'Breaking Bland' Brings Big-City Style to Charleston in These OOAK Renovations

Designer Mary Welch thinks outside of the box when it comes to home renovations, making her a go-to resource for homeowners looking to transform their living spaces. See how she can take ordinary homes and make them extraordinary in this season of Breaking Bland.

By: Emily Fazio

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Mary Welch Brings Unique Interior and Exterior Design Renovations to Charleston

Get a taste for Mary's bold style in Breaking Bland. Follow along as she sets out to help homeowners transform their living spaces in extraordinary ways. With an eye for color, contrast and modern design, she isn't afraid to push the boundaries with her big-city style.

A Contemporary, Functional Kitchen

Moody lighting, dark wooden floors and eclectic accessories transform an outdated kitchen into a modern, open concept room. By removing a wall and extending a peninsula, Mary and the team were able to incorporate bar stools for entertaining and dining. French doors were installed to improve connectivity to a new outdoor kitchen and provide more natural daylight. To add an element of color and design, mauve and yellow paint frames the window and doorway. The designer swapped old cabinets for new, clean-lined white cabinetry. A floor-to-ceiling pantry offers added storage for the homeowners.

Neon Light Lettering for Unique Kitchen Ambiance

A dropped soffit creatively disguises a hood vent, while also providing wall space for a neon sign reading “Bon Appetit.” The updated range and prep area are surrounded by handmade blue subway tiles. An inset shelf provides space for cooking essentials and modern accessories add polish.

An Expansive Outdoor Entertaining Space

When outdoor entertaining is a priority for a homeowner, designers are keen to deliver on all elements that can transform a space and add function. In this backyard, a huge paver patio accommodates a large outdoor kitchen and grill, a dining table beneath a pergola and an expanded lounge area where guests and family members can kick back and relax.

A Romantic, Parisian Master Bedroom

The home of a French teacher and traveler reflected his love of culture, art and design, but the master bedroom felt anything but otherworldly. To enhance the home, Mary reinvented the layout to maximize their space. She nudged towards a mix of modern and historic and updated the room floor-to-ceiling with a dark blue limewash plaster paint. The king-size bed was reoriented in the space and anchored by a custom velvet headboard. A modern light fixture and a bold built-in shelf promise to make the homeowners feel as though they’ve moved to France.

Shiplap Walls and Mixed Design Elements in a Master Bedroom

Mary installed shiplap along one wall of a master bedroom, painting it dark blue to accent the limewash plaster walls. A vintage desk is paired with a transparent, modern acrylic chair. A fiddle leaf fig and a unique piece of art add vibrance to the new bedroom. In addition to updating the bedroom, the master bathroom received a full makeover with a new vanity, hex tiles and contemporary fixtures.

Blue Cabinets in a French Country Kitchen

The design team elevated the small kitchen in this home on a tight budget. The floors were upgraded with an ornate cement tile that’s guaranteed to look aged and build character over time. They refreshed the kitchen cabinets by painting them blue. A new kitchen island offers the homeowners extra prep space and a place to sit. Art hung on the walls ties in the colors and matches the character of the world-traveling duo who call this space home.

A Spacious, Modern Kitchen for a Big Family

Mary was challenged to redesign a kitchen for a family who loves spending time together and values cooking. With four kids (and twins on the way!) she sought to provide ample counter space and maximize its storage potential. Modern two-tone oak and navy blue cabinets make a big statement in the updated kitchen. Light gray countertops are paired with a gray marble backsplash. The hardwood flooring was refinished throughout the whole first floor of the house as part of the remodel, and we think you’ll agree that the fluidity from room-to-room is undeniably beautiful.

A Large Eat-in Kitchen for a Growing Family

To seat six kids, Mary delivers a large custom banquette bench with built-in storage and a modern, oval dining table. A contemporary glass chandelier romanticizes the dining area, and light wood chairs complement the tone of the newly refinished floors. Plenty of cushions offer to make the space cozy for the family whether they’re dining together, or using the space for craft time and game nights.

A Kid-Friendly Playroom with a Stage for Performances

A living room is redesigned and enhanced to suit a theatrical and musical family. An existing ledge beneath the windows is made larger to accommodate performances. Easy-to-clean black and white adhesive tile squares make this new venue kid-centric. The walls and trim were painted a calming teal and Mary infused texture into the room by incorporating modern seating and a vintage rug. With guitars hung safely on the wall and microphones for everyone, this promises to be a playroom that gets a lot of use.

