When the new homeowners of this beautiful Eastover home off of Colville Road reached out to Lucy and Company owner Beth Keim for interior design, she was psyched to get started. “I knew which home it was as soon as they gave me the address,” Keim says. “I worked on the home next door, and I knew a home with this much character and architectural beauty would be a joy to work on.”
The home was architected by Frank Smith, and Keim’s clients had their eye on it for a very long time. “We lived in the Myers Park area for over ten years, and we always thought this was one of the most stunning homes in Eastover,” the homeowner says.
“We were looking for a home for our newly expanded family, and as luck and timing would have it, we heard through our agent that this home was going on the market.” The couple toured the home and were blown away by its undeniable beauty, but some restoration projects needed attention and some ways they wished to make it their own.
“At the end of the day, we decided that this home, on this particular street, had scarcity value enough to go for it,” the homeowner says. “It’s funny how things work out—we have been avid fans of Frank Smith for some time and wanted to use him on one of the first homes we looked at—but it worked out for the absolute best in the end.”
The goal was to intertwine the traditional with the modern in a way that truly highlights the quality craftsmanship and architecture. “The previous owner of the home was a designer, so the finishes were great, and she really chose things that could stand the test of time, and they did,” Keim says. “But it did need updating and repairing, and my client wanted to move away from the sentimental and antique and toward a more modern and comfortable vibe.”
To start, Keim suggested painting all the walls soft white— something she’s shifted more and more toward since the downturn of the economy. “White is always my first choice, and with this home, I really felt like the soft white walls would call attention to the beautiful ceilings, moldings, large windows, and the cabinetry that already existed,” Keim explains. “Back in the day, I was all about a different color for every room, pattern on pattern, but when the downturn happened, I was so stressed about just trying to keep my business afloat, that in my home, white walls and simple design calmed me. Since then, I’ve found it to be one of the best bases to start from. Plus, I am an art lover—married to one—and soft white is the best complement for art.”
Keim’s vision for the home, one she saw immediately upon walking through the door, was relaxed elegance with a few rustic touches. The vision included a deliberate mix of traditional and modern. “I really like the overall design of a home to be simple and mostly neutral,” she says. “But then, I like to have cursory rooms like the dining room or powder room or a scullery to have a big design impact with bold colors or paper.” For example, the powder room adds a punch of color, though it was one room that Keim didn’t touch much. The dark blue lacquer was done by the previous owner, and the homeowner added the art. “Lacquer is such a difficult and labor-intensive process that I wouldn’t dare change a really beautiful lacquer job like this powder room. We just elevated it a little.”
Keim uses layers and texture to bring a simple and neutral palette to the next level and heighten the overall aesthetic while still keeping it calming. The dining room, as an example, wows with a high contrast Windy O’Connor grasscloth wallpaper in a bold design but is grounded with the client’s traditional table and console in rich mahogany and a traditional chandelier over the table. “Even the formal living room is an ideal mix of relaxed and comfortable,” Keim says. “I chose two large velvet sofas and mixed them with odd end tables and a large traditional armoire. The room itself has a very traditional feel, but we modernized it with the furnishings.” Keim adds that the key to good design is quality pieces and investing in larger items that won’t tire, including (and especially) art and lighting.
“I am forever urging my clients to splurge on these two features because they really do complete a room. Art is the very last thing I install in a home.” Luckily, Keim’s client in this home adores art as much as she does, so choosing pieces was fun and easy. Keim’s husband, Keith Keim, created the art in the client’s office above the Eames chair, and most of the remaining pieces came from Shain Gallery in Charlotte—nearly all of which lend a modern, whimsical feel to each room, including the kitchen. “The kitchen was already really tasteful, and the architectural details were incredible,” Keim says. “We just wanted to update it a little and make it brighter.” The kitchen remained mostly untouched in the renovation process but was designed to be much cleaner and whiter. The homeowner picked out a marble backsplash, and Keim designed a larger island and removed some cabinets. Two black and brass pendant lights designed by Kelly Wearstler make a statement while a Mason jar painting from Shain Gallery adds a rustic touch.
“I’m a huge lover of art, architecture, fashion, and decor,” the homeowner says. “I could never name just one influence, but I will say that we get our taste for classic architecture, vintage rugs, and antiques from our Virginian roots. You have to have at least a few pieces in your home with authentic age, or it feels too new, lacking character.”