Charlotte-based designer Lisa Sherry creates custom interiors throughout the city, but clients often hire her to work on their beach and mountain homes, too. When the owners of a dated home on Bald Head Island wanted to dial up the interior, they knew Sherry, who had owned a home there for almost 20 years, would get their vision. At the top of her clients’ wish list was a light, airy primary bedroom with a modern, spa-like bathroom. “It was dark and dingy with old carpet and no soul,” Sherry says. “The views are outstanding, so we really wanted to open it up and bring new life into this 1970s home.” 

BRING THE OUTSIDE IN

The large atrium in the middle of the one-story home made the primary bedroom feel disconnected. “It’s a pretty funky house,” Sherry says. “We want it to feel cohesive and comfortable, yet somewhat undesigned.” She replaced the old carpet with hardwood floors and installed floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize the marsh view. In the bathroom, she added a soaking tub, walk-in shower, and custom vanity made by a local cabinetmaker. She dressed up the windows with linen drapes and painted the walls throughout the suite in Benjamin Moore’s China White.

EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE

The homeowners wanted all-new furniture and accents, so Sherry started with the upholstered bed from High Point-based furniture-maker Verellen. “I loved that tall headboard with the pleating detail,” she says. “It complements the upholstered chairs.” Sherry sourced the nightstands through Made Goods and topped them with smoked-glass lamps. At the end of the bed is a metal bench from Oly Studio. On the vaulted ceiling, she installed a bubble chandelier with thick resin bulbs that reminded her of clouds. 

DETAILS MAKE THE DESIGN

Sherry finished off the bed with custom pillows and a wool throw and used a wood ladder to display the homeowner’s vintage beads. “She has an appreciation for fashion and interiors and how the two tie together,” Sherry says. “This looks tailored as opposed to feminine.” For the bathroom, she chose nickel hardware and glass bulbs to complement the fixtures throughout the home. “You can furnish a room, but it’s all about the layers you add,” she says. “The throws, the ladder, the metal bench … all the beautiful tiles surrounding the tub. It’s mixing all of those elements together so it feels casual but also very sophisticated.”