Looking through piles of design projects and home builds for each year’s Home & Design issue is one of my favorite tasks of the year. There is an impressive amount of talent across our region, designers who are pushing the boundaries, Charlotte’s best builders who are changing the shape of the city. As a sample, here are thirteen selections that we hope will catch your eye, inspire you, and perhaps spark a little creativity of your own.
Andrew Roby
Photo: Dustin Peck
The Design: A sweeping staircase and a beautifully appointed entryway set this home, from custom residential contractor Andrew Roby, apart. The curved railing adds a dramatic flair. Meanwhile, the black and white tones ground the space in classic luxury.
Arcadia Homes
Photo: Michael Blevins
The Design: This kitchen, built by Arcadia and with architectural design by Smith Slovik, features lighting by J. Landon Decorative Lighting and cabinets by Hardwood Creations. The wide open space allows for a breakfast nook, a large island, and an airy, spacious ambiance. Additionally, marble, wood, and brass combine for a clean, sleek kitchen and dining area that can accommodate a whole family.
Artistic Interior Design
Photo: Laura Sumrak
The Design: This room, with interior design by Artistic Interior and styling by Kendra Surface, is part of a new build in which Artistic Interior drew the architectural plans, designed the entire house, managed construction, and furnished and decorated. One of the main goals was to maximize the lake and sunset views from all angles of the home, and to provide a modern yet comfortable retreat customized for the clients. All told, that is exactly what this living room embodies.
Chelsea Design Build
Photo: Joe Purvis
The Design: This living room is the true heart of the home in this project by Chelsea Design Build. The wood accents and white walls keep the space looking fresh and natural. Furthermore, the various textures add warmth and livability. The architectural work is by Houghland.
Freshwater Interior Design
Photo: Victoria Moon
The Design: This updated kitchen was given a modern organic aesthetic, an open and spacious feel and improved functionality. Not to mention, the Freshwater team also transformed a bathroom behind the kitchen into a functioning scullery to add additional storage. The lighting is Visual Comfort and appliances are Monogram.
Gerrard Builders
Photo: Chris Edwards
The Design: Gerrard Builders – which is one of Charlotte’s best builders – with interior design by Charlotte Lucas and architectural design by Frank Smith, created this truly one-of-a-kind sitting room. The large windows add an inviting indoor/outdoor feel. Unquestionably, the space lends itself perfectly to lounging, reading, and taking in the view.
Grande Custom Homes
Photo: Michael Blevins
The Design: This gorgeous entryway combines all that Grande Custom does best: It’s a clean, beautiful, luxurious space with unique custom elements and fine attention to detail. Coming home has never looked better.
Great Design 4 U
Photo: Jane Haas Photography
The Design: Great Design 4 U collaborated closely with the homeowners to understand their vision, which included a desire for modern aesthetics combined with practical functionality. They replaced the outdated tub with a luxurious walk-in shower. Additionally, they introduced ample storage solutions, elegant tiles, and warm lighting. The result is a master bathroom that not only resolves the issues of the past but also offers a serene oasis the clients love to use every day.
J Layton Interiors
Photo: Michael Blevins
The Design: This stunning bedroom, with styling by KoBo, is a masterclass in creating a truly restful retreat. Layton chose soft neutrals and cozy textures, and combined them with two statement pieces: an artful mirror hung above the bed and a contemporary lighting fixture.
Jones & Hedges Custom Builders
Photo: Christina Hussey
This simple staircase and entryway puts Jones & Hedges custom work on display. Clean lines, light colored wood, and soft whites make for a space that’s immediately relaxing. Ultimately, Beth Barden led the interior design, adding her touch with the inclusion of greenery and a statement side table.
Kelly Cruz Interiors
Photo: Tiffany Ringwald
The Design: These clients sought Kelly out to make this house as contemporary as possible without ignoring the architectural style. The result is a spacious and elegant home that underwent a complete transformation. This open, airy sitting area features those timeless, classic features alongside more contemporary touches. The sofa is Carolina Custom Leather, the wall color is Sherwin Williams 7035 Aesthetic White, and the rug is Stark.
