Neutral zone
October 1, 2024
Traci Zeller Interiors built a following in Charlotte and beyond — as lead designer, Traci had a talent for blending unexpected elements with sophisticated details. This recent project at Carmel Country Club is no exception.
by Andrea Nordstrom Caughey | photographs by Dustin and Susie Peck
“There can only be one best actor in a room, you can’t have five,” said Traci Zeller of Traci Zeller Interiors, regarding the careful blend of impact plus balance in her design of a newly constructed gem along Carmel Country Club golf course.
“It’s easy to gravitate to shiny objects, but you can’t have them all. Regardless of whether you are operating on a tight budget or have limitless funds, smart decisions rule,” Zeller said. “Often one significant element or splurge, like a special surface or lighting fixture, can set the tone, as in this home’s beautiful inlaid tile in the foyer. And remember, paint colors all cost the same.”
The brick ceiling treatment in the kitchen and dining room is one of several unexpected design details in the home.
Restraint dictated other design decisions throughout this seamless home, too, particularly with the lighting. “We have showstoppers, like the kitchen pendants or the antique mirror chandelier in the reading room, but we also have quieter pieces, like the sconces in the powder room that are beautiful on their own but let the other elements shine through.”
The design team at Traci Zeller Interiors always requests inspiration photos from clients, whether magazine clippings, Pinterest picks, Instagram posts or iPhone snaps, even from travel destinations or hotels. “You quickly get a feel for what draws them in, what themes run throughout,” she said. “In this case, the wife is chic and stylish. They were willing to invest in gorgeous, classic fixed elements, like the marble mosaic tile in the laundry room and [primary] bath and inlaid marble in the foyer, along with luxe fabrics and wallcoverings.”
Middle: A striking marble-and-wood inlay in the foyer
The designers also benefited from early involvement in the architectural envelope of the home. The homeowners had retired early and downsized into a townhome, only to realize they missed the extra space. They initially brought on Zeller to help with window treatments and a few interior elements in their new home, but her role soon expanded.
“This project was a dream, because we worked closely with the homeowners, architects Smith Slovik and Acadia Custom Homes right from the start to help fine tune all the spaces for maximum livability,” Zeller said.
One example was switching a home office from the original floor plan with the laundry room. “The laundry room has prime real estate in the rear corner of the home,” said Ali Bremer, senior designer at Traci Zeller Interiors. “Originally, that corner was meant to be a small home office for ‘her.’ But after we learned how often she does laundry, we flip-flopped the laundry room with the home office. Now she has a large, bright naturally-lit laundry room and a more appropriate-sized office space for her needs. All she really needed was a computer, chair, and a couple of drawers, so it made sense to make this the interior, windowless room.” The designers made up for the lack of windows in the room by adding a sophisticated cloud-themed wallpaper by Schumacher.
Top Left: Originally planned as a home office, the spacious laundry room in the rear corner of the home is filled with natural light.
“In another favorite modification, the floor plans specified more closet space than we felt was necessary,” said Bremer. “We removed one of two coat closets in the mud room/drop zone and extended the bench and cabinetry to run the entire wall.” Eliminating another coat closet allowed for an expansion of the powder bath and freed up a focal wall at the end of the foyer hallway, which is accented by a large artwork.
Palette-wise, the soft neutral scheme throughout was a given. “There is a definite swing toward an earthier look, and today’s large, open spaces need warmth to make them more inviting,” said Zeller. “But in that mix, texture is a must. When you are working with a primarily neutral palette, texture is key. Without it, neutrals can feel flat and, dare I say, boring.”
Layers are also essential, according to Zeller. “Warming grays can marry with beiges, browns and linen tones. You want your elements to play well together, ratios that can easily shift over the years.”
Even the best plans often end up with a surprise, Zeller said. “The original architectural plans called for a groin vault ceiling on one end of the foyer, but that turned out not to be feasible. Instead we created a ceiling detail that runs the length of the entry. It’s better than the original, actually. These changes are what we call happy accidents. People underestimate the amount of problem-solving that goes into interior design.” SP
EDITOR’S NOTE:
We were well into production of our October issue when we learned of Traci Zeller’s sudden and untimely passing. Over the years, Zeller’s designs have been featured in SouthPark Magazine countless times. Not only was Zeller an extraordinarily talented interior designer, she was also graceful, kind and joyful. After careful consideration and consulting with her family, we decided to proceed with publishing this feature as a tribute to Zeller and as a celebration of her enduring legacy in Charlotte’s design community.
Traci Zeller, 1974-2024
