Vacation Homes Are the Place to Take Big Swings With Color and Pattern

The goal was a “bright and airy” vacation home, but one designer knew the homeowner’s request for all-white everything wasn’t the only way to get there.

It might surprise you to learn that the homeowner’s initial request of Liz Carroll, the interior designer behind this striking Roaring Gap, North Carolina, retreat, was to avoid color. “I wanted all white, everywhere,” the client says with a laugh. But Carroll saw something different: Expansive windows and ample natural light meant a neutral palette wasn’t necessary to make the home feel bright. “I suggested we lean into some darker colors—burgundy and plums, browns, greens, and mustard yellows that reflect the landscape,” Carroll says. “And she was open to it.”

The process was a trust fall for the client, as Carroll presented her with bold patterns in earthy hues for the den and a Sister Parish print for her twin daughters’ bedroom that went on the walls, beds, and Roman shades. “This was really a lesson in letting go for me,” the homeowner says.

One thing the family never lost sight of? Their conviction that the house needed to work equally well for quiet summer nights when it was just the five of them and gatherings of a hundred friends. Architect Clark Tate designed a floor plan with a mix of open living spaces and smaller, more intimate rooms. Carroll then wrapped the cozy den in a moody yet playful wallpaper and added a deep sectional for family hangouts, while the lighter living room flows into an outdoor sitting area, ideal for large parties.

This was really a lesson in letting go for me.

In the end, the push was more than worth it. “I find when I’m helping people with a vacation home, they are more open to taking risks. They’ll go for the funky wallpaper or paint the trim an interesting color,” Carroll says. “They were excited to get something they didn’t know was even possible.”

To keep the concrete fireplace from feeling stark and cold, architect Clark Tate used a board-form technique to create a subtle, warm wood-grain effect. Lamps: Bunny Williams Home. Tables: Highland House Furniture. Chandelier: Roll & Hill.

Den

The bold colors and warm, cocoon-like vibe make this room the perfect “place to slip away to read a book or watch a movie,” Liz Carroll says. Sofa: custom, in Villa Nova fabric. Wallpaper: Cole & Son. Ottoman: Lee Industries, in Pindler fabric.

Kitchen

Dining Room

The midcentury-inspired chairs by Four Hands are covered in an Ottoline fabric that plays off the Alex Brewer painting. Chandelier: Lazzeroni Studio. Rug: Stark.

Powder Room

The timeless Gracie wallpaper was the inspirational “jumping-off point” for this showstopper. Sink: Kast Concrete Basins. Sconces: Lindsey Adelman Studio.

Bunk Room

It took some convincing, but when this green went up on the walls, we all knew it was the one.

The sitting area outside the kids’ rooms was designed with lounging in mind. The colors of the vintage stools in durable Designers Guild fabric are a fun nod to Trivial Pursuit. Paint: Great Barrington Green, Benjamin Moore. Sconces: Lightology.

Guest Bedroom

Affectionately dubbed “Liz’s room” by the homeowner, this suite is where the designer would want to stay. Wallpaper: Flat Vernacular. Headboard: custom, in Colefax and Fowler fabric.

Girls' Bedroom

A singular Sister Parish print all over the twins’ room makes the space as striking as it is sweet. Flush mount: France & Son. Nightstand: Century Furniture.

Bathroom

Office

No surface was left plain in this work space. Feminine, hand-painted Voutsa wallpaper inspired striking pink cabinetry in Benjamin Moore Pale Petal paint. Chair: Four Hands. Lamp: Visual Comfort & Co.