Scandi Rising

A Wilmington, North Carolina, home gets a fresh look after hurricane waters ebb.

- CHARLOTTE SAFAVI

After the hardship of Hurricane Florence flooding this family’s Wilmington, NC, house, the ensuing remodel gave them back the gift of a bright and happy home.

“Wilmington’s record number of sunny days is the main reason why many folks move here,” says interior designer Mary Hannah Giebel, who came on board in late 2018 to redo the house with builder Stone Development & Restoration. “Our primary aim was to create comfort and durability for the active, young family—they have 2 little kids. But with this philosophy at the center of our overall design, I was thrilled to capture so much more of their taste,” she adds.

COZY COASTAL

The design look of the renovated house, which has been raised to avoid the same flooding issue, is what Giebel calls “Scandinavian coastal with farmhouse accents.” The palette is mostly neutral, with touches of icy blues and pale greens. Meanwhile, touches of high-contrast black elements keep the eye moving.

“We went for warm coastal, of course, layering in a variety of wood tones, furnishings with caning, woven textures and natural stone tiles, often laid in fun patterns,” she says.

In the remodel, the overall floor plan was opened up, losing unnecessary walls, and the kitchen island’s footprint was also rotated to let the great room breathe. There are new windows for additional natural light, and all the main floor’s interior doors are also brand-new.

BETTER BUILT-INS