THE FIRST TIME designer Hannah McCann met with her Charlotte-based clients about the design for their new build, she knew the project would be a dream. First, her clients had an “incredibly organized” collection of inspiration photos. “They knew exactly what they wanted—clean lines, a modern and minimal look punctuated by glam, jewel-toned details,” says McCann. “They love high-contrast, high-gloss finishes.”
But there were also challenges. With four small children, the homeowners hoped to avoid sharp corners and incorporate pretreated, cleanable fabrics and fibers. They also wanted to steer clear of wood tones—“nothing brown or stained.”
Rather than drywall applications, they preferred stone, wallpaper, and plaster. “They really gave me the freedom to play with finishes and sheen and texture, and then they took a stand-back approach to the design,” says McCann, a designer with Carolina Design Associates.
McCann partnered with builder Chiott Custom Homes and Smith Slovik Residential Design Group, who drew the home’s plans. The result is a home where every room is a masterpiece. In the kitchen, “they took a complete and total risk with high-gloss, black acrylic cabinetry and mirrored black glass cabinets,” says McCann. Against the black sands quartzite, McCann created a statement wall with a striking slab of Arabescato Corchia stone from Pietra in Atlanta. “The exaggerated geometric movement of the stone is in stark contrast to its black surroundings, and by carrying it all the way up to cover the range hood, the lines in the stone guide
your eye up through the space.”
One of the home’s most striking features also serves as its visual anchor—the central staircase created with six slabs of marble. “From the very beginning, my client knew she wanted a marble staircase. “It was one of the first things we purchased, and then we went back to the engineering team to be sure it could work structurally!” says McCann.
Separate from their formal living room, McCann designed a family room for entertaining, watching movies, “and playing Mahjong, their favorite game.” An indooroutdoor porcelain floor tile from Walker Zanger unites the family room with the outdoor living areas and pool deck, and plush upholstery on the sofa and cocktail ottoman invite lounging by the stunning Sahara Noir marble fireplace with a linear, modern firebox.
When the homeowner told McCann she wanted a hammam, McCann admits taking to Google. “She experienced it in an Atlanta hotel and wanted to recreate the vibe in her home,” says McCann. Together, they designed a Turkish bath house–inspired spa, complete with a central hot tub that can comfortably seat six to eight people. They swapped central ceiling lighting for wall-washed lighting to give the room a spa feel, and even added a water station complete with heated towels and snacks.
McCann’s favorite room in the house is the bold and moody dining room, surrounded by walls dressed in a turquoise silk wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries and brightened by a highly reflective, lacquered white ceiling. “When the sun sets and the built-in’s cabinets are lit, you can see through the glass, where my client’s inherited China collection is on display,” says McCann. “It changes the whole vibe of the room.”
For some designers, striking a balance between highcontrast glam and kid-friendly livability would have been an unsurmountable challenge, but this designer rose to the occasion with a stunning aesthetic where the living is easy—in every season.