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Design Evolution

click any of the photos below to start the slideshow

A chic downtown couple adds comfort and kids to their style repertoire

Photographs by
Brie Williams
Kim Quattlebaum and her sons, John Henry (center) and Mac, in the outdoor family room.
Design Evolution
“Too much color takes away from all the other stuff,” says Kim, “and it gets a little busy on the eye.” Her solution: let patterns, finishes, and textures work together to add subtle variation and visual interest. A Leonard Baskin original from Alex Quattlebaum’s mother hangs above the sofa.
The façade of the 1867 house
Objets Trouvés: Kim once went out to grab cupcakes for a wedding shower she was hosting and ­returned home with this ­dining table, bench, and chairs. She found the dramatic chandelier at a Georgetown, South Carolina, ­antiques shop, and the mirror frame above the fireplace was made from wood salvaged from the rear dependency during a recent remodel.
Bright Idea: Kim revels in subtle touches, such as the Mason’s ironstone dessert china, to add pops of color to the house’s neutral palette.
Kitchen Duties: Rather than putting the sink under the window looking into the backyard, Kim placed it in the island so she can interact with family and guests as she prepares meals.
Bathing Beauty: Seated Nude 4 by local artist Tim Hussey invites one to take a dip in the sun-soaked master bath.
Head Room: Downstairs, dropped ceilings lower the height to 11-and-a-half feet, helping tame the potentially overwhelming, overly grand scale of the house.
Visitor One, by Hussey, offers a ­welcome in the front entrance.
Masculine Appeal: “We designed the guesthouse around this sofa,” Kim says of Alex’s bachelor relic. “It was a sad day for all the men in the family when it left the big house, but I think it looks pretty good here, especially because the guesthouse is really Alex’s ‘man cave’.” Opening up walls and adding glass doors ushered more light into the space. Architectural accents in walls were made possible with bricks salvaged from the deconstructed courtyard.
Elbow Grease: Beams removed from upstairs were refashioned for use as shelves and countertops.
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