In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
When Charlotte Moss was first tasked with designing the primary suite of this year’s Southern Living Idea House—a two-story haven nestled by a forest lake just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia—she decided to let the landscape guide the scheme. The New York designer drew from the blues of the water and greens of the trees to enhance the dreamy views of the scenery. “When Thibaut introduced us to their newest textiles, Moselle in Soft Blue, a subtle and serene floral, instantly sparked the palette,” she tells Business of Home.
While crafting the mood board that guided the design, Moss incorporated an assortment of pastel hues and neutral weaves to set a soothing backdrop for the scene. “The fabrics—some tonal, some complementary and a few contrasting—were chosen to create the sense of a room that has evolved, and that has been sensitively added to over time,” she says.
The end result, on display through December 21, is a pattern-drenched wonderland, punctuated by natural materials and blossomy motifs. “It’s a space made for solitude, slow mornings, reading and an escape,” says Moss.
Here, she breaks down the details, from an antique Chinese plate to woven sheer window shades.
1. ANTIQUE PLATE
“An antique secretaire from Kenny Ball Antiques holds a curated mix of porcelain and Vladimir Kanevsky’s handmade porcelain flowers. This late-19th-century Chinese plate was the spark that started the collection.”
2. FRONDESCENCE EMBROIDERY FABRIC IN BLUE BY ANNA FRENCH AT THIBAUT
“As soon as we saw this fabric, we knew it needed a moment. This delicate embroidery of budding branches now wraps a mirror—upholstered by Tom Burak—making an ordinary frame a piece of art.”
3. CARLEON FABRIC IN LILAC BY ANNA FRENCH AT THIBAUT
“We needed texture and strength on the bench [at the end of the bed], anticipating dogs and children at the same time, and Carleon in lilac delivered—a circular motif dotted with soft bursts of color that added the perfect note.”
4. MIRASOL VELVET IN FLAX BY THIBAUT
“For the antique slipper chair, we chose a soft velvet with a twisted multicolor cord for a tailored accent.”
5. CHELSEA FABRIC IN LAVENDER BY ANNA FRENCH AT THIBAUT
“We used this small-scale floral print [on the desk chair] to unite the soft lavender hues in the room, including the bedding, bench and porcelain.”
6. GARDEN PATH CARPET IN FIREFLY BY KATHA LIVING AT FIBREWORKS
“To complement the creamy walls, we chose this soft ivory carpet underfoot to complete the calm, tonal envelope.”
7. CUSTOM LINEN FABRIC IN LILAC BY LEONTINE LINENS
“Leontine Linens is our go-to for custom bedding.”
8. MOSELLE FABRIC IN SOFT BLUE BY ANNA FRENCH AT THIBAUT
“This take on a printed cotton silk warp enhanced the elegance of the mahogany four-poster bed.”
9. GARDEN CLUB FABRIC IN BLUE BY ANNA FRENCH AT THIBAUT
“In a room of this scale, repeating a fabric creates unity and clarity. We chose to slipcover a chaise by Lee Industries in the same soft floral that frames the windows.”
10. WAVELAND SHEER NATURAL WOVEN SHADES IN WHITE BY HORIZONS
“The dressing room, softly drenched in pink, needed a clean, clarifying canvas at the window. These shades by Horizons offered just that—an understated, casual backdrop to the layers of color elsewhere.”
11. HOLLY TRELLIS WALLCOVERING IN OFF-WHITE BY ANNA FRENCH AT THIBAUT
“Thibaut’s Holly Trellis in a creamy off-white provides a quiet backdrop for the primary suite—subtly patterned yet dimensional.”
12. QUIETUDE PAINT BY SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
“In the primary bathroom, a serene blue-green mirrors the water and treetops just beyond the window—this color is calm, clean and fresh.”
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