Blank canvas
June 1, 2022
House of Nomad combines coastal hues, original art, international finds and vintage treasures in a California-chic Foxcroft home.
by Catherine Ruth Kelly | photographs by Laura Sumrak
When Sandra and Mike Schulte moved from Greensboro to Charlotte in 2019, they quickly realized they were going to need new furniture for their new home. A lot of new furniture.
“Our home in Greensboro was more traditional and had darker interiors, and this home is more modern and much lighter and brighter,” Sandra explains. “None of our old furniture worked, so we basically started with a clean slate.”
Recognizing the daunting task of decorating the nearly 8,000-square-foot Foxcroft home, the Schultes enlisted the help of Kelley Lentini and Berkeley Minkhorst of House of Nomad Design. Drawn to HON’s worldly, eclectic style, they essentially gave Lentini and Minkhorst free rein to create a chic-yet-comfortable home for their family of five.
“They were very trusting and gave us a lot of creative liberty,” Lentini says. “They envisioned a laid-back, California-cool vibe with a neutral color palette, so we started with art for inspiration.”
An abstract painting by New Orleans artist Alexis Walter was their first purchase and served as the impetus for the family room design. Soft creams and blues in the room’s decor accent the pastel colors within the work of art, which hangs over the mantel. The Schultes admire the painting so much, they bought four smaller pieces by Walter for the entry hall.
Lentini and Minkhorst discovered another abstract artist, Robert R. Landry, in Palm Springs, Calif., whose color palette was perfectly suited for the cool, coastal hues of the Schultes’ house. They brought one home with them for the living room and commissioned a second work for the dining room.
“The beautiful, soothing colors in the art really complement each other and set the tone for the entire house,” Sandra says. “It creates such a nice flow as you move from room to room.”
To add texture to the walls of the media room, Lentini and Minkhorst included a work by an artisan they met in Queretaro, Mexico. The large-scale piece is made of woven cotton fibers recycled from a denim factory in the central Mexico town.
House of Nomad is known for sourcing furniture and accessories from around the globe for their clients, and the Schultes were no exception. Moroccan rugs, Balinese baskets and Turkish textiles season the home, creating a look that balances bohemian traveler with sophisticated collector.
“We get so inspired when we travel — it’s such a passion for us,” Minkhorst says. “Sometimes we find one amazing item that is the springboard for an entire project.”
Throughout the Schultes’ house, Lentini and Minkhorst masterfully integrate their international finds with vintage treasures, new acquisitions and custom creations to achieve a layered, livable setting with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic.
“This project falls into a different category for us because the use of color is more restrained,” Lentini notes. “But it is very textural, which adds so much depth to a neutral color scheme.”
The casual, airy theme continues outside, where the designers assembled an eclectic mix of light, bright cotton fabrics and woven wood and rattan furniture throughout the al fresco gathering spaces.
The covered area next to the pool is a favorite hangout for the Schultes’ adult children when entertaining friends. A sitting area above is adjacent to the family room and has become an enjoyable spot for the Schultes to relax, read or watch TV. The pergola-covered dining area, kitchen and bar are ideal for poolside entertaining, and an outdoor fireside lounge is a cozy retreat when the weather is cooler.
Watching their new house come together during the slower pace of the pandemic made the Schultes appreciate the creative process even more. “We love how Kelley and Berkeley personalized each room to meet our needs,” Sandra says. “To start from scratch and create a space that we love was almost like therapy.” SP
Featured photo: The family room design was inspired by a painting by New Orleans artist Alexis Walter, displayed above the mantel.
