This Eclectic Family Home in Charlotte Is Glam + Playful

When architect-turned-designer Ashley DeLapp first met with her client to discuss transforming this Charlotte, North Carolina, home, they did not fire up a social-media inspiration board. The homeowner is a part-time stylist, you see, and she “specifically asked for something unique; she didn’t want to see anything she had seen on Instagram before,” Ashley explains. Her client’s husband, in turn, prioritized comfort. Presented with a blank slate, Ashley was tasked with creating one-of-a-kind spaces that made a strong impression and offered long-term livability for a young family of five. So, how does that work?

Lesson one: These fabulous fuchsia armchairs were her jumping-off point for the family room. “When you have neutral walls, in this case gray, you need to have a pop somewhere, something to draw your eye,” Ashley says. “These chairs were the perfect way to do just that.” Is a supersaturated color like this one ever too much? “I never shy away from color as a designer. It’s what clients come to me for, so I would never say it’s a no-no,” she explains. “I would say that when using bold colors to make sure you edit. Too much of a good thing could quickly become overwhelming.”

“The pillows were custom using the Matthew Williamson print Talavera from Osborne & Little. I had been dying to use this print, and it’s really bold, so this was the perfect project for it,” Ashley says. “I used shades of pink throughout the home, and my client wanted something different. I chose to pull out the brightest pink from the pillow fabric and then let everything else play a supporting role.”

Ashley chose Schumacher’s Haruki Sisal Plum grass cloth to create a rich backdrop for the family room’s built-in bookshelves. As for styling, “I typically start with books and photos to create varying heights and then fill in with accessories,” she says. “My client had the books, we both shopped for accessories, and I edited as I went.” Even the pros learn through trial and error: “It’s a long process of placing, rearranging and curating to get just the right look. Especially when I use grass cloth or wallpaper in the back of bookshelves, I never want so many accessories that you can’t see the paper anymore.”

The pair of gold and white ceramic Harp & Finial vases Ashley chose for the coffee table — and the sculptural bells-of-Ireland stalks she arranged in them — are its undisputed stars. “I always opt for architectural silhouettes when choosing flowers,” she says. I like the way they cascade out of a vase, giving an effortless look, even if they were placed strategically!”

As for the vessels in which she displays them, “I like to keep proportions in mind when selecting a vase for flowers. The longer the stem, the taller the vase,” she explains. “I like to find vases with interesting embellishments or unique bases, it just adds another layer to the arrangement.”