Lindsey Gregg doesn’t just design rooms—she builds worlds.
After nearly a decade in set decorating for film and television, Gregg brought that same story-first instinct to residential interiors, swapping sound stages for waterfront homes. In Wilmington, North Carolina, she and her firm, Big Sky Interior Design, helped renovate a lowcountry retreat perched on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Having previously worked with the clients, the project was built on a foundation of trust. Working alongside general contractor Tanner Konrady of Konrady & Son Construction, Gregg delivered a bright, inviting home for a family of four—one where every element feels intentional but never precious.
Perhaps the most dramatic space in the home, the dining room provided Gregg with an opportunity to play with contrast. The homeowners’ mahogany dining table and chairs were heirlooms passed down from a great-grandmother, and the challenge was to make those darker, traditional elements feel at home in a light-filled coastal setting.
Rather than fighting the weight of the furniture, Gregg leaned into it. The Scalamandré mural wallpaper introduces softness and movement, while the grasscloth texture keeps it grounded. “I loved the idea of starting the house with something that felt feminine and expressive,” Gregg notes, “especially knowing we were about to move into a darker, moodier space just beyond.” Upholstered vintage dining chairs in a blue-and-green block print pull color directly from the mural, while a bubble chandelier adds a modern note overhead. A durable trellis-pattern rug keeps the room practical, reinforcing that this is a family home first and foremost.
The tabletop became a canvas for creativity. Using the homeowners’ own china—decorated with herons, butterflies, and a beautiful array of color—Gregg layered in Estelle colored glassware, playful candlesticks, and unexpected details that echo the mural behind it.
“When it comes to setting a table, more is more,” Gregg says. “Don’t limit yourself to what you think of as a proper table setting.” Mixing heirloom pieces with patterned paper plates, natural elements gathered from outside, or even small figurines adds personality and ease. It’s a reminder that a table doesn’t need to be precious to be beautiful.
Just past the dining room, the den provides an intentional shift in tone. Painted a deep, saturated green, the space is meant to feel enveloping and calming. Where the dining room is light and expressive, the den is grounded and restrained. “I think the house really works because there’s a constant push and pull,” Gregg says. “Light and dark, masculine and feminine—it creates visual balance as you move through the rooms.”
Furnishings in the den are plush and performance-driven, selected to withstand everyday family life. Lighter upholstery softens the depth of the walls, while subtle details (wood inlay on the sofa arms, brass accents at the tables) quietly echo the heirloom tones of the dining room. A rug from Milagro Collective brings the color story underfoot, blending greens with muted pastels that reference the mural nearby.
Visible from the front entrance, the living room opens fully to the waterfront setting, and here Gregg let the view take center stage. Furniture is arranged to emphasize sightlines, allowing the eye to dance from the front door through the space and straight out to the water beyond. “We really wanted everything in this room to soften and fade toward the view,” Gregg explains.
“Nothing should compete with what’s happening outside.”
The color palette shifts in an ombre effect—from lighter blues to darker as you approach the windows and the water beyond. The furnishings are all done in performance fabrics like Crypton and Sunbrella to keep up with daily use and wet swimsuits.
The mix of subtle patterns and silhouettes keeps the room from feeling predictable or stuffy. Clean-lined seating balances more traditional architectural details, and symmetry around the fireplace lends a sense of calm. Gregg paid close attention to how the room reads from every angle, especially since much of the seating floats. A slim console table behind the sofa provides structure without interrupting the openness of the space. Even digital aspects feel considered: on the Samsung Frame TV, the screen displays a piece by local artist Elizabeth Sheats, adding personality without pulling focus.
A game table occupies a secondary zone, reinforcing the room’s role as a gathering space rather than a formal sitting room. It’s a place for chess matches, puzzles, and holiday overflow. “I love rooms that can easily change with the holiday season,” Gregg says.
The kitchen continues the home’s balance of classic and contemporary. Clean-lined cabinetry, stainless appliances, and a farmhouse sink bring clarity to the space, while thoughtful backsplash decisions keep it from feeling rigid. Full-height quartz behind the range adds a modern edge, while a shorter backsplash along the window wall allows the space to feel lighter and more relaxed.
Metal finishes are intentionally mixed. With stainless appliances throughout, Gregg treated the sink and faucet as part of that language, allowing stainless to coexist comfortably with brass hardware elsewhere. The result feels layered rather than locked into a single moment in time.
Just off the kitchen, the breakfast area is designed to feel like a bridge between indoors and out. Wrapped in windows and bathed in natural light, it projects into the landscape almost like a porch. Pale wood furniture and a decidedly modern chandelier reinforce that feeling. “We wanted it to feel like you were already outside,” Gregg says, “even though you’re still very much in the house.”
Outdoor living is central to the home, and the downstairs patio is treated as a true extension of the interior. Distinct zones define how the space is used: a generous dining table for entertaining and a lounge area oriented toward the water. Swivel chairs invite lingering conversations, while plantings by Coastal Succulent add softness without requiring constant upkeep. Materials were selected with the coastal environment in mind—durable, grounded, and able to withstand daily exposure.
Upstairs, the porch becomes more intimate. This is where the family spends much of their time together, especially in the evenings. A custom porch swing built by Konrady & Son anchors the space, layered with cushions and pillows that reference the home’s interior palette. A sectional from Summer Classics provides ample seating, and furniture placement was carefully considered to allow for flexibility.
Coastal conditions played a role in every decision. “When you’re on the water, even furniture weight matters,” Gregg notes. Pieces need to feel substantial enough to stay put in everyday wind, yet welcoming and comfortable. A terrazzo accent table adds a playful note without sacrificing durability, reinforcing the idea that outdoor spaces can have just as much personality as the rooms inside.
Throughout the home, Gregg’s approach is consistent: suggestions rather than declarations. There are no overt nautical motifs, no obvious coastal shorthand. Instead, the connection to place is felt through color, material, and contrast. “It’s about balance,” Gregg reflects. “If you can get that right—light and dark, soft and structured—the house just settles.”
The result is a southern charmer in the truest sense: gracious, relaxed, and quietly confident. A home designed to be lived in—season after season.
TEXT BY JASMINE BIBLE + PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY RAYNOR AND ANDREW SHERMAN
— We shared this House Tour: Southern Charmer story with you in the Summer 2026 issue of NEST Magazine.