A Key West-Inspired Kitchen Remodel

The homeowners of a 200-year old house in Charleston, South Carolina struggled with the closed-off galley kitchen. They sought Mary’s advice on how to transform it in a way that enveloped their love of Key West and its inherent old-school charm. By infusing pink cabinets and yellow walls, we’d say that Mary delivered and exceeded their expectations. Marble-veined countertops further complement the kitchen design, and painted floors honor and enhance the home’s original architecture.

A Nautical Bathroom with a Unique Doorway

It’s not unusual that a 200-year old home comes with some quirky charm. The homeowners thought it odd to have a doorway (with a doggie door, no less) in one of their upstairs bathrooms, but Mary sought to embrace this original feature as part of her design. Rather than close up the unexpected entrance, she installed a dutch door that could be partially opened to relieve the room of humidity and moisture. This classic feature helps to restore some of the home’s original charm. To further enhance its nautical appeal, she added teal shiplap and a portal mirror in her design.

A Remodeled Farmhouse Entryway

Like many homeowners, this family used a side entrance to welcome guests into their home. To improve the space and offer a better first impression, they turned to Mary to help reorient the mud room to make it more functional. Modern gray cabinetry provides adequate storage for the family and their guests, while wainscoting and a vintage-inspired sink enhance the home’s farmhouse appeal. Oh, and that striking watercolor design? Mary painted that herself!

A Bold Farmhouse Kitchen with Green Cabinets

Mary made daring design choices when remodeling this space for a 6-foot 8-inch homeowner and his family. For comfort and convenience, she installed a larger, taller kitchen island, paired it with an inset tile rug, and accessorized with brass lighting and hardware. Green cabinets complement the rich colors used in this renovation. The new kitchen also flows seamlessly into the living area, which is outfitted with comfortable leather chairs, natural accents and functional window shutters.

A Modern, Inset Tile Rug in a Farmhouse Kitchen

When removing kitchen islands, design teams are often challenged with the decision to patch in new flooring or seek alternative options. To complement the new, larger kitchen island, Mary chose a modern tile that could be inset flush with the existing hardwoods. Schluter edge systems make these transitions seamless. Easy-to-clean tile isn’t a hard choice for the kitchen, but installed this way, it presents like a modern area rug and adds interest to the space.

Art Deco Details in an Open Concept Kitchen and Living Room

Mary embraces functionality and style with Art Deco elements in this remodeled kitchen and living room. The previously drab kitchen, living room and dining room were cut off from one another, making family gatherings and parties challenging to accommodate. In addition to opening walls, Mary installed colorful cabinets, a kitchen island with rounded corners and an eat-in breakfast nook with an eye-catching arch. Seating in the adjacent living room makes it easy for the homeowners and their guests to spend time together.

A Bold Marble Backsplash in an Art Deco Kitchen

Mary got creative with a single slab of marble and utilized it both for the kitchen backsplash and for a fireplace surround in the remodeled living room. The bold, natural lines add interest to the kitchen and make it truly one-of-a-kind. Instead of using knobs on the upper cabinets, the homeowners approved of leather door pulls to keep costs down and create added interest.

Mauve Cabinets and a Modern, Marble Fireplace Surround

A single slab of marble with bold veining was used for both the kitchen backsplash and as a stunning surround for the living room fireplace. Flanking the fireplace, mauve inset shelves and cabinets were installed to offer living room storage and enhance the design.

A Restyled Dining Room with Unexpected DIY Accents

Mary put her DIY efforts to work when updating this dining room. To satisfy the homeowners who run a flower shop and the revolving door of family members who use the home for business meetings, the new dining table was sized to accommodate everyone. As a nod to the family business, the design team used two large planters as a custom table base. They also used dried flowers to create a stunning wall art feature. Long curtains help the room feel tall and draw the eyes up to the trim installed on the ceiling. Mary painted lines on the wall above the chair rail to add a subtle touch of color and visual interest.

A Funky, Bohemian Family Room

Mary was tasked to transform a downstairs playroom into a fun, quirky family room. Choosing to incorporate boho-modern vibes, she leaned on colorful accents and textures to enhance the space. She refinished an existing bar with a terrazzo-like finish and painted an impactful archway mural on the wall behind it. Indigo tie-dye curtains help the space feel playful. This fun, new space is comfortable and livable.

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