Trading cold winters and the constraints of work life for relaxed island living in a new house is a dream, but as they say, it takes teamwork to make the dream work. When construction began on this stunning 5,479-square-foot house on Kiawah Island, the homeowners were about to completely change their lives, including making a move from the North and purging possessions that didn’t fit their next chapter. There were a lot of decisions to make.

When interior designer Amelia Kearney met the clients, they were working with architect Chad McDonald of McDonald Architects and builder Kingswood Custom Homes on plans for a home that would be comfortable for two but could expand to host parties and overnight guests. With the drawings almost finished, it was time for the clients to make choices about the finer points of their new life.

When building a new home, outcomes are always better when the architect, builder and interior designer sync up as soon as possible. “Chad does a great job of helping people visualize the interior and exterior; as part of that process, they wanted my input on the details,” Kearney says.

The clients were leaving behind a traditional home and wanted their retirement oasis to feel lighter and more contemporary, but they didn’t want to lose the elegance they appreciated in traditional design. They also wanted their new home to be low-maintenance and livable, with space for entertaining, hosting family and displaying their impressive art collection.

The home has four bedrooms, six and a half baths, two offices, a bunk room and a third-floor multipurpose room. Outside is a pool with a generous deck and an outdoor living area with a fireplace.

Kearney’s plan for keeping the home both light and traditional was to balance elements of each in a way that complemented the architecture. Using a limited neutral color palette anchored by blues and layers of varied textures for visual interest, Kearney combined breezy, coastal hues with custom warm wood accents.

Before choosing new furnishings, Kearney helped the clients decide what to bring from their former house and what to leave behind. “The client sent me photos of what she had, and we talked through what would work and what wouldn’t,” she says. “When things are sentimental, it’s my job to find how they’ll fit into the design. The client had some incredible pieces, and they give the home a more collected look.”

The architecture and design of the entry hall indicate the graceful sophistication that is to come in the rest of the home. Raised panels run the full height of the walls and continue through the first floor. Creamy white millwork adds a traditional touch without the gravity of stained dark wood. To the right, a staircase leads to the second floor. To the left is a powder room, an elevator, laundry room and the back entry to the kitchen.

The powder room has blue Phillip Jeffries wallpaper complemented by subtle soft gray wainscoting, molding and window trim. The vanity, lacquered deep blue, has custom hardware and a transparent glass vessel sink. “We chose a fun light fixture in this room,” Kearney says. “It could have gone really traditional, but contemporary elements keep it balanced.”

The laundry room is the designer’s favorite. “We started with the wallpaper, then painted the cabinets, trim and molding ‘Selvedge’ from Farrow & Ball,” she says. “The crown molding is on the traditional side, but the contemporary paint color and the fun floral Roman shade combine the styles.”

Straight ahead is a smaller foyer with French doors opening to the primary suite. Looking forward, we can see through the living room to the pool deck. Passing through the French doors to the owner’s suite, a short hall connects the primary bathroom on the right and the bedroom on the left, separated by dual walk-in closets.

“When the client described her ideas for the bedroom, she used words like ‘serene,’ ‘comfortable’ and ‘warm,’” Kearney says. “We went through several iterations of ideas to get exactly what she envisioned while keeping it light but not too feminine.” The client knew she wanted wallpaper, a light-colored bed and carpeting.

For Kearney, the key was to anchor those light, cool components with warmer elements. Nightstands match the custom color on the front of the warm wood dresser on the opposite wall. The designer tied everything together with a round white side table that matched the dresser. She added texture with a linen-look duvet and an ombré throw by Holland & Sherry that harmonizes the blue tones.

At first, the client was leaning toward wallpaper with a mural or pattern, but when Kearney found the boldly patterned window treatment, they decided to let it be the star of the show. “The window treatments warmed up the grass shade behind the bed. I added double-layer drapery so the sheers will give them privacy without obscuring the view,” she says.

The client wanted the bathroom to feel spa-like with a bright, clean, crisp aesthetic. The two vanities are on opposite walls, separated by a soaking tub. The designer covered the bottom half of the windows above the tub with custom treatments that let in natural light. Kearney used 12-by-24-inch marble tiles as wainscoting on the wall surrounding the tub and flowing into the shower. On the floor, 24-inch square marble tiles are laid in a diagonal pattern, a subtle detail that adds visual interest. “We wanted to keep everything classic here, so I only used materials that would stand the test of time. It’s a huge bathroom, and it could get busy really fast, so I wanted to keep it simple,” she says.

