DESIGN Before & After: Transforming A Villa Heights Entryway – Charlotte Magazine

Homeowners Jason Persinger and Lynae Norman knew the entry in their Villa Heights craftsman needed some personality. At 90 square feet, it’s large enough to accommodate some furniture and fixtures, and it’s visible from every angle of the first floor. They hired Britni Antonelli and Kelsey Peyton, co-founders of Pep + Palm, to transform this drab, afterthought of a room into a colorful, welcoming space. “He called it ‘mid-century boho,’” Antonelli says. “He wanted lots of inspiration from plants, nature, and organic textures.” The project took six weeks from start to finish, and the updated space ties in the earthy, natural, and moody aesthetic the homeowners were after.

Textured Wallpaper: 

One of the first things Antonelli and Peyton pitched was a green Thibaut wallpaper made of cork with metallic gold flecks. “Wallpaper is like ice cream flavors, right?,” Antonelli says. “You get a little bit, and you’re like, ‘Mmm, what else is out there?’ So we did a lot of scouring, but they kept going back to that. … It came down to, ‘I promise you this is going to look amazing.’ And they loved it.”

Bold Colors: 

Choosing a dark paint color for a room that doesn’t get a lot of natural light might seem counter-intuitive, but that’s exactly what the designers did. To keep the space from feeling too cave-like, they installed two curvy modern sconces, each with two bulbs, on either side of a floor-length mirror, which also reflects the light from the window across the room. 

Earthy Tones: 

To complement the green wallpaper, they painted the built-ins, doors, and trim in Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue, a green with brown undertones. A burl wood table with distinctive grain and curved edges provides a natural element and some mid-century flair, and the two rattan stools beneath it add organic texture. 

Personal Touches: 

Antonelli, who has a degree in art history from Virginia Tech, painted the floral artwork that rests on the burl wood table. “I tried to pull in some of the oranges and some of the warmth to add some depth with a few other colors,” she says. It also complements the fresh flowers and plants on the built-in shelves.

Eye-Catching Accents: 

The cowhide rug anchors the space with an unexpected pattern, and the jute tablecloth adds another layer of organic texture. On the window seat, the jungle-themed pillows add fun pops of red and orange.

Functional Pieces: 

A high, round table in the center of the room can be moved over to the window bench, so a reader can relax and keep a drink or snack within reach. The wicker stools can be pulled over to the bench if company stops by. The upholstered green stool from Worlds Away provides a place to put on (or take off) shoes, and the mirror allows the homeowners to give themselves a once-over before walking out the door.