places, finding your identity in a new city can be grounding and provide a sense of rootedness.”