“Now look, I’m a man’s man…but I love pattern, color and paisley.” This is one of the first things my client, Brandon shared with me during our initial conversation. From that moment, I knew this design project was going to be special. I was so excited to help him decorate his newly renovated home in Charlotte this summer.
Brandon is a busy bachelor that recently moved from Arkansas to North Carolina. Having lived in the Charlotte area after his college days, he was thrilled to plant new roots in the area, so much so that he purchased his new home sight-unseen. The 3 bed, 2 bath home was gorgeous – a newly-renovated, mid-century modern ranch loaded with charm and nestled in a mature neighborhood in the heart of the Queen City. However, Brandon didn’t know where to start with the decorating and brought very little with him for the move. So, he reached out to BLB for help!
We began our design journey with the living room. True to tradition, we created a classic seating area for the living room with furniture too good for your grandma to put plastic on! This included a new leather sofa and two accent chairs staged for practicality and conversation. We added a glass coffee table and end tables with brass accents to match the newly-installed sphere and stem chandelier. Keeping in mind Brandon’s love for paisley, we found the perfect drapery to add more color and pattern without overwhelming the space. Once brought in Brandon’s global art collection and assorted plants, the bright living room was ready to welcome in guests.
Next, we tackled the kitchen and dining space. There wasn’t too much work to be done here as the kitchen was recently updated (the two-tone cabinets and brass hardware are everything!) and I was able to talk Brandon into keeping his existing dining table to save a few coins (he could always update it later). We purchased new wood and cord-woven chairs from West Elm and replaced the dining room chandelier with a fixture that was little more mid-century and masculine. These darker accents contrasted well with the bright space and tile flooring. After adding a few accents and artwork, the space was complete!
At the rear of the home, you step down into a gorgeous family room. This space immediately caught my eye because of the suspensions on the vaulted ceilings and the beautiful brick wall painted in Benjamin-Moore’s Cheating Heart. We’d frame the fireplace with iron and reclaimed wood etagere bookcases to display more of Brandon’s collectibles, artwork and books. We ordered a custom sectional sofa in a deep rust color performance velvet to bring a pop of color in the space and adequate comfort for lounging and entertaining. The new media cabinet would double as a bar and additional storage in the space. Lastly, we filled the room with more brass accents, texture and pattern with a reading chair in the corner, striped rug and gold and marble pedestal coffee table.
Finally, designing Brandon’s master bedroom was also an easy task. We pulled in the warm cognac leather from the living room with matching channeled king headboard, contrasting nicely with the painted accent wall. Due to COVID, it took a while for his dresser and nightstands to arrive (along with many other furnishings throughout the home), but the black and brass furniture was so worth the wait. We lightened up the space with a black and white area rug under the bed and marble table lamps on each side of the bed. Brandon had an artist friend commission an inspiring and colorful painting for him that would provide a burst of color on the wall and in other areas of his house. Being an older home, the bedroom isn’t as large as most masters, but the finished product was breathtaking and gave Brandon everything he wanted and needed.
That’s it for now! I hope you loved Part I of Project Southern Gent! These rooms far exceeded all of my expectations. Looking forward to sharing more photos of Brandon’s home including his home office, guest room and outdoor space in early 2021!
For more photos, check out my Portfolio and #ProjectSouthernGent on Instagram.
Be Blessed,
ACG
Design Deets:
Leather Sofa – Poly & Bark
Accent Chairs – Wayfair
Glass Coffee Table – West Elm
Spotted Area Rug – Perigold
Side Tables – West Elm
Curtains – Pier 1
Curtain Rods – Target
Throw Pillows – West Elm, Modish Décor Pillows, Glass House Interior, HomeGoods
Decorative Throw - Wayfair
Dining Chairs – West Elm
Chandeliers – West Elm, Wayfair
Sectional Sofa – West Elm
Marble Coffee Table – West Elm
Reading Chair – West Elm
Striped Area Rug – West Elm
Bookcases – Wayfair
Media Cabinet – Article
Floor Lamps – HomeGoods
Zig Zag Area Rug – Wayfair
Leather Headboard – Article
Nightstands – Wayfair
Table Lamps – CB2
Dresser – Wayfair
Rattan Mirror – Vintage
Bedding – West Elm
Brass Planters – West Elm
Ceramic Planters – West Elm
Baskets – HomeGoods
Paint – Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams
Artwork –custom and original artwork
Professional Photography – Brandon Grate Photography