Back in the public space, the kitchen, dining and living areas are open to each other and verdant views of the pool and yard. The kitchen features a large island wrapped in a subtle blue quartzite. “The client wanted a white kitchen but didn’t want it to be stark,” Kearney says. “We went with creamy tones and a stone that would stand out.” The stucco hood adds texture and a traditional element that contrasts with the clean lines of the countertop and backsplash.

Wood beams are painted instead of stained to keep the open space bright. The bar area is surrounded by the same cabinetry as the kitchen but has a glass detail to show off drinkware and a different backsplash to define it as its own space.

The dining room features a contemporary custom table by local craftspeople at Benjamin Paul Studio. “They had a big, heavy wooden dining table in their former house,” Kearney says. “We had this one made with a thinner top, contemporary lines and a modern base made of two brass pedestals.”

The designer upholstered dining chairs with elegant Schumacher fabric on the back and a white performance fabric on the front. The long, minimal light fixture adds drama to the space without blocking the view. Kearney carried the same fabric used for window treatments in the living room into the dining space to keep the eye moving.

In the living room, the designer kept furniture low so it wouldn’t block the view. Low sofas upholstered in custom performance fabrics complement two armchairs that have a subtle herringbone pattern. “It reminds me of a man’s suit,” Kearney says. “It’s handsome.” She used a subtle floral pillow on the chairs, and because the backs of the chairs are always on view, she added a small brass detail at the rear corners. Custom drum tables, also by Benjamin Paul Studio, are the perfect size to hold a drink or a book. Another set of custom tables holds lamps on either side of the sofas. The coffee table (also by Benjamin Paul Studio) has a brass base and is made of the same wood as the dining table.

The client wanted a fireplace with a textured mantel instead of wood. “We developed the shape with Stone Castings, and they did a phenomenal job,” Kearney says. “They made a laser-cut Styrofoam version so we could be specific about the size.” The fireplace has lighted shelves on either side, which are adorned with new and existing treasures.

On the second floor, a balcony overlooks the foyer. Straight ahead, French doors lead to a common room with a half bath. To the right of the balcony is a home office and guest bedroom with an en suite bathroom. To the balcony’s left are two more guest rooms with en suites, each with a unique personality. “Blue is the client’s favorite color, but she didn’t want every room to be blue, so we had some fun here,” Kearney says. In one guest room, she used a chartreuse silk fabric from Manuel Canovas and a textured pink velvet lumbar pillow to punch up the neutral palette and coordinate with the bold artwork. The designer upholstered the corner chair in a neutral tan with subtle pink piping. “Details were very important to the client. She wanted things to feel customized,” Kearney says. The bed has a silk coverlet paired with a relaxed linen duvet, and the nightstands have texture in a raffia-like detail.

Another guest room has a curved window with a custom rod for dramatic window treatments. This room holds some of the client’s existing furniture, which Kearney had reupholstered. The nightstands are made of burled wood with caning, a modern take on a traditional style. A stately canopy bed with bedding in a Greek key motif commands the room.

While two guest rooms lean more feminine, Kearney wanted one to be more masculine. This room has a lighter coastal feel, with woven light fixtures and faux linen nightstands painted navy blue.

Down the hall, the client’s office has Phillip Jeffries textured vinyl wallpaper with a small herringbone pattern. “I wanted to keep the room warm and cozy,” Kearney says. “I used more details that look like a man’s suit, with tans and creams.” Benjamin Paul Studio made the top and base of the desk out of walnut with steel legs. A black and brass disc light fixture lends a contemporary vibe.

The common room serves as an overflow for guests and a place where everyone can gather for movies. The bunk room has a pitched ceiling, which could have made the room feel closed off. “We worked with the builder to create a unique built-in ladder that kept the daylight coming in through the room,” Kearney says. Opposite the bunk room is the game room with a bench seat and a table for games and puzzles.

“The clients were happy with how the home turned out, which makes me happy,” Kearney says. “I don’t push my personal design style onto clients; I listen to their wants and needs and use my professional experience and education to move them in the right direction to achieve the look they are describing. I want them to have their home the way they envision it. I love that part of my job, and I love developing relationships with architects and builders. Building a home of this size and moving to another state is stressful; I wanted them to enjoy the process.” *

Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.