A visit to the annual Southern Living Idea House is the perfect excuse for a road trip! This year’s show home, located in Oriental on the North Carolina coast, is the fifth one I’ve visited. Dubbed “The Great Escape”, Southern Living magazine describes the 2022 Idea House as “a gathering place that inspires relaxation and invites togetherness… a winsome and unfussy retreat”.
The inviting house is situated in the midst of the Harbor Village neighborhood in the River Dunes community. It has spectacular views of Grace Harbor and the community marina to the front and, rather surprisingly, a community chapel to the right.
I’d like to share a mini-tour of the Idea House in today’s blog post—I can’t include everything I saw but I will call out some of the decorating ideas the house inspired. I’m not in the market for a new house or a major renovation, so I focused on details and little things that I knew I could apply in my own home. Here are my top 10 ideas from the 2022 Southern Living Idea House.
Idea 1 – Mount House Number on Step Riser It’s a little thing, but the house number mounted at eye-level on the fourth step riser, is a clever detail that’s both practical and easy to implement.
One look into the great room signals this house is packed with personality!
The most striking element in the great room is, undoubtedly, the spectacular shellwork around the two built-ins. A closer look reveals an impressive, artful arrangement of shells, sea urchins, butterflies and other natural elements. Each shell is meticulously placed to form an elaborate pattern. The shellwork was created by Dawn Nakamura Interiors. Here’s a closer look.
Idea 2 – Add Interest with Shellwork The shellwork around the bookcases is stunning but I’m a little too practical for such an elaborate installation. Luckily, there were many other examples of shellwork sprinkled throughout the house including a shell-covered picture frame, a framed piece of shell artwork, a shellwork bathroom mirror and a shell-covered trinket box.
Conveniently located between the great room and the kitchen is the dining room. Or perhaps I should say the indoor dining room since there are is also an outdoor dining area on the large side porch. An abundance of sprightly, floral fabric softens this space—it covers the floor-to-ceiling drapes and the upholstered dining chairs.
Idea 3 – Cover Lampshades With Fabric Interestingly, the same fabric covers the lampshades. This is an intriguing alternative to plain, white lampshades.
While the floral fabric is lovely, the most remarkable element in the dining room is the trellis work. Custom trellis panels add texture and depth to the walls and even the ceiling. A simple, square pattern is visible on the walls in the above photo.
Idea 4 – Use Trellis Panels for Interest and Privacy There’s also a beautiful decorative panel on the side porch. It provides a sense of separation and adds privacy to the outdoor dining area.
The kitchen features an open layout with a large center island. Several traditional design elements are beautifully merged into this contemporary kitchen.
Idea 5 – Add Scalloped Edging Pretty, scalloped edging trims the island and the upper shelf. This charming, old-timey trim is echoed in the wicker coffee tray. It makes a repeat performance in other areas of the house such as the mirror frame in the primary bath and the vanity in the guest room bath.
Idea 6 – Embellish with Lavish Fabric Trims I noticed the hem of the café curtains in the laundry room (pictured below bottom right) is trimmed with a pretty braid. There are lavish applications of fabric trim throughout the house—nearly every window treatment, including roman shades, floor-to-ceiling drapes and café curtains, is embellished with tassels, ruffles, pompoms or braided edging.
There is one bedroom, referred to as the guest room, tucked away on the main floor. It is a soothing riot of color and pattern. A generously-sized window seat, arguably its most notable feature, beckons from the far side of the room. The room is decorated with a bold blue and white check. Fabric in the same pattern is used on the upholstered bed and several accent pillows. Fabric in coordinating florals, stripes, geometrics and solid colors is used throughout the room.
