Text: Alice Welsh Doyle
Photo: Margaret Wright
Sophistication and elegance may not be words normally associated with waterside living, but designers Kelly Kole and Joann Kandrac knew just what their client wanted in her home in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. In the main first floor living areas, homeowner Jennifer Bastian sought serene, calm spaces, which included a white veined marble wall, airy glass front cabinetry, and open shelving in the kitchen; weathered reclaimed beams in a pale gray tone and white beadboard for the ceiling; wood floors that look like they have been bleached in the sun; floor-to-ceiling steel doors; and carefully edited decorative accents.
“The view of the river and marshland is so spectacular, we didn’t want anything to compete with that,” explains Kole. “When you step in the front door, your eye immediately takes it all in without the distraction of bold color or busyness.” Beyond those communal living spaces, a different story unfolds; one of bright hues, whimsical wallpapers, and bold prints.
“We could go in this direction because the floor plan allowed for it, as all the brightly hued bedrooms are on an upper level.” says Kandrac. “I thought, let’s have some fun,” says Bastian.
“Kelly, Joann, and I went on tours of the historic homes in downtown Charleston, and there was so much fabulous wallpaper and color-filled rooms that we channeled that spirit, and it’s like eye candy and a bit of a surprise.”
Each of the client’s three grown children provided design cues for their bedrooms and en suite baths. For example, the daughter opted for a symphony of blues with a fully upholstered bed in Hunt Slonem’s Hutch print for Lee Jofa with its whimsical rabbits, a watery contemporary painting over the bed that is reminiscent of the sea, a blue bedside table/vanity, and lively striped wallpaper in the adjoining bathroom.
The youngest son was aiming for a space to host a lot of friends, so there are two queen beds with cheerful greens and turquoise tones and a pair of beach paintings over the upholstered bed frames. Whimsical Cole & Son fish motif wallpaper and aqua green subway tile with penny tile detailing in the shower extend the engaging atmosphere to the bathroom.
The guest room, where Jennifer’s mother stays when visiting, shows off her favorite pink. The upholstered, tufted headboard sits against a lively botanical Thibaut wallpaper that imparts a lyrical quality in the room. A pale pink hue wraps the adjoining bathroom, which includes a white sculpted metallic leaf chandelier and scalloped seashell-like mirror over the vanity, which both speak to the setting. When it came to the lighting on the first floor, the designers went all out.
“Given the quietness of the spaces, we really wanted the lighting to make a statement in every space and add that jewel-like quality,” says Kole. Bastian was involved in every aspect of the design process (she and Kole have been close friends since college), and the lighting was no exception. “Jennifer joined us at High Point, so she could really take in the scale, finish, and personality of each piece,” says Kandrac. The choices include a pair of dramatic brass open cage-like chandeliers over the island and a mid-century-inspired fixture of patinaed brass and hand-bleached rope in the decidedly chic powder bath with its curvaceous black, brass-adorned vanity.
Behind all the prettiness, there is some serious practicality in play that the designers artfully disguised. The powder room’s “grasscloth” wallcovering is actually vinyl, almost all the fabrics in the main living spaces are performance, and wool rugs that can take a beating and are easy to spot-clean are found throughout. “We have been here a few years now and the house has seen a lot of traffic, and you would never even know it—it’s so lovely and so durable; every element in the décor is a testament to Kelly and Joann’s talents,” says Bastian. “The natural setting, the landscape, the views and gorgeous sunsets, and of course, the interiors, give me such a feeling of pleasure and appreciation every time I arrive. It’s magical.”
