A Change of Direction

The goal was a "bright and airy" vacation home, but one designer knew the homeowner's request for all-white everything wasn't the only way to get there.

DEN

The bold colors and warm.

cocoon-like vibe make this room the perfect "place to slip away to read a book or watch a movie," Liz Carroll says. Sofa: custom.

Villa Nova fabric. Wallpaper: Cole & Son. Ottoman: Lee Industries, in Pindler fabric.

IT MIGHT SURPRISE you to learn that the homeowner's initial request of Liz Carroll, the interior designer behind this striking Roaring Gap, North Carolina, retreat, was to avoid color. "I wanted all white, everywhere," the client says with a laugh. But Carroll saw something different: Expansive windows and ample natural light meant a neutral palette wasn't necessary to make the home feel bright. "I suggested we lean into some darker colors-burgundy and plums, browns, greens, and mustard yellows that reflect the landscape," Carroll says. "And she was open to it." The process was a trust fall for the client, as Carroll presented her with bold patterns in earthy hues for the den and a Sister Parish print for her twin daughters' bedroom that went on the walls, beds, and Roman shades.

"This was really a lesson in letting go for me," the homeowner says.