From the Ground Up

Architect Brad Wright incorporated dramatic details into the family room, where vaulted ceilings with reclaimed beams and steel doors take center stage. Designer Michele Johnson echoed the bold choices with overscale furniture and an iron chandelier by Solaria.

Matching bleached pine chests from Bliss Studio rest on either side of a limestone fireplace, playing to the living room’s symmetry. Antique oil paintings offer timeworn charm. “I love for a house to look like it may have been around for 100 years, and then build on that,” says Johnson.

Large enough to accommodate two seating areas, in the living room Johnson mirrored two cranberry mohair sofas from Lee Industries so both parents and children have spaces to lounge.

In the kitchen, cabinetry—custom designed by Wright—is a smooth backdrop for shimmering light fixtures and stately stools. The metal hood was handcrafted on-site by builder Will Hines of Keeoco Development and then hand-finished to look like zinc. The pot filler is Waterstone.

In an alcove off the stairwell, cabinetry lays flush with the wall to hide two coat closets for convenient storage. The stool is by Made Goods.

A long oval driveway beckons guests inside, while a stucco and stone exterior nod to the architecture’s French traditional style.

Tumbled slate tile in a dark hue conveniently hides debris in the laundry room. “I wanted it to be mutable so when muddy boots walk through, you wouldn’t immediately know about it,” says Johnson.

Charcoal gray sofas create a masculine presence in the husband’s study—which frequently plays host to business calls and meetings. Warm tones in animal print pillows and a burled walnut and brass bar cart juxtapose the space’s cool tones.

An outdoor seating area off the living room offers views of the rear landscape.

Located on the main level, the streamlined master bedroom is flooded with natural light.

In the master bathroom, Roman shades by Schumacher are dressed with a velvet trim band, layering the space with warmth.

Located off the garage, the guest house is a rustic oasis filled with oatmeal tones, wood accents and an antler chandelier from the homeowner’s personal collection.

The guest house bathroom is open-concept, making the space appear larger. The vanity was custom designed by Johnson; the faucet is Brizo by Delta.

In each daughter’s room, canopy beds with panels by Romo are a little girl’s dream. The drapes are Schumacher linen with Osborne & Little purple ombre tassel fringe.

A Jack-and-Jill bathroom is a purple promised land. In lieu of regular cabinetry, Johnson designed a mirrored cabinet door because, “two girls sharing the same space requires a lot of mirrors.” The wallpaper is Quadrille; the lighting is Worlds Away.

In the daughters’ bathroom, a purple vintage Turkish rug against purple penny tile plays into the home’s tone-on-tone theme.

A joint bath and powder room provides easy access to both the youngest son’s bedroom and the play space. The zebra wallpaper is by Scalamandré.

Shades of blue, white and yellow harmonize in the youngest son’s room. Johnson enlisted the help of the 5-year old in selecting the battle-themed wallpaper by Brunschwig & Fils. The dog painting is from Wendover Art Group.

No new home build comes without obstacles, and for a blended family of seven, they had their fair share from the beginning. First it was the unforeseen circumstances that required architect Brad Wright and builder Will Hines of Keeoco Development to expedite the 10,000-square-foot home’s construction timeline. 

Then it was Greenville, South Carolina, designer Michele Johnson’s challenge of personalizing the massive manse so its design honored the architecture, but still felt true to the family—all while ensuring the home would be move-in ready within one year’s time. While some may shy away from such commitment, the dynamic design trio said “no problem.”

Though the architecture leans French traditional with towering vaulted ceilings, mahogany doors and steel elements throughout, Johnson was eager to keep the interiors approachable. In the main gathering areas—the living room, family room and kitchen—warm tones and textures take center stage through an inviting palette of browns, grays and reds. 

“The design easily could’ve gone very traditional and heavy, but I really didn’t want that,” says Johnson. “We wanted it to feel elegant, but lived in. Something worthy of a cocktail party or a kids’ Halloween party.”

For example, step inside the front door and the living room beckons with rich cranberry mohair sofas complemented by pink linen wing chairs boasting a pink velvet cushion. For an added layer, bleached pine chests with a pinkish hue accentuate the tone-on-tone theme while wood beams give the space an aged appeal. “I like for you to be able to glaze over a room and see a peaceful overall look, but when you sit and study it, you notice the subtle play in texture and color tones,” says Johnson.

That’s not to say that bright colors and whimsical patterns were off limits. In fact, they were encouraged. Upstairs, each child lent a hand in designing their personal spaces. Colorful prints overflow from room to room in dragon, zebra and abstract wallpaper, while pink canopy beds in the daughters’ sleeping corridors serve as space for daydreaming and princess play. 

A true team effort to build a polished home under strenuous circumstances, the project was complex, but the goal was simple: a stylish, sophisticated place fit for adults and children alike. “All of the rooms lend special purpose to each person in the house,” says Johnson. “They really made this a family moment.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Michele Johnson, Michele Johnson Interior Design. (864) 660-2046; michelejohnsondesign.com ARCHITECT Brad Wright, Wright Design. (864) 501-4944; wrightdesignllc.com BUILDER Will Hines, Keeoco Development. (706) 816-3677; keeocodevelopment.com Custom Window Treatments Kim Wickert, Recreate Your. recreateyour.com