DESIGN SNAPSHOT

The New Neutral

Compiled by Amelia Boldaji / Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Neal

INSPIRED BY RENOWNED ARCHITECTS SUCH AS ALBERT FREY, Keely Owens of Indehouse Design + Build approached the style of Southern Shores’ “Transcendence” with a mid-century modern vibe in mind – as well as her usual creative eye for blending shapes and textures that embrace the natural elements around us. “It’s all about creating an environment that feels relaxed, not fussy,” Keely explains of this partner project with SAGA Realty & Construction. “I wanted someone sitting here to relish the room, but to also be able to see past it in the best possible way.”

Natural Wood Walls

When mixing modernism with a little local fl air, going big with wood is an obvious winner. In homage to older beach cottages that often feature locally sourced pine, Keely selected cypress, which is also native to this area, for a slightly lighter tone. Using horizontal cypress planks to defi ne the space, she was then able to let other pieces amplify that element – including the custom wooden table by local artisan Matt Steed and its eye-catching driftwood centerpiece. Concrete Geometric Flooring Many original mid-century designs embrace geometric shapes, so Keely leaned in to that by introducing concrete fl ooring made up of giant hexagonal tiles. In addition to adding a distinctive shape to the room, she was then able to let that geometric theme echo throughout the room in objects such as the similarly shaped dining room table and the soft, yet angular, lines of the oversized art prints on the room’s west wall. Dark Accent Pieces

With so many elements at play in this spacious open fl oor plan area, Keely felt strongly that certain aspects of the room should blend seamlessly rather than draw one’s visual attention in too many directions. To this end, darker-hued accent pieces provide the room with some subtle punctuation marks – including two hanging chandeliers, a black metal curio cabinet, a durable area rug and the room’s main propellor-style fan. Sunflower-Yellow Sectional

A picture is worth a thousand words – but even so, there can be limits. Though not depicted here, the eastern-facing wall opposite this crushed velvet sectional boasts near fl oor-to-ceiling windows with expansive oceanfront views of the Atlantic. So, while Keely was drawn to this couch for the unexpected pop of color it provides, she was also fi rm on one point most of all: “I didn’t want anything in the room to compete with the natural beauty just outside.”