It’s no surprise that Lauren McKay has mastered the Modern Southern aesthetic. Having grown up in small-town Shelby, North Carolina, the Raleigh designer loves nothing more than to explore the streets of Paris. “I often draw inspiration from travel, art, textiles, and rugs,” McKay says. “I lean toward clean lines and forms, but the Southerner in me loves to layer pattern and color with a dash of brass to warm it up.” But it’s her talent for infusing her clients’ personalities into her designs that makes them truly singular. “I believe your home should be sentimental, and that photos, art, textiles, paint colors, and even rugs carry meaning,” she explains. “Put your china on display, collect restaurant cards and matchbooks, and, of course, print and frame your family photos!”
Jardin Counter Stool / to the trade / bungalow5.com
White Brainstorm / $394 / kaycehughes.com
Citrus Garden Wallpaper / to the trade / fschumacher.com
South Sea Fabric / to the trade / fschumacher.com
Larson Tape Trim / to the trade / fschumacher.com
Merrimack Lever / $92 / birddecorativehardware.com
Aria Lantern / $1,549 / circalighting.com
Vintage Anatolian Runner / price upon request / nashvilleruggallery.com