House of Drennan designs a dining room for almost-empty nesters that’s perfect for entertaining.

by Cathy Martin  |  photographs by Christina Hussey

Interior designer Rebecca Bridges’ clients had recently moved into a new home on the outskirts of Rock Hill, S.C., and were eager to make it their own. The couple, whose youngest child was about to leave for college, love to entertain, so they brought in Bridges to focus on the formal areas of the circa-1990s home.

“[The homeowner] definitely wanted traditional but still comfortable,” says Bridges, founder and lead decorator at Rock Hill-based House of Drennan. Working with the homeowners’ existing table and sideboard, Bridges refreshed the space with a bold octagonal-patterned wallpaper by Schumacher, a distinctive chandelier from Visual Comfort and draperies from Martha & Ash, a company local to Rock Hill and Camden, S.C.

“The homeowner already had a piece from local artist Katie MacGregor, and she wanted to bring in the color through there,” Bridges says. The designer shared pictures of the mood board and space with the artist, and MacGregor created a custom abstract painting for the room.

Bridges, a former teacher and homemaker, pivoted to design over the last decade and started House of Drennan in 2018. “I was looking for an outlet,” she says. “I missed working and doing something creative.” Her mother, Kathy Raines (House of Drennan’s client services specialist), was an early inspiration. “She has a wonderful eye — her home is beautiful,” Bridges says. “I always say she taught me everything that I know.”

While most of her clients are in York County, Bridges’ work often brings her to Charlotte, too, with previous and current projects from Dilworth to Ballantyne.

For this project, she was able to blend her love of antiques and traditional design with color and modern accents.

“The homeowner just wanted traditional and pretty, a place that she was proud of and she could easily welcome guests.”  SP

A PLACE FOR PUP

Using leftover wallpaper from the dining room, Bridges created an adorable “doggie den” for the homeowners’ King Charles spaniel in a small alcove under the stairs. “That was a first for me!” the designer says. The wood and iron gate matches the home’s entry gate. 

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