Columbia Metropolitan Magazine is excited to present this special feature showcasing the Midlands’ top designers. Each has chosen their personal favorite room of the year to offer you inspiration for your own decorating needs. Christy Davis for Christy Davis Interiors, Terri Veitinger for Ethan Allen, Linda Burnside for LGB Interiors, Mandy Summers-Smith for M. Gallery Interiors, Gwen Ehlers and B.J. Smith for Main Street Home, Amelia Bradley and Amanda McNabb for Strobler Home Furnishings, and Veronica Russell for Veronica Russell Interiors all illustrate their distinct style and flair for the latest trends in home fashion in the following pages.
The source of inspiration for an interior is different for every designer. Looking back to iconic models of inspiration, Jackie Kennedy, Coco Chanel, and Audrey Hepburn have inspired us all as style icons reflecting the fashion trends and style of the era. However, design inspiration is also found through art, architecture, nature, fashion, food, and travel.
Travel is reportedly one of the main themes for this year’s group through different architectural styles, the maze of colors in cultures across the globe, and art. The friction of life from a busy European market or the rich muted tones of a Moroccan desert sunset can be reflected in the framework of a room as well as the inspiration of a famous opera. Equally, the historical components of a Parisian interior can springboard an exciting trajectory.
Be it the brush of an artist, the vibrant colors of a sunset, or a small architectural detail, interior designers reflect the life within and around. We invite you to turn the pages and enjoy a reflection of this year’s very talented participants!
The Incorporation of Color
By Amelia Bradley and
Amanda McNabb
When considering the space for this design, we decided to flip the script on the popular idea of using a safe, neutral palette with small additions of color here and there. Conversely, we opted to have the luxe, melon-colored velvet sofa, with its unique, sophisticated lines, make a statement as the centerpiece of the room. The incorporation of a colorful, abstract giclee and artful throw pillows provides additional visual interest, yet the combination also unifies the lively aesthetic. When a client loves color, however bold or subtle, we embrace it and work to design a space that celebrates that appreciation.
Strobler Home Furnishings
(803) 790-6300
4721 Forest Drive
Columbia 29206
Strobler.com
A Master Bedroom with Lake Views
By Linda Burnside
Our client’s busy lifestyle required a respite from the day-to-day fast paced lifestyle of a CEO. Creating a room for a power couple means listening to their needs. Their master bedroom not only takes in spectacular lake views but also incorporates an eclectic mix of antiques and tactile luxury fabrics that were at the top of their list. French antiques were a part of their collection, and we were challenged with creating something that felt new and relaxing around them. Starting with a new iron bed, we added wispy white linen panels that create that perfect sense of calm. Luxury bedding, plus the addition of velvet to the mix, helps to marry the old with the new. Custom lighting by Lowcountry Originals shines against the Lake Murray sunset, and the perfect Stiffkey Blue wall color is by Farrow and Ball Paints.
LGB Interiors
(803) 929-5322
614 Hilton St.
Columbia 29205
LGBinteriors.com
A Rustic Elegant Living Room
By Terri Veitinger
After dreaming of building a new house for many years, our clients are thrilled with the rustic-elegant collaboration they now call home. Choosing the colors came easily. Knowing that our clients are Furman graduates, we, the designers, were deeply inspired by their mutual love of purple and their alma mater. The clients are pleased with the combination of elegant stripe and tone-on-tone fabrics with our forged iron/rustic plank table and distinctly modern hand knotted rug. The room’s focal point is the stone fireplace, which is designed to bring together the gray tones seen throughout their home. Connie Kelly’s exceptional eye for design, color, and use of texture was extremely influential throughout the clients’ design and building process.
The Ethan Allen family of Columbia dedicates this to Connie Kelly, who passed away May 18, 2019.
Ethan Allen
(803) 407-1500
101 Harbison Blvd.
Columbia 29212
EthanAllen.com
A Timeless, Classic Bedroom
By Veronica Russell
The goal for this master bedroom and sitting room was to create a timeless, classic space with a calming palette of layered textures. I tend to gravitate to neutrals and add interest with varieties of materials and finishes. A collection of family pieces repurposed with various patterned linens, antique furniture, soft white shades of silk in the bedding, a classic ivory grasscloth on the walls, and striated cream rug all come together to create this feel. Forged iron, chiseled stone, distressed carved wood, and handmade vases and bowls offer more subtle texture. The use of simple forms in one area or a collection of natural materials grouped together in another truly adds serenity to a space and tends to have a sense of timelessness that I love.
Veronica Russell Interiors
(803) 606-2171
614 Meeting St.
West Columbia 29169
VeronicaRussellInteriors.com
A Nautical Bliss Living Room
By Mandy Summers-Smith
This nautical living room was inspired by its waterfront view; I wanted to bring the scenic panorama inside. I chose a soft aqua, Sherwin Williams’ Halcyon, for the walls to create an aquatic feel. I selected a sunburst-shaped mirror to reflect the room’s fabulous light, and then I scattered multi-dimensional wall sculptures, molded in the shape of undersea coral, on either side. Next came navy linen chairs and a colorful array of textured pillows in bold yellow, navy, and white to add variety and softness atop the neutral sectional. The inspiration for those colors came from a myriad of sailboats. An intricate blown glass vase captures the motion of waves splashing, while a dramatic woven sisal rug, with delicate nautical ropes intertwined, grounds the maritime look.
M. Gallery Interiors
(803) 785-4620
202 West Main St.
Lexington 29072
MGalleryInteriors.net
A Calming, Relaxed Bedroom
By B.J. Smith
This beautiful, calming master bedroom was created by Gwen Ehlers of Essex Homes using furniture from Main Street Home. The decor’s theme stems from a belief that the master bedroom should feel like the safest, most relaxing room in a home. It is where parents can retreat and where kids can come to snuggle. The rustic farmhouse-style furniture gives an updated feel to the naturally calming green florals, blacks, and taupes utilized on the bedding and window treatments. The bench is a timeless and practical piece in any bedroom. The accessories, from candles to live flowers, simply continue the settled effect. Overall, it creates a calming, relaxed look that truly conveys “home sweet home.”
Main Street Home
(803) 749-7501
7740 Broad River Road
Irmo 29063
MainStreetHome.net
Practical, Functional, Beautiful Family Room
By Christy Davis
My challenge with this young family’s Lake Murray family room is that the room wears many hats; it functions as a playroom, a living area, and an entertaining space for lake parties and holiday gatherings. To meet these needs, I selected slip-resistant tile flooring for wet feet coming in from the lake, a quartz countertop for easy cleanup after parties, and a custom bookshelf for keeping toys at bay. We used stain-resistant fabrics throughout, which allowed for a soft, light color palette. A cozy rug, perfect for small feet, tied the room together. Now my clients have a space sophisticated enough for an adult gathering but durable enough for everyday family living.
Christy Davis Interiors
(205) 276-5775
1510 Wyndham Road
Columbia 29205
ChristyDavisInteriors.com
