Photo: Laura Sumrak, courtesy of Alexis Pawling

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If you want a master class on how to use “pops of color” in your home, look no further than interior designer Alexis Pawling’s home.

The industry veteran knew exactly what she wanted when building her own home: luxury you can live in (with two kids and three dogs) that doesn’t shy away from color.

Which: Pawling was born and raised in Manhattan. She and her husband, Matt, moved to Charlotte as newlyweds in 2007. She owns her own business called Alexis Pawling Interiorsand he is a solicitor at Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft.

• They have two daughters, Logan (12) and Finley (7), and three rescue dogs.

Alexis Pawling

The Pawlings have actually been living on the same property near Freedom Park since 2010, but in 2020 they decided to tear down their 1951 Arts & Crafts ranch and build a new one.

• The house worked well for the family when the girls were younger, but their needs have changed.
• Before committing to build, they spent a year looking for a new home, but ultimately decided their location was unbeatable.

The new house is 4,000 square feet with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. A huge cascading island, lots of quality lighting, and a master suite on the first floor were top priorities.

• Pawling was also aware of the scale of their new construction, so it did not overwhelm the streetscape. Although they wanted to build something bigger than the ranch, it was still important that the house fit on the property.

The entryway immediately shows off Pawling’s personality with an antique chest, modern gold light fixture and a colorful custom piece of Texas artist Marcy Cook.

Arrangement: The first floor includes the den, living room, kitchen, dining room, mud room, laundry room, powder room, bar, and master suite.

• The second floor includes the girls’ bedrooms, a guest bedroom and bathrooms.
• Builder Mills Eloge executed the vision.

The home office has a secret door that leads to the master bedroom. It allows the Pawlings to enter their bedroom from the front of the house.

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate this lipstick ceiling wallpaper. *Chef’s kiss 💋*

Design: Pawling is all about functional beauty – and it shows. The sofas in the living room are large enough for lounging, for example. And there’s just one dining space (instead of a breakfast nook and formal dining room, common in other homes this size).

• Yes, the house is pretty to look at, but Pawling also designed the spaces to suit their needs.
• “Your home should reflect your personality and should bring you joy and comfort,” she said.

Style: Every room in Pawling’s house is a little different from the next room, but every space has a mix of old and new, classic and modern, elegant and comfortable.

• “Technically the term used to describe my style is ‘transitional,’ which to me means that I like to mix the old with the new and my color choices are imaginative,” Pawling said.

This wet bar area is an example of how Pawling combines luxury with utility and plays with pops of color. This hall connects the main living areas to the back half of the house. The proximity to the dining room makes it a neat place to have a bar, and the blue is gorgeous.

The laundry room is even pretty.

Favorite spaces and objects: Pawling’s favorite space is the kitchen. White cabinetry and mixed metals create a timeless look, while dramatic veining in the island and backsplash bring a bit of drama.

“There is an element it makes me smile every day because it’s smart and so efficient: I have automated sunshades on the first floor windows,” Pawling said. Shades are programmed to open and close at certain times each day.

• Pawling also loves the Kelly Wearstler rock crystal brass sconces in the den. They are timeless, bold and modern and almost work as statement earrings for the all-pink bedroom.

Pawling used this wallpaper in three areas of the house: the powder room and the upstairs playroom, and the artwork in the entryway incorporates butterflies cut from the paper.

Photos by Laura Sumrak, courtesy of Alexis Pawling

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