A Contemporary Combo

A Charlotte couple ditched a modern uptown apartment and tried to mix contemporary and traditional elements in their Myers Park home.

- Alyssa Ruane

Inside a two-story, colonial, Dutch-style home on Queens Road West, a striking mix of traditional pieces and contemporary elements tastefully contrast with one another. It’s cozier than the homeowners’ previous, modern uptown apartment, yet it’s more contemporary than their beach house on the Carolina coast. It has a comfortable balance of both places; a feat Beth Keim of Lucy and Company accomplished by bringing in a fresh color scheme, modern furnishings, and sleek accents.

Keim’s mission for this project was to combine the retired Charlotte couple’s contrasting tastes, to create a dwelling that appeals to both style profiles. While the wife vies for traditional touches, the husband moves toward modern looks. Keim says, “After collecting years of traditional pieces, they thought it would be fun to throw in some more modern pieces for the look.”

So that’s what they did.

“We kind of came up with a game plan for the front door and back,” Keim says, noting that the existing vintage rose and taupe dyed rug welcoming guests through the front door was the starting piece. The only other existing elements on the first floor were the dining room wallpaper and crystal chandelier. Everything else was a touch of Keim.

Color-wise, the designer wanted to bring in peach, navy, and neutrals, threading the complementary hues throughout the first floor. They painted the front door navy and applied a busy Romo wallpaper to the foyer walls, producing a grandiose atmosphere.