Kingswood Homes
Photo: Emily Folliwell Photography
The Design: This high-end, waterfront home by Kingswood, one of Charlotte’s best builders, contains many stunning details—coffered ceilings, spa bathrooms, windows everywhere to take in the expansive view. As an illustration, this outdoor dining space, angled to face the lake, is yet another custom element that makes this home so unforgettable.
Lakemist Homes
Photo: Dustin Sims
The Design: This gorgeous outdoor space is one of the most memorable parts of this Lakemist home. The spacious pool has a slide, an attached hot tub, and even a life-sized chess set for the homeowners. Additionally, there are multiple areas for lounging and gathering, making for a true extension of the home.
Land & Sky Designs
Photo: David Christensen
The Design: Here, Land & Sky sought to infuse the room with an alchemy of styles to both soothe and inspire dwellers. The Julie Neill for Visual Comfort silver twig chandelier adds a bit of glamour while the true centerpiece of the space lies above the fireplace mantel—perfectly capturing the room’s easygoing atmosphere. The photograph by Mona Kuhn was sourced at Jackson Fine Art and the area rug is Serena & Lily.
Lisa Sherry Interieurs
Photo: Brie Williams
The Design: This beautiful home has a light, neutral color palette and lots of texture via upholstered pieces that are soft and oh-so-touchable. Much of the house exudes modernity. Additionally, Lisa’s choice of one-of-a-kind wood accents have a warming effect that contribute to the authenticity the clients sought. In part due to Sherry’s effort to blur outdoor and indoor living spaces, the room also benefits from the generously-sized windows that bathe the interior in sunlight.
Lucy & Co
Photo: Mekenzie Loli
The Design: Here, Lucy & Co created a “place for the girls to hang,” a moody, pattern-filled, warm and layered sitting room. Because the room is visible off the foyer, it helps set the tone of the color palette and vibe of the whole home. The build was by Jones & Hedges and the art is from Keith Keim.
MBI Builders
Photo: RealBoone Photography
The Design: This home near Blowing Rock has ample outdoor spaces to take maximum advantage of the views and beautiful western North Carolina weather. The infinity pool and hot tub are bookended by a balcony. Along the balcony, glass railings that stretches almost entirely across the back of the house. At the ground level, a lap pool catches runoff from the infinity pool above. Both the exterior and interior of the house incorporate stone, walnut colored wood, black accents, and glass.
New Life Building Supplies and THR Design Build
Photo: Joe Purvis
New Life and THR Design Build, some of Charlotte’s best builders, combined their talents to create a timeless custom home. THR Design Build’s newest project in Oakhurst features transitional design with a modern edge. The living space perfectly balances light and dark tones, with the contrasting tile and plaster fireplace surround, custom built-ins, and 12-foot biparting slider that leads you into the idyllic backyard.
New South Homes
Photo: Christina Hussey
This gorgeous bedroom is part of a full custom home design that New South did for a Copper Builders model home in SouthPark. The bedroom maintains clean lines and natural textures without straying too far from a Southern aesthetic. The high ceilings and large windows add an airiness to the room. However, the balancing warm elements make the bedroom feel inviting and cozy.
Pippin Home Designs
Photo: Jim Schmid
The Design: This is perfect melding of indoor/outdoor living. The home is perched just feet from the lakeshore and boasts 360-degree lake views. Pippin Home Designs came up with an innovative solution to place the pool within the lower-level covered porch. In fact, it’s accessible through sliding glass doors from the media room. As a result, it’s the closest an outdoor pool can get to being indoors.
Energy Innovations by Harry Boody, Inc. contributed the high performance HVAC design.
Tri-Square Builders
Photo: Alexander South
The Design: This kitchen, part of a larger build by Tri-Square, another one of Charlotte’s best builders, boasts an impressive amount of storage and space for next-level functionality. Yet, it also maintains plenty of style. Home-chefs rejoice!
Westwood Custom Homes
Photo: Laura Sumrak
The Design: With this project, Crystal Nagel Design served as the interior designer and Smith Slovik was the architect. This elegant, transitional modern kitchen features reeded wood elements and cabinetry from Trails End Construction. Westwood’s goal—to create a beautiful and functional design that is both inviting for guests, usable for the homeowner, and maximizes the natural light—has clearly been exceeded.
