Color can achieve design magic, especially in the hands of Charlotte Lucas, who’s able to conjure up a room so rich and detailed, you never see it the same way twice. Adventurous clients—empty nesters who often host their extended family—and their recently renovated blank canvas of a Georgian home, in Raleigh, North Carolina, gave Lucas an opportunity for a grand transformation. She created a scheme that’s elevated but also comfortable enough for holidays and large family dinners.
“We wanted the interior design to be dynamic and bold, and we were ready to take risks to get there,” the homeowner says. A windowless central room Lucas calls the “jewel box,” with walls covered in larger-than-life de Gournay cranes and a shimmery, textural gold ceiling, sets the tone for exactly how bold. Lucas followed it up with a game room drenched in turquoise blue and several spaces in soft pinks, including ceilings and trim. Below the elegant everyday living quarters is a lounge with shiny black walls and a citron moiré ceiling. It was important to the homeowners for the house to have things their grown kids would enjoy coming back to. “We wanted it not to feel like a basement but to have space for family movies, games, a golf simulator, and entertaining,” Lucas says.
With sweeping doses of vibrant hues in so many rooms, it was crucial to know “when to pull back,” the designer says. The family room and kitchen provide moments of respite. Dynamic and bold—and yet perfectly balanced—is what Lucas delivered.
Foyer
Jewel Box
What was once a pass-through space is now “the heartbeat of the home,” Lucas says. Wallcoverings: de Gournay (walls) and Donghia (ceiling). Flush mount: vintage Barovier & Toso. Sofa: vintage, in de Le Cuona fabric. Armchair: vintage, in Zinc Textile fabric.
Living Room
Toile Brunschwig & Fils curtains and an animal-print Stanton rug tone down the pink sofa and walls. Side table: Mambo Unlimited Ideas. Sofa: custom, in Pierre Frey fabric.
Family Room
Bleached white oak paneling and a custom plaster fireplace offer a visual break from strong colors. Pink chairs: Kelly Wearstler, in Kravet fabric. Sofa: Kelly Wearstler, in Nobilis fabric. Chaise longue: vintage, in Pierre Frey fabric.
Kitchen
A custom brass range hood and toe kick and an Urban Electric Co. chandelier embellish the room. Range: Lacanche. Counter stools: Dooq, in McLaurin & Piercy fabric with Samuel & Sons trim.
Breakfast Room
For the gallery wall that Lucas calls the “ultimate jigsaw puzzle,” she and the clients collected art for over a year. Chandelier: Remains Lighting. Banquette: Highland House, in Ferrick Mason fabric. Table: The CEH. Chairs: Alfonso Marina, in Moore & Giles leather.
Powder Room
Treillage-effect Pierre Frey wallcovering and matching high-gloss trim brighten the Fornasetti chest used as a vanity. Fixtures: Waterworks.
Primary Bedroom
Lucas designed the bed and had it custom made by Porte Italia. Wallpaper: Lewis & Wood. Bench: vintage, in Zimmer + Rohde fabric. Rug: Lee Jofa.
Daughter’s Bedroom
Daughter’s Sunroom
A subtly iridescent Dedar wallcovering swathes the walls and ceiling. Curtains: Schumacher. Settee: vintage, in Pierre Frey fabric.
Primary Bathroom
Game Room
Bermuda Turquoise paint by Benjamin Moore sets a playful vibe. Floor lamp: Mr. Brown London. Stools: Adrienne Davis Design. Shuffleboard: custom, Blatt Billiards. Art: Erik Madigan Heck.
Basement Lounge
Lucas set a mood here that’s “edgy but fun, and full of color in a different way from the rest of the house.” Wallcovering: Jim Thompson (ceiling). Chairs: EJ Victor, in de Le Cuona fabric. Barstools: vintage, in Moore & Giles leather.
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