HOME AWAY FROM HOME: Picturesque piazzas and palm trees formed the Charleston vacation home ideals of a couple from Omaha looking for a winter retreat. Following an extensive renovation by Beau Clowney Architects and Tupper Builders, the century-old, late-Victorian charmer was ready for its new family.
HAUTE ARRIVAL: The entrance hall adds a dash of drama courtesy of exquisite Gracie “Parchment Vista” wallpaper. Shades of cream together with gilt and silver produce a mesmerizing effect, complemented by the curves and scale of a circa-1850 stone-topped Italian buffet from Foxglove Antiques. Two English Regency armchairs from Charleston’s Golden & Associates Antiques round out an eclectic mix of European pieces.
QUIET ELEGANCE: Cream walls with cream damask curtains and neutral upholstery create a timeless background in this large living room. Pillows of leopard velvet, Fortuny damask, and melon velvet with vintage trim add texture and color, while Spanish Barcelona gilt tole chandeliers from David Skinner Antiques provide playful whimsy.
The homeowners scoured local galleries for art, selecting the Otto Neumann monotype from Anne Long Fine Art for a modern touch above the mantel and the Alfred Hutty and Elizabeth O’Neill Verner etchings on the far wall as a nod to local history.
SIMPLE SYMMETRY: Dominated by a large white Namib marble-topped island, ideal for gathering the family as well as spreading out the newspaper, the kitchen is literally and figuratively the heart of this home. A pair of “Urban Smokebell” lanterns from Urban Electric add a grand scale and align perfectly with the two newly discovered windows, previously covered by cabinets.
BRIGHT SPOT: Cabinets lacquered in Benjamin Moore “Blue Danube” pull the eye through the neutral kitchen into this daring butler’s pantry. Two Sandy Ostrau works from Meyer Vogl Gallery add to the dramatic, contemporary feel.
While updating a century-old residence South of Broad, architect Beau Clowney sought to reinstate some of the home’s likely architectural past, such as the cypress paneling in this handsome den.
TONY TONES: Taupe, camel, and cream are enlivened with understated patterns and hints of the tropical foliage just beyond the windows in this soothing master bedroom, with a custom poster bed by North Charleston’s Nietert Antique Restorations.
A pair of early-20th-century Spanish Barcelona gilt tole sconces from David Skinner Antiques flank an Anne Darby Parker oil above the fireplace.
A Louis Philippe mirror tops a serpentine dresser.
SOAK IN THE VIEW: The downsized master bathroom prioritized access to the piazza over soaking space (there’s no tub), keeping clean lines along with classic marble touches thanks to “Melissa Wall” sconces by Urban Electric and a Calacatta basketweave tile floor.
CURTAIN CALL: Playful patterns set the tone in the guest rooms with bohemian Peter Dunham Textiles “Samarkand” curtains.
Schumacher’s “Katsura Stripe” wallpaper in “Delft”
Suzanne Tucker Home “Latika” embroidered curtains in “aqua”
IN THE SWIM: A pool was on the must-have list for the couple, who wanted a spot their children and grandchildren would flock to. The sun-dappled patio provides the perfect perch for relaxing and watching them play.
GARDEN ROOMS: Landscape architects Wertimer + Cline divided the long, narrow garden into several rooms relating to the different facades of the house and pool. They incorporated boxwoods, olive trees, giant taros, and other warm-weather plants into the design.
Modern updates meet historical features in this late Victorian residence
