House Beautiful Whole Home 2024: Our Top 10 Favorite Moments

From the grand yet cozy living room to the pattern-packed game room, every space in this energy-efficient mountain-modern home is sure to stick with you.

Visual Comfort & Co. is honored to serve as the exclusive lighting sponsor of the seventh annual House Beautiful Whole Home, a 4000 square foot house nestled in a private nature preserve near Asheville, North Carolina. Working with beauty, comfort and conservation in mind, 11 design teams from every corner of the country made their mark on this mountain-modern house – and the community, in turn, left an indelible impression on them as well. Read on for tips, tricks and tons of inspiration.

Photography by Brie Williams

Living Room

Inspired by the built-in backdrop of the home’s dramatic mountain setting, designer Dane Austin leaned into sunset tones and cozy touches to create an unforgettably layered living space. A pair of Smith Table Lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller and a Franklin Floor Lamp by Kelly Wearstler help to frame the epic view in the richly textured seating area, while the Clementine Chandelier draws the eye up to millwork showcasing collected baskets and pottery. At the other end of the room, soft drapery defines the cozy-luxe dining area, crowned with a Mollino Chandelier and artisanal Leeds Small Round Sconces by Christopher Sptizmiller at eye-level, as well as a 30” Cabinet Maker’s Picture Light by Chapman & Myers illuminating the art.

Kitchen

With this happy and hardworking space, designer Kelsey McGregor of Kelsey Leigh Design Co. aimed to exceed the expectations for a vacation home kitchen. Her first move was to separate the guest-ready front kitchen from a moodier back kitchen, then she accented both areas with organic touches like white oak, maple, zellige tile and a plastered range hood. Playing off a warm palette and traditional patterns, a pair of Ralph Lauren ’67 Boom Arm Wall Lamps and Prestwick 14” Pendants by Chapman & Myers in the main kitchen and Rivington Shield Sconces in the back kitchen bring balance and unity, helping to create a nature-inflected gathering space perfect for groups of any size.

Snug

Anglophilia reigns in the petite “snug,” designed for moments of solitude or cozy connection with a good book and a drink at hand. Even in such a small space, designer Anne McDonald upped the ante with lush drapery, mohair upholstery, a sleek limestone console, a clubby leather lounge chair and accessories (like a classic record player) that invite engagement. The alabaster globes of the Pertica 36” Ten Light Chandelier by Kelly Wearstler overhead are reflected in the antique mirror backing of the millwork, while custom shades on the Hackney Table Lamps by J. Randall Powers add tactility and tie into the room’s dusky palette of mint, teal and aubergine.

Media Room

To create a multipurpose lounge space for larger groups, designer Rajni Alex leaned into the location of her media room (on the lower level, with direct backyard access) and chose finishes that gave the family-friendly environs a bit of a glow-up. Every surface shines with subtle yet sumptuous texture, and the low-slung furniture silhouettes are echoed in the sprawling Brindille XL Articulating Linear Chandelier by Champalimaud above. While you may have to look twice to find the tucked-away television, a thoughtful floorplan suits every form of relaxation, from the all-important afternoon nap to movie nights, card games, cocktails and more.

Game Room

Inspired by literary legend Zelda Fitzgerald, designer MA Allen leaned into Jazz Age exuberance in the game room, which she envisioned as a place for merriment and the occasional overnight guest. A deft sense of scale creates balance in the midst of all the maximalism (stripes, animal print, chintz, oh my!), while red millwork provides a jolt and a throughline. (Don’t miss the Mina Accent Rechargeable Table Lamp by Sean Lavin in the bookshelf!) A Frankfort Articulating Wall Light by AERIN in the daybed nook provides just enough light to read, chat, sip or rest, while the Hackney Buffet Lamp in the bar nook and the Chapman & Myers Classical Urn Lamp on an antique chest continue the cheeky, eclectic theme.

Primary Bedroom

For the primary bedroom, designer Heidi Woodman eschewed predictable adjectives — calm, soothing, serene – and reached for a less expected goal: attitude. Neutral repeat patterns and organic textures help to lay the groundwork, while earthy touches (like chocolate brown wall trim, patchwork accents in the pillows and drapery, an artisan-made cabinet and glowy brass Ralph Lauren Ancram Small Single Sconces enhance the overall effect. As a finishing touch, Woodman layered over the standard lampshades on the Veneto Medium Table Lamps by Kelly Wearstler and Piaf Large Chandelier by Thomas O’Brien with custom European-style “skirts” in whimsical stripes and small-scale gingham.

Primary Bath

Form meets function in the showstopping primary bath, where Laura K. Sullivan of ID.ology Interiors & Design installed a quartet of fluted Aerin Asalea 16” Double Bath Sconces for flattering diffused light above the double vanity. The freestanding bathtub, centered beneath a skylight, is illuminated by a Dessau 18” Picture Light by Sean Lavin, an unexpected touch that elevates the vignette far beyond the typical bathroom scene.

Closets

Every detail of the home’s closet spaces has been thoughtfully designed by Jill Jones of ID.ology, with lighting playing a key role. From storing clothes and suitcases to games and extra supplies, these brilliantly organized spaces are elevated by dimmable, concealed under-cabinet lighting from the Visual Comfort & Co. Architectural Collection ensures that even utilitarian areas are both visually appealing and effortlessly functional..

Den

In this kid-friendly twin bedroom on the home’s lower level, designer Byron Risdon used zingy shades of citrine and chartreuse to keep the energy up, up, up. A Gaios Table Lamp picks up on the deeper tones in the citrusy ikat repeated in the bed canopies and draperies. In the adjacent den, playful is the name of the game — overnight guests can crash on the daybed, an oversized wood coffee table is the room’s center stage, and lighting selections (Lancelot Pivoting Lights, Katia Floor Lamp, and the Mahalo 40” Pendant) provide the perfect dash of fun.

Recovery/Podcast Room

In the so-called “cocoon room,” designer Anita Yokota created space to breathe with an airy palette, low-profile seating in organic shapes and pairs of cloud-like Talia Flush Mounts and earthy alabaster Melange Sconces. The result: an ideal spot for rest, recovery and relaxation. Yokota reimagined a small space nearby as a podcast recording studio, using the same watery blues in a loungey sitting area accented by Talia Table Lamps from Visual Comfort’s new cordless collection.

Conclusion

When we partnered with House Beautiful on the seventh annual Whole Home project, we never could have anticipated that Hurricane Helene would devastate Western North Carolina just as this project was completed. While the home still stands, many others in the region were not as fortunate. Along with House Beautiful, we encourage you to read, look, listen and be inspired – please visit housebeautiful.com/giveback and contribute to the area’s rebuilding effort in whatever way you can.