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Natalie Papier’s SouthPark home is what I call a jewelry box house. It’s simple and pretty on the outside, but the inside is pure hue-soaked magic, filled with the kind of treasures that make your heart flutter.
Papier and her family moved from Chicago to Charlotte in January and spent the better part of this year renovating their new, once-all-beige house. Papier and her husband have a fourth- and sixth-grader, plus a cat and a cavapoo pup.
With a degree and background in art, Papier has been a self-taught interior designer for the last five years over at her interior design company Home Ec.
Her home tells the story of those two passions with vintage furniture, local art, and other thrifted finds.
In the entry of the Papier’s house, there’s a piano painted with rainbow stripes to your left, an oversized saturated vintage rug beneath your feet, and an eclectic display of treasures in front.
You can immediately see the people who live in the house know how to have fun.
“Your house brings you joy and reflects your own interests,” Papier says. “We love art and color. And we have crazy animals and two kids.”
The blush pink kitchen is the most neutral room in the house.
If you balance color with wood tones and metals, it grounds the room, Papier says. Nothing feels too in-your-face when you find the right balance.
This is also the room where Papier went high-end with custom cabinetry (via Mint Hill Cabinets); a gorgeous shade of pink (Malted Milk by Sherwin Williams); and custom marble counters with brass banding underneath (done by Edge Co. Inc.).
“This is the first time we were able to do this,” she says. “It’s so worth it because it’s the hub of the home.”
Otherwise, Papier prides herself in curating decor and furniture from local small businesses, vintage shops, and emerging artists.
The blush cabinetry and gold strip under the counters are gorgeous. But I also want to take a moment to appreciate the veining in that marble — it’s so opinionated and I love it.
“You don’t have to spend a lot to have style,” she says.
One of their living spaces, which they’ve dubbed “The Sunrise Room,” is grounded by a $400 sofa from Slate Interiors and a tiger rug that cost less than $300 from Kazimah Carpets. The room is packed with personality.
She found the Peter Keil painting over the fireplace for $400 (some appraise for $2,000-$5,000 online).
“There’s no right way to find or buy art,” Papier says. “You just have to be open to it.” Instagram is her favorite place to find and connect to new artists.
The stairs are tucked between the kitchen and “The Sunrise Room.” And yes, there’s something to look at every step leading to the second floor.
Here’s a look around the rest of the house.
I like the galley-style kitchen still feels open and flows into this massive dining space.
“The Sprite Room” (named for its color scheme) is opposite “The Sunrise Room,” separated by the entryway. Every piece in the room draws you in.
Slightly more relaxed, this is the TV room (which is perched on an easel, by the way). The structure and color of the leather sectional really makes this room feel casual and comfortable.
This seating area is part of the owner’s suite. The commissioned mural by @swych19 is insanely cool. The local artist also painted the interior of Bardo [full story here]. It represents Papier’s move from Chicago to Charlotte.
One of the most-used rooms in the house, the upstairs family room/media room is where the family chills, watches movies, plays games, etc.
Even the laundry room is playful.
Papier’s daughter’s room is expertly decorated with a new mural wall and the coolest shell chandelier.
Last but not least, the guest bathroom. This room feels rock-and-roll to me and I like it.
Can’t get enough? Neither can we. Here’s a quick video.
