Caroline Brackett creates traditional style with a personal twist, uniquely suited for a family’s busy life
If you’re strolling along in the Augusta Road area and pass a fetching two-story home, charmingly modern with its spacious front porch and white exterior with charcoal accents, the fact that it’s not a new build may come as a surprise.
“It was a one-story ranch,” says Caroline Brackett, the interior designer for the home. “They completely took the roof off.”
Renovated by Oasis Custom Homes, the year-and-a-half project was built for a family looking for an elegant home compatible with their active lifestyle, which includes full-time jobs, multiple children, and big dogs.
While these parameters may seem limiting for high-end designers, Brackett is a master of combining a client’s lifestyle with luxury design. A graduate of the University of Georgia’s celebrated interior design program, she refined her skillset in Charlotte for over a decade before making the move to Greenville with her business, Caroline Brackett Studio of Design. Eight years later, Brackett’s homes range from Lake Keowee to North Carolina with the majority of her Greenville clients located in the Augusta Road area.
The owners of the home onboarded Brackett and her team from the get-go, and though the project began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges were not as difficult as they could have been. Brackett mentions a few spacing snags like the mudroom, which had to be incorporated into the breakfast nook, and the bar, which was ultimately moved to the dining room. However, these changes seem natural, even convenient, which Brackett attributes to having all the players together in the room.
“I always tell people having the team of builder, designer, and architect together before you even begin is the way to go,” she says. “It will save a lot of stress down the road.”
For Brackett, Intentionality is key
Though the owners have been in the home for almost a year, the charm has yet to wear off, and the intentionality is evident and pleasing. On entering the front door, wide rooms and cool blue tones provide a soothing effect, and a warm fire welcomes from the natural stone fireplace.
“I’d say in an open plan like this, it’s a little tricky when everything has to work and flow together without feeling overly matchy,” Brackett says. She points out the muted periwinkle sofa and blue island cabinets (Farrow & Ball Lulworth Blue), mentioning the client’s love for color and the ways it can be brought in without becoming overwhelming. There’s a traditional feel to the home, which is the foundation of the Caroline Brackett approach. But it’s clear the client’s personality and taste have been woven throughout the house, to the point that Brackett’s aesthetic is almost unnoticeable.
Client choice is key, something Brackett is committed to even if it extends the decision-making process. She motions to the kitchen backsplash, a unique triangle tile with slight metallic tones, found at Clayton Tile, that gleam ever so slightly with the wealth of natural light infusing the room.
“This decision took a long time but I think we got it right,” she says. “I always tell clients saying no is just as helpful as saying yes because it helps us hone in on what you like.”
Moving down the hallway towards the master, Brackett highlights the wall fabric in the dining room, a gray ClassicCloth find that shimmers depending on the way the light hits it. These small details excite her, and she always appreciates when clients leave room in the budget for accessorizing, like a horse sculpture on the bookcase, the pop of the powder room wallpaper, or the mosaic tile pattern (another Clayton Tile find) in the laundry room. They bring creativity and personality, the final touches to an elegant space her clients can truly call home.
Master Bedroom
For the master bedroom, Brackett incorporated the client’s love for blue with the bed and curtains, while tying it all together with a Claret short chandelier from Visual Comfort & Co. The chaise lounge was an ideal addition for storytime with kids.
Brackett’s Pro Tips
- Instead of lining a hallway with recessed lighting, small lanterns are an easy way to add luxury and charm.
- For families with children and pets, performance fabrics like leather provide protection without losing quality or style. Stools and ottomans can be covered with vinyl, and some fabrics can even be laminated.
- To ensure privacy in rooms with windows that face a road, layering sheer curtains can block unwanted attention without sacrificing the natural light.
Photography by Emily Bolt Photography.