Idea 7 – Make Occasional Furniture Count A vintage side table with the most gorgeous turned wood trim caught my eye in the guest room (pictured below top right). Side tables are an example of occasional furniture—a broad category of small, non-essential furniture pieces. Other examples of occasional furniture include accent chairs, drinks tables, footstools and bedside tables. The Idea House has a number of striking occasional furniture pieces. A dainty drink table, in the second bedroom, serves a practical function without taking up all the space in front of the sofa. A trio of hexagon-shaped coffee tables offers the ultimate flexibility in the great room. A trio of upholstered rattan stools, also from the guest room, is a nice alternative to the more predictable end-of-bed bench.
The second bedroom, on the second floor, takes decorating boldness up another level. This room, featuring two twin beds, is papered in a joyous, vibrant pattern called Bamboo Garden. The wallpaper is beautifully complemented by the deep green furniture, multi-colored striped rug and lively abstract art.
The opposite wall features a small seating area complete with, to quote Southern Living, “a pillow-happy sofa”.
Idea 8 – Add a Needlepoint Accent Pillow I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of accent pillows covered in needlepoint. There can’t be many decorating details more reminiscent of granny’s house than needlepoint. Needlepoint is a type of embroidery where fine yarn is stitched through a stiff, open-weave canvas. See the butterfly pillow (pictured below) for a close look at needlepoint stitching . Needlepoint is available in a limitless variety of colors and patterns, especially if you stitch one yourself. Here are a few examples from the Idea House.
The Love is the Only Way to Fly pillow (pictured above) was spotted in the primary bedroom. Located at the front of the house, the primary bedroom features huge windows with splendid views and double doors leading to an upper porch. It’s a spacious room decorated in calm, soothing colors and textures.
The subtle wall treatment is interesting. Horizontal stripes have been painted on the walls using two colors of paint—Barely Pear and Carambola from Sherwin-Williams—one in semi-gloss sheen and the other with an eggshell finish.
Idea 9 – Customize with Decorative Painting The walls of the primary bedroom (closeup pictured below on right) are not the only surface in the Idea House enhanced with decorative painting. I spotted several other outstanding examples of this creative touch including the floral vanities in the primary bathroom and the bold red striped walls topped with stenciled florals in the carriage house bedroom.
But the most striking example of decorative painting is found in the main foyer. The floors and stair risers were hand stenciled by Mauck Made Art to perfectly complement the flamboyant wallpaper.
Decorative painting, especially with stencils, may bring to mind the late 1970’s but the Idea House proves it’s a modern way to add a personal touch. A balanced mix of contemporary and traditional is a recurring theme in the Idea House. “Cleverly current and thoughtfully tied to tradition” is how Southern Living puts it.
Idea 10 – Blend in Vintage Accessories Another way in which the Idea House communicates a traditional vibe is through vintage accessories. A ceramic strawberry cookie jar and vintage daisy-patterned glassware adorn a kitchen shelf. A hand-embroidered hand towel hangs on a towel ring. Vintage hankies serve as cocktail napkins. Vintage, fish-themed plates surround the mirror in the primary bedroom vanity.
The Idea House has more rooms and features than I could possibly cover in one blog post. So, I’ll wrap up with a peek into one of my favorite spaces—the art studio! The studio, located in a separate building in the back yard, is accessible via a covered walkway. It is a spacious room featuring a stunning projected glass window with a built-in window seat. It is a dream studio but could, alternatively, serve as an office or bedroom.
More Info
The 2022 Southern Living Idea House is located in Oriental on the North Carolina coast. The Southern Living website provides all the details about the 2022 Idea House including a video tour, info about the interior designer Charlotte Harris Lucas, and a list of sources. The Idea House is open through December 18, 2022. Tickets are available on the River Dunes website.
You may also be interested in the FanningSparks blog post, Ideas from the Idea House, which includes a look inside the 2019 Southern Living Idea House on Amelia Island, Florida.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Consider visiting the Southern Living Idea House or a similar show house near you.
2. “Cleverly current and thoughtfully tied to tradition” is an interesting decorating style.
3. Consider adding hand-crafted artwork, such as shellwork, decorative painting or needlepoint, to your home décor.
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