An Outdoorsy, Artsy Family's Sunny Charleston Home

Bright Williamson bought this Charleston home in 1999 before he married his wife Allison, a gallerist who owns the Charleston Artist Collective. Though they initially planned to sell it, the couple decided to instead fix it up to accommodate their two sons and a collection of art, family heirlooms and treasures from their world travels. The result is a bright, open-plan space with his-and-her living rooms and a convenient location close to the water for this beach- and boating-loving family.

The foyer of the Williamson home prominently features a bottlecap portrait of beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo by artist Molly B. Right. Allison says of her two sons, Ben and Henry, "They've been around art since they were babies." When she was first beginning her career as a gallerist "there would always be art stacked around on tables." She admits "one time a soccer cleat went through a painting."

The Williamsons keep foundational pieces like sofas, beds and walls white and neutral so they can pile on their brighter, more texture-driven collections of linens, pillows, sculptural works from Africa, mementos from travel and both traditional and contemporary artwork.

Charleston Artist Collective owner Allison Williamson helms both online and brick and mortar galleries dedicated to emerging artists, so her home is filled with art. She recommends not feeling married to artworks in a particular location as a design strategy. "Don't be afraid to move art around," recommends Allison of vignettes like this collection of colorful works in her living room. "I constantly rotate things, giving it a fresh new look."