An unbridled approach to interiors.
Color, pattern, and DIY—these are the three tenets of Charlotte Smith’s design ethos. It seemed inevitable that Smith, an early-education guidance counselor with a passion for art history and visual art, would wind up as a beloved interior designer.
Her home is a whimsical exploration of color with creativity lurking around each corner. She seamlessly fuses flea market finds with modern textiles and unexpected patterns. “I love finding inspiration in classic design, then flipping it on its side a bit,” says Smith, whose style is both inspiring and approachable. Nothing is too precious or avant-garde.
We asked her to take us on a tour of her home, starting with the foyer. As in most homes, the foyer is the perfect place to set the tone, a space to introduce colors, styles, and sensibilities. Smith seized the opportunity for maximum impact.
She started with the wallpaper: Hidden Paradise in Emerald by Wallpaper Direct, a tropical vista with lush foliage that introduces vibrant shades of greens, blues, yellows, and oranges. To let the wallpaper take center stage, Smith painted the dated wooden railing a matching dark teal, allowing it to vanish into the print. The overhead pendant light by My Mitzi has a playful floral design in an antique gold hue. With limited space, Smith chose to DIY her own landing console, using the Rast Dresser from IKEA, attaching curved flexible molding to the face, and adding acrylic feet to elevate the piece.
For the perfect color, she mixed a few paints to land on the ideal shade of citron, pulled from the wallpaper. She employed another DIY trick for the stair runner, utilizing two affordable runners and lining them up in the middle. Smith shares, “I love that this rug looks old and worn but it’s actually budget friendly and durable!” Beloved artwork, a flea market wall hanging, and thrifted finds finish out the accessories for this space.
Just beyond the foyer is the living room. A blue ceiling, Jet Ski by Behr, brings the eye upward and is balanced by the bright green velvet couch by IKEA. The vintage rug, sourced locally, establishes the color palette. The true moment of fun in the room is the “wall of ladies,” as Smith calls it: a mix of portraits and prints in bold, saturated colors. “As a mom of three girls, I love bringing in female subjects whenever I can,” she says.
Smith’s advice for installing your own gallery wall? “Lay them out on the floor to work out your general pattern. As you add pieces over time, don’t be too precious about a few holes in the wall. You may need to bump a piece over an inch or two to make room for your latest find.”
A thrifted brass etagere is filled with her vast vintage globe collection. “When it comes to a funky element, the more the better,” Smith says. “Just one can look wonky, but a collection feels thoughtful and intentional.”
In the adjacent dining room, wallpaper envelops the space. “Dining room spaces are so fun to design because you don’t have to be too practical,” laughs Smith. The stunning chinoiserie mural by Diane Hill and Rebel Walls has moments of yellows, pinks, and greens, which paired perfectly with the dining room furniture Smith already owned. The large wooden table is surrounded by mustard fabric chairs and floral captain’s chairs.
For Smith, a mother of five, childrens’ bedrooms are a sweet spot. The design for this room started off with built-in bunkbeds that she and a fellow DIYer built in situ. The bunks go all the way to the ceiling, creating two cozy nooks, complete with niches and night lights on the inside and ivory curtains with chic brass rods on the outside.
“Since my girls share this room, I wanted to create a space that was exciting and special,” she explains. The minty green paint extends beyond the bunks and wraps around the adjoining wall, furthering the built-in look. “I find green to be the chameleon of colors. It can be fun and playful or soulful and serious. The tone can really change the whole feel of a space,” says Smith. In this room, it feels bright, fresh, and full of energy.
To Smith’s delight, her daughters agreed on the colorful moth wallpaper by Spoonflower. It feels unexpected and quirky, but sophisticated enough to mature with them as they grow. The small-scale, chesterfield-style sofa in a cheery blue hue creates a place for the girls to read or listen to music. “As a teacher, I always made sure to have cozy little corners for kids to curl up and take a brain break,” says Smith.
As in all of Smith’s rooms, artwork plays a significant role. Above the sofa is a piece Smith and her husband picked up on their travels to St. Lucia, and on the bunks hang two gorgeous prints by artist Alexandra Swistak—chosen by Smith’s daughters.
If Smith’s unbridled approach to design speaks to you, follow her advice and just go for it. “Truly…what have you got to lose?” she says. If the financial risk is low and the visual reward is substantial, why not give it a try? If you’re hesitant to jump headfirst into bold design, start by dipping in just a toe. Smith suggests: “If painting an entire room a vibrant green makes you nervous, start small,” Smith says. “Head to a local thrift store, purchase an old dresser and buy one can of bright green paint. When you see the impact one element can have in the space, it might encourage you to keep going.”
— We shared Charlotte Smith’s House Tour story with you in the Summer 2024 issue of NEST Magazine. To subscribe to NEST Magazine, click here — and be sure to follow us on Instagram @NestRealty