Queen City, NC March 2026

THE Home ISSUE

Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery, led by Dr. Andrea Garcia and Dr. Josh Surowitz, is the only practice in the greater Charlotte area to use a two-surgeon approach. This unique, teamoriented model ensures collaborative care at every step—from your initial consultation to your surgical procedure. The doctors specialize in surgical treatments like facelift, necklift, and rhinoplasty, delivering beautiful and natural results.

In addition to surgery, we offer a full suite of non-surgical options. Our skilled injectors, Morgan Nelson, NP and Cassie Smith, RN, provide personalized and natural results with injectables and fillers. For the foundation of a youthful look, our licensed medical esthetician, Allie Harris, offers a full range of skincare and laser treatments.

Renew Your Glow for Spring

As t he seasons change, refresh your skin wit h a customized facial designed to restore hydration and reveal your glow.

The Comfort of Home

Some of my earliest memories of home don’t involve wallpaper or furniture. They live in my grandmother’s backyard, where she would sing to me beneath her banana trees, the air heavy with the peanut-scented warmth of Coffee County, Alabama. One of her favorite songs on repeat, Unforgettable by Nat King Cole, lingers in my recollection. Summers were long and hot, marked by bowls of freshly-picked vegetables—juicy red tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and whatever else her garden offered that day.

My grandmother Felicia, affectionately known as “Fefe,” didn’t worry about her home being perfect. In fact, she almost encouraged us to mess things up! Friends who popped over were always welcome, no matter how clean and tidy her house appeared. They often left with a loaf of Fefe’s famous homemade sourdough bread. I still have a lot to learn from her about letting things go and allowing your home to be the place where you enjoy the people you love the most.

In our March Home issue, we are excited to share gorgeous interior and exterior inspiration for your own treasured spaces. These projects were created with the intention of connection and designed with hospitality in mind. In our cover feature, Natalie Fey of Celadon Interiors helps her longtime clients refresh their Foxcroft home, showcasing meaningful art pieces and creating new areas for entertaining family and friends.

Also in the issue, designer Shadie Copeland makes her own personal kitchen renovation in Myers Park a family affair. Finally, we share how the garden accents and planters from Eastover Collection extend welcome and provide beauty in some of our favorite neighborhoods in town.

In the spirit of hospitality—not perfection—we hope you enjoy our annual Home issue.

With gratitude,

LIZ BROWN, PUBLISHER @QUEENCITYMAG

PUBLISHER

Liz Brown | liz.brown@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Carroll Walton | carroll.walton@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Jennifer Fenner | jennifer.fenner@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Gillian Horn | gillian.horn@citylifestyle.com

PUBLISHER ASSISTANT

Shellye Andrus

PHOTO EDITOR

Seth Patrick

COPY EDITOR

Matias Arredondo | matias.arredondo@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Taylor Bowler, Krisha Chachra, Elliott Harrell, Kali McNutt, Allie Papajohn, Carroll Walton

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Danny Charland, Heather Ison, Dustin Peck, Carter Wade, Brie Williams March 2026

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto

LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle

Whether reconfiguring existing spaces, adding new rooms, or changing floor plans, our design and build process elevates your remodeling experience while transforming your house into a place you lovingly call home.

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

business monthly

ROUNDUP

Designing Dynamism

Designing Dynamism, showcasing intricate, handcrafted textiles from the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be at The Mint Museum Randolph through Aug. 23. The exhibition features works from Charlotte-based textile designer Wesley Mancini’s collection. Kuba raffia cloths were traditionally used in royal courts or funerary rites. Prestige textiles have long fascinated the global art world, appearing in European markets by the late 19th century and acquired by artists such as Henri Matisse.

Photography by Kuba weaver and embroiderers. Man’s Prestige Cloth (detail), raffia. The Wesley Mancini Textile Collection. 2020.24.40 detail

Naturalist Egg Hunt at Wing Haven

Families are invited to Wing Haven for the Naturalist Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon to celebrate songbirds who nest in spring. Children ages 10 and under can craft their own binoculars and search for replicas of real bird eggs hidden throughout the SEED Wildlife & Children’s Garden. Facilitated eggand nest-themed activities, crafts and light refreshments will be provided. Cost is $25 or $30 per family. Registration is recommended.

Spring Dates for Edit Sale

Edit Sale is a luxury consignment pop-up offering high-end designer pieces at a fraction of their original price. The vibrant atmosphere makes shopping feel more like a curated experience than a sale. Edit Sale brings together those with a love for fashion, quality and great finds, while giving second life to beautiful pieces and reducing fashion waste. The next Edit Sale is Feb. 25-28 and March 5-7. Location TBA on Instagram @edit_sale.

Photography by Hayden Hendrix

Meet Our New Providers

PPSD brings together leading board-certified and board-eligible plastic surgeons and dermatology providers to offer world-class skin, aesthetic, and reconstructive care. With multiple locations throughout the Carolinas, our team delivers advanced treatments in a warm, professional environment. We are committed to helping every patient look and feel their best with confidence.

Dancing with the Stars of Charlotte Gala

On March 7, six star pairs take the Knight Theater stage to compete in a night of dancing, fundraising and excitement in Dancing With the Stars of Charlotte to benefit the Charlotte Ballet along with organizations chosen by each of the six pairs. Each pair is made up of one community leader and one professional dancer. The event is black tie and begins at 5:30 p.m.

Design.

Ethic approaches residential design as a thoughtful collaboration between architecture, interior design, and the way life is truly lived. Specializing in luxury renovations and custom new construction, we partner with Charlotte’s most respected designers to create homes that feel both intentional and enduring. Every detail is considered, every space curated, resulting in environments that elevate daily living.

Eastover Collection is Redefining Curb Appeal With Thoughtful Design

ARTICLE BY CARROLL WALTON PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF EASTOVER COLLECTION

If not for someone like Kate Morrison, founder of Eastover Collection, the beauty of entryway planters might go unnoticed. Amid the hustle and bustle of daily living, when people tend to rush through doorways and speed around driveways, she’s somebody who can’t help but stop and appreciate the beauty—or potential for it—flanking entrances and exits.

Whether Morrison is at home in Concord, where she lives with her husband, driving around Charlotte, where she moved after attending Davidson College, visiting her hometown of Louisville, Ky., or flying to New York City, she sees the statement beautiful plants and their containers can make at front doors, back doors, building fronts, hotel lobbies, backyard pools and even interiors.

“It’s a manageable, containable garden,” Morrison says. “And there’s an element of polish and refinement that planters bring that is the best way to signify: ‘This is a special place, and we welcome you.’”

Morrison has created an entire business around that feeling, offering an elevated line of planter boxes and garden accents.

As a mom of three looking for a way to reconnect with her artistic passion, she founded the Eastover Collection in 2013. Their locally crafted pieces turn outdoor accessories into an art form and provide premium function, too. Eastover’s signature planter boxes are made from a high-grade cellular PVC material that does not require a liner and is weather, rot and insect resistant. They can be custom-made, with more than 160 varieties of size, paint color, molding and patterns.

Eastover Collection’s reach extends throughout