Mad About Modern With Amy Emery Interior Design

WRITTEN BY Bek Mitchell-Kidd
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Rebecca Lehde, Inspiro 8
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Amy Emery
ARCHITECT: Jennifer Gosnell, M Peters Group

In a city known for its tourism tagline, “Yeah, that Greenville,” this house is more like “Yeah! That Greenville!”

Just south of downtown, and built in 2014, the original home was demolished except for the foundation.

The breakdown—two levels, four bedrooms, five bathrooms, two powder rooms, and a one bed/bath cottage.

From the Scandinavian influence of 8-inch wide maple planks for the main level flooring to the industrial vibe of the lower-level flooring of polished concrete, the house is entirely modern.

Interior designer Amy Emery says, “My clients love natural light, and it was a top priority to maximize that. The views of the property are amazing—the architect concentrated on capturing the views with the most glass possible.”

An interesting use of glass is the lightwell that wraps around the interior staircase and is created by glass walls, the fireplace, and a recycled barnwood wall.

The staircase treads are constructed of steel, and the stamps on the treads are labels from the steel factory where they were sourced.

The fireplace is clad in board-formed concrete, giving the surface a woodgrain appearance. The firebox is a Rumford fireplace with wood stacked in a “teepee arrangement.” It emanates a great deal of heat…which, even in Greenville, is welcome on a cold winter day.

Color is a supporting character in the interior design. But no bit-actor, the use is bold when necessary and, like in any good story, appears when the narrative needs an arc.

“I always feel that if there is great architecture and interesting materials, there is no need to vary paint colors. The client does love color, and the all-white walls made it conducive to introducing color accents in the furniture like the green-wool Jacobsen Egg Chair. It also highlights the client’s extensive art collection,” says Amy.

However, color does take the lead role in the lemon-colored laundry, and in the children’s bedrooms, which they were allowed to design themselves.

In the kitchen a rainbow of stools step-up the color in an otherwise layered white-scape, including the cloud-like Macaubus quartzite used for the countertops and the white custom cabinetry.

The dining room table was custom made by local artist Daniel Marinelli using pressed maple plywood with coordinating custom steel legs and benches.

Brilliantly, the large kitchen skylight is actually four lights arranged together. The nearby living room has eight skylights pulled together, with solar shades.

Light floods just about every space, and you can access the outdoors from each level of the home. On the main level, a large porch flows from the dining area. The doors bifold to completely open the wall up to the exterior. On the lower level, the glass doors slide so you can exit to the pool area and vast back yard which includes a firepit area and soccer-style field.

Part of the lower level is “ninja-ready.” Amy says, “It was an unfinished space, and my client didn’t want a ‘creepy’ basement. They covered the walls with painted plywood, added a cushioned floor, and created a climbing gym.”

There is also a storage area for recreational equipment as the homeowners are outdoor enthusiasts. There’s a work bench to do projects or repair equipment, and the garage-style door allows the family to ride the bikes directly from inside to outside.

The exterior features brutalist touches of concrete and supporting metal beams. The entry and rear approaches to the home both have floating wood benches built into the wall, set against an unfussy all-green landscape.

There are soft corners too. “I personally love the office and master suite area. It is a small, cozy space—an escape from the larger, more open living areas,” Amy says. “There are full-height glass walls, so you feel connected to the outdoors. I think that helps to create a sense of serenity.”

As usual, things are often best said by the ones living in the space. The homeowners share, “The feel in the house changes constantly as the day passes. The connection to the outdoors is so important—we appreciate every hour and the scenes created. If we had to identify a favorite time, it would be dusk, just as the sun is setting. It creates a soft, warm light that embraces and calms.”