CityView Magazine

18 | September/October 2016 style. In Johnny, I trust," laughed Edwina of the deco- rator's eye for her home. rough the dining room is the kitchen. Newly ren- ovated, the kitchen ceilings have been raised to lend a more modern and spacious feel. "e builder told us to take the ceilings as high as we could," said Edwina. Lustrous granite countertops accented by so under- cabinet lighting and stainless steel appliances bring the home, built in 1955, into the contemporary age. Perhaps the most eye-catching element in the kitch- en is the exposed brick fireplace. "It was a happy sur- prise when the kitchen was renovated," said Edwina, who discovered the never-meant-for-display beauty while she was in the attic investigating just how high the ceilings could be lied in the remodel. Flecked with a retro muted jade brick, the rustic hearth com- bines with a bold coral trellis-print wallpaper creating layers of interest and which adds warmth and whimsy to the modern space. "My favorite room is my kitchen. I am happiest when our children and their families or our friends are gathered there around good food and drink," said Edwina. A step down reveals another cozy and handsomely furnished space: the den. oughtfully upholstered furniture beckons guests, and so does Lilly, who can be found lounging in a lushly-appointed armchair she claimed as her own. A combination of traditional pickled wood pan- eling, original to the home, and a pleasing ochre wall paper blend to create the look Edwina prefers. A glance around the room reveals Edwina's style and decorating method. A whimsical Egyptian carving is mounted on the fireplace, which Edwina found in a shop in Pine- hurst. e gold Venetian masks were purchased in Charleston on a girls' weekend away. "ey spoke to me, so I bought them. If I love something like that, I will purchase it whether I know where it is going in my home or not. If it brings me that much enjoyment, I find a place for it," Edwina said, simply. One element of the space that is not "Johnny-ap- proved," as Edwina teasingly identified, is a stylish golden glider-rocker, which she purchased at Tiny Town. "I had to have a place to rock my babies," she said fondly referring to her grandchildren, of whom she will soon have three under the age of two. She also keeps a portable crib "for any impromptu visits." Edwina's uncomplicated philosophy on comfort and livability extends to "grown-up" guests, as she doesn't mind if things become askew. "I enjoy the process of making a house a home, and while I love beautiful things, I am also all about those things being function- al, practical and welcoming as well as attractive. I want people to feel comfortable in my home." She laughed as Jim chimed in regarding visitors, "ey can drink red wine."

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