Third time’s a charm: A new-to-Charlotte homeowner updates her Heydon Hall abode with the help of her go-to interior designer Jacy Painter Kelly.
by Catherine Ruth Kelly | photographs by MB Productions
KK Kucharski relocated to Charlotte from Chicago in 2020, following two of her three daughters to the Queen City and knowing she would likely have grandchildren here one day. Five years, two grandchildren and three houses later, Kucharski finally feels settled in her new hometown and her new home after renovating last summer and moving in last fall.
“I really like this neighborhood,” says Kucharski. “It’s so peaceful, quiet and safe, and I love that it is gated and that my yard is taken care of.”
Situated on a manicured lot in the Heydon Hall community in south Charlotte, Kucharski’s house was built in 2004 but required a bit of updating. Kucharski oversaw renovations of the kitchen and bathrooms. For the interior design, she consulted Jacy Painter Kelly, based in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
A pair of oversized angular light fixtures by Visual Comfort hang above the kitchen island. The fluted wood design above the stove and on the island adds texture to the earth-toned cabinetry by Distinctive Cabinets. Soft swivel chairs by Four Hands offer comfortable seating by the kitchen windows.
“This was actually my third project with KK,” says Kelly, who started working in interior design in 2004. “We got to know each other during the first project and worked well together, so by the third time around it was so easy because I know her style.”
Kelly’s signature style is decidedly modern with clean lines and a primarily black-and-white color palette. As a result, she tends to draw a certain type of client.
“The clientele I attract is a little more casual and more edgy in general,” explains Kelly. “I don’t do southern floral or shabby chic, and my clients know that; I attract clients who are a little out of the box.”
Kelly kept the dining room casual yet chic, selecting a round table for the pass-through space. Knowing her client’s taste, she commissioned a black-and-white geometric patterned rug to fit the room.
Left: In the dining room, a round table and chairs by Four Hands are centered under a natural raffia light fixture by Arteriors. The black-and-white custom rug is from Jaipur. Right: Boldly patterned wallpaper by Jennifer Latimer wraps the walls in the powder room.
“KK has a real thing for bold rugs, so I knew she would like this,” Kelly says. “We didn’t want the dining room to be too formal, so the fun pattern play kept it approachable and interesting.”
Kucharski’s goal during the kitchen renovation was to open it up to the living room and create a larger central island. She didn’t want a black-and-white kitchen, so Kelly helped her select a warm, earth-toned stain for the custom cabinetry by Distinctive Cabinets. There wasn’t enough room for a breakfast table, so Kelly suggested adding a pair of swivel chairs for soft seating beside the kitchen windows.
“That small sitting area is my morning spot where I have coffee and watch the deer walk through my backyard,” says Kucharski. “It’s so peaceful and relaxing.”
Another bold black-and-white rug anchors the living room, where a pair of creamy white sofas provide a comfortable gathering space. The fluted soapstone fireplace surround echoes the fluted wood in the kitchen above the stove and on the island. A brass light fixture featuring draped chains is the centerpiece of the room.
Left: Corbett Lighting’s “Lariat” chandelier is the centerpiece of the living room, where a pair of paintings by Whitney Stoddard flank the fireplace. Right: Shades of grey create a moody atmosphere in the primary bedroom, where Kucharski opted to use the same Thibaut wallpaper and Arteriors chandelier from the bedroom in her last house.
The black-and-white theme continues throughout the house, with pops of color introduced via art and accessories. Kelly says it can be challenging to create neutral spaces that still exude character.
“I really try to layer in different textures so it doesn’t feel bland or generic,” says Kelly. “My goal is to make it comfortable and welcoming and not sterile so people feel at home.”
Kucharski appreciates the clean, modern aesthetic that Kelly designed for each of her houses. After working on three projects together, they have an easygoing relationship.
“Jacy and I collaborate well on design choices, and I know I will like most of the items she shows me,” Kucharski says. “It makes it so much easier when you’re working with someone who knows your taste because you’re not wasting any time.” SP
