Interior designer Charlotte Lucas has been featured in most of the top design-related publications out there: Veranda, House Beautiful, domino, Lonny, Southern Living (you get it, she’s talented).
Her style is a refreshing departure from the white-washed farmhouse look you find on Pinterest. She ambitiously layers colors, patterns, and fabrics in a way that brings a personal, playful flare to traditional Southern design, without overwhelming your senses.
Charlotte recently let me take a tour of her home, and, as expected, it’s just as fabulous as all of her other projects I’ve swooned over via her Instagram.
Quick background: Charlotte and her husband, Brooks — both native Charlotteans — met at Selwyn Pub and got married eight years ago. They have two children, a five-year-old boy named Townes and a six-year-old girl named Liles, and a mini golden doodle, Saba.
The house: Their Eastover home is 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and 4,310 square feet.
“Brooks and I bought this house April 2013, did a small renovation to the downstairs living area, and moved in a week before having our daughter, Liles,” Charlotte said. “Most recently (2018), we renovated the bar which has become our preferred hangout.”
The Lucas home isn’t what you’d expect to find along a street of traditional colonial brick homes in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. That was part of the draw for Charlotte and Brooks.
AG Odell, an architect who worked in Charlotte from the 1930s to 1982, is the original architect of the house.
“He was a master in his day and wasn’t known for his residential work,” Charlotte explained. “His design of the Charlotte Coliseum gave him international fame, and at that time was the largest unsupported dome in the world! It’s really important to me to keep and preserve a home that is so unique and designed by such an incredibly talented architect who is so important to the history of Charlotte.”
Charlotte’s newest piece from SOCO Gallery
Charlotte’s approach to design, both for her home and for clients, is personal. She says, “I think a home should reflect the people inside and tell a story of who they are even if you’ve never met them.”
Her shelves showcase carefully curated collections of trinkets from their family travels, photographs, and other items that bring excitement and happiness.
“Our home is never too serious, always playful and livable. I have two young children, a dog, and a messy husband, so I’m constantly working to balance good design with functionality,” Charlotte said.
And the key to pulling off this stylish, layered look with young kids and a pet running around is to know that things can get messy.
“Nothing can be too precious because accidents will happen in our house,” Charlotte said. “Being in the business, it’s easier to understand that anything can be recovered, repainted, refinished, or repaired (which happens quite frequently). I mix my grandmother’s storied antiques with colorful vintage upholstery I have found over the years.”
Photo by Matthew Williams
Photo by Matthew Williams
Charlotte’s favorite piece in the house is a pair of 18th century hand-painted pink chinoiserie panels from an antique dealer in Charleston. She designed her entire dining room, the only place they would fit, around them.
“I loved them so much and just had to find a home for them, so I bought them, took them home, and crossed my fingers that they would fit somewhere,” Charlotte said. “I never thought I would have a pink dining room, but as it turns out those panels made a home there and the room was designed around them!”
Craving more? So are we. Take one more look around.
The cocktail lounge used to be a closet, but Charlotte and Brooks wanted a swanky, functional space where they could relax and entertain. Photos of the lounge are by Chris Edwards.
Photos by Matthew Williams
Photos in this article are by Chris Edwards (cocktail lounge) and Mathew Williams (all photos below the cocktail lounge). Interested in inviting us into your home? Email [email protected] for a chance to be featured. Want to see inside more interesting properties? Check out our Home Tour archive.
