Text by Bethany Adams
As an interior designer, Lisa Furey spends her days translating her clients’ style ideas into stunning spaces. So, when it came time to design her family’s new home in South Carolina, she was more than ready to take on the challenge. “We were looking for sort of that modern, Lowcountry farmhouse look with hard-wearing materials,” Lisa says. Working with a local architect, she and her husband, Jim Colton, got to work creating a farmhouse-style home that would be a perfect fit not only for their family but also for the natural beauty of the land.
The home takes its cues from the breathtaking views surrounding it on all sides. Simple lines and understated tones help the home to both blend into and enhance the area. And creating multiple spaces for open-air gathering help blur the line between inside and out. From the front door to the screened porch off the master suite to the deck on the second level, there are plenty of places for family and friends to enjoy what nature has to offer from the comfort of the home.
When they’re not enjoying the waterfront breeze, the homeowners can be found in the main living area on the second floor, where an abundance of windows lets in as much natural light as possible. “That’s where we all are all the time,” Lisa says. “So that was the primary area of focus—that’s where the view is out to the lake and the preserve, and that’s where I spent most of my energy.”
Throughout the space, an absence of bright hues allows the emphasis to remain on the textures that Lisa skillfully wove throughout. A farmhouse-favorite, shiplap painted a crisp white is broken periodically by wooden details featuring a light finish, and natural fiber rugs and woven light fixtures add textural interest to a background of sleek lines. “To appreciate what’s outside and how pretty that is, we kind of underdid on the inside,” Lisa says. “Inside is more textural than colorful.”
But Lisa didn’t forgo color completely. Strokes of navy blue in the décor pop against the white background without distracting from the view, and the dark, industrial lines of hanging lights draw down the height of the vaulted ceiling. Hand-painted terra cotta tiles inject a splash of cheerful tones into the kitchen, which features an oversize island, floating shelves, and an abundance of storage. “The kitchen is so simple, and I knew I wanted a little bit of navy and taupe and gray,” Lisa says of the tile choice.
Lisa admits that designing her own home was more challenging than she expected, but it was a challenge she and Jim tackled with confidence. “The hardest part was picking out all of the finishes because we’re designers, so we know all the selections,” she says. “So, it’s hard to narrow that down because you want to get the perfect thing.”
In the end, every design choice worked together to culminate in a home that’s perfect for family and friends alike. By focusing on the details, these home design professionals created a big picture that adds its own brand of beautiful to an already breathtaking view.
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