Time for change
November 2, 2020
An Eastover couple downsizes after 39 years and taps designer Charlotte Lucas to usher in a new aesthetic.
by Blake Miller • photographs by Chris Edwards
Georganna and James Moore were making a big transition. After living in their Charlotte home for nearly 40 years, they were ready to downsize. Not only was the couple eager to move to a smaller home, they also wanted to start the interior-design process from scratch, save for a handful of family heirlooms and antiques. “We truly just wanted something new and fresh and different from what we’d had for the last 39 years,” Georganna says.
The couple’s new 3,400-square-foot condo in Eastover was the ideal blank canvas. And though the Moores had a vision for the interior of their new home, they also knew they needed a professional’s discerning eye. The Moores’ daughter had previously worked with interior designer Charlotte Lucas, and after seeing the results, the couple realized that they, too, wanted to enlist Lucas to design their own home.
“[My design team] had worked closely with Georganna and James when we were working on their daughter’s home because she doesn’t live here full time,” Lucas explains. “They were our point of contact for much of the project. And through that, we really developed a great friendship with them.” The Moores gave Lucas the reins to create a design scheme that was a departure from their home of nearly four decades.
“They wanted it to be classic and put together enough for them to entertain but also comfortable and kid friendly for their grandkids,” Lucas says. “They felt like a lot of their old furniture was traditional and all brown. They’re so fun and youthful, so we wanted to capture that in the design of the home.”
Lucas kept most of the walls a neutral white to keep things “light and airy” but incorporated pops of color and small doses of floral patterns throughout. In the keeping room, an Ainsworth-Noah curved sectional coupled with a pair of swivel chairs adds character and a touch of modern to the space. When paired with vintage pieces such as side tables and lamps sourced from luxury e-commerce site 1st Dibs, the overall aesthetic is elegant and sophisticated.
In the kitchen, Lucas added a custom Gracie wallpaper mural to brighten the space. A custom banquette is upholstered in a grandkid-friendly navy vinyl fabric, while a gilded Niermann Weeks ceiling fixture completes the look.
While incorporating a few of the Moores’ antiques and heirlooms such as the dining-room table and a vintage screen above the guest-room bed, Lucas also updated some rooms with wallpaper. The grandchildren’s bedroom, for example, features a playful Hermes wallcovering with yellow and green tones that’s complemented with sheets by Peacock Alley and bedding from Hendersonville-based Oriole Mill.
“Charlotte just knew what we would like. There wasn’t much back and forth during the design process because Charlotte was so spot on with her choices,” Georganna says.
“There’s a lot of trust that goes on between a designer and her clients,” Lucas says. “The Moores completely trusted me with their home, and I think it turned out exactly what they were looking for.” SP
