Carolina Cool

Cathy Kincaid Interiors

Great Room

Dallas-based interior designer Cathy Kincaid’s goal was to create a young but sophisticated living room with a mix of comfortable furniture, antiques, paisley prints and layers of blue and white. “I decided not to play up the mountain decor but instead softened the room and cooled it down with the color palette,” says Kincaid, who pulled yellow, olive and pink from a favorite Lisa Fine Textiles print. “I also think of blue like a neutral and as a light contrast against the wood paneling.” A framed painted canvas brings color and French provincial flair to the large stone fireplace, while English chairs in an adjacent passageway lend their elegant curves along a wall.

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Ann Sherrill 

Dining Room

“It’s a relatively small dining room, so I added some large pieces and bold accessories to make it stand out and feel special,” says Ann Sherrill of Cashiers furniture and accessories shop Rusticks. “For the niche, I chose a colorful, large-scale painting and custom sconces to elevate the space and added fabric panels in a linen scrim.” She also used the same fabric on the huge picture windows to soften them without taking away from the beautiful views. A trestle table made from reclaimed wood is the standout piece in the room. “It has an extra-thick top with imperfections but a smooth, satin finish,” says Sherrill.

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Jena Salmon Designs

Card Room

At the top of the stairs, designer Jena Salmon created a cozy spot for guests to have a predinner cocktail or read. The striking crewel fabric brings the outside colors in, while midcentury chairs give it modern flair.

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James Farmer, Inc.

Game Room

The game room is decidedly masculine but is softened by elements such as ceramics and flowers. Leather chairs with tribal-print pillows sit around bamboo stools grouped together. “I love for small tables to be movable, whether you’re propping up your boots or pulling up to a chair for a great conversation or even a lazy meal by the fire,” says James Farmer. “Movable furniture is key to a socially delightful room.”

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C. Weaks Interiors

Covered Porch

“This large covered porch is the kind that you literally want to spend all your time on,” says designer Carole Weaks. “We designed the furniture layout and chose all the fabrics with that in mind.” The welcoming space includes upholstered pieces for the center of the room, where there is less likelihood of rain blowing in. “We envisioned the homeowners taking long naps on the sofa and stretching out in the comfortable chairs to read or just look at the beautiful view,” she says. For added interest, she included rustic baskets by Matt Tommey and a lively painting over the mantel by Sergiy Hai that reflects the colors in the room.

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Gilstrap Edwards

Guest House Bedroom

For a bedroom in the guest house, designer Gretchen Edwards of Gilstrap Edwards decided to cook up a little “magic” by adding bold fabric panels up to the ceiling. “Those panels help cover some of the dark wood and add excitement and contrast to those walls,” says Edwards. “It was my way of achieving color and pattern without painting or wallpapering the room.” For the furniture, eclectic pieces like white vintage bamboo-style headboards pair with clean-lined styles. A beautiful abstract painting by Atlanta artist Jordan Johnson adds color to the paneled walls and ties in with the fabrics and other details.

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Mark Williams Design Associates

Guest House Master

Designer Niki Papadopoulos of Mark Williams Design Associates wanted this room “to incorporate elements that were both rustic and sleek, traditional and modern,” she says. The navy, white and burnished gold palette imparts a glamorous vibe. The showstopping wall consists of a resin product that has been hand-troweled for a marbled effect. “These panels, both in resin and upholstered, were created specifically to fit wall-to-wall and make a dramatic statement,” she says.

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McLaurin Interiors

Guest House Sitting Room

“The color palette is based on a beautiful hand-printed English country cotton in blue, charcoal and oyster,” says designer Maria McLaurin. “The furniture was selected to accommodate guests while waiting to join their hosts or relaxing in the evening.” Wing chairs, a fireplace bench and several small tables provide seating options, while a 40-inch vintage mirror and large chandelier, both suspended on chains, bring a wow factor.

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Huff Harrington Home

Guest Bedroom

“We’re unabashed Francophiles at Huff Harrington Home,” says co-owner Meg Harrington, “so we knew we wanted to incorporate a soupçon of Parisian glam into the overall design of the room.” The high ceiling allowed for large-scale pieces.

“Our in-house designers Sam Jones and Martha Douglas Peyton couldn’t wait to have some fun with the headboard,” says Ann Huff. “We wanted to keep the richness of the room but also wanted to balance some of the lines of the furniture with something soft and touchable. And the French starburst mirror hanging over it was a mission in last-minute spontaneity.” The design team added plenty of textural contrast with velvet pillows and an irresistible fur throw on the bed.

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BB Heath and Associates

Upstairs Office

Lauren Heath of BB Heath and Associates wanted the upstairs study to feel serene and contemporary. She started by painting the nondescript dark wood paneling in a white lacquer. “The high gloss allows a wonderful reflectivity of light,” says Heath. “The Oushak rug dictated the rest of the color palette—cantaloupe as the accent color while playing with black, white and ivory.”