Elegance Up High
In the mountains of Highlands, North Carolina, interior designer Carole Weaks rivals one homeβs panoramic views by balancing classic attitude with comfortable beauty
βI donβt want our home to look like every other house in Highlands,β was the only request of Carole Weaksβ client. That might be a tall order for some designers, but in Weaksβ capable hands, it came off without a hitch.
βWe had worked with Carole before, and we share the same vision. She knows what I like even though I am particular,β says the homeowner. βThis was one of those wonderful working relationships where two heads are better than one,β says Weaks. βMy clientβs sharp attention to detail made sure we didnβt miss a thing.β
The couple traded in their Highlands condo to build a new home beautifully sited in the Old Edwards Club, where they love the golf course and social community. The outside is in keeping with a mountain home, showcasing stacked stone and a nature-friendly color palette, but this look evaporates as soon as you open the front door. Thereβs not a whiff of rustic inside; instead, prettiness and sophistication prevail with happy colors, such as persimmon and chartreuse, as well as tailored touches in the form of leopard print fabric, lively wallpapers and Oushak rugs.
Weaksβ signature deft mixing of antiques and newer piecesβwithout sacrificing comfortβis evident throughout. βMy client had several antiques that we included in the home when they worked, and we updated as needed with new fabrics,β says the designer. βWe did bring in new upholstery from Edward Ferrell for the living room. The chairs swivel, which is so practical, and the sectional was designed to fit the space perfectly.β Just outside its doors, new Kingsley Bate outdoor seating with feminine curves and a gray-green palette fills the porch. βThe minute I saw this furniture, I knew it was right because it transitions so well from the outside in,β says the homeowner.
Completing Weaksβ practical-meets-pretty scheme are one-of-a-kind pieces for layered appeal. The elegant window treatments in the living and dining spaces shimmer in a custom-colored treatment by TylerGraphic with Samuel & Sons trim. For the master bathroom, Weaks transformed antique French plaques that her client had purchased years ago into tall trumeau mirrors. βI also had a piece commissioned by the artist/craftsman Matt Tommey, who creates these woven pieces completely from natural materials. You can tuck in flowers, branches, and the like to give them a new look as desired.β And her client couldnβt be happier with the overall result. βEveryone who walks in says itβs the prettiest house on the mountain.β
INTERIOR DESIGN Carole Weaks, C. Weaks Interiors (404) 233-6040; cweaksint.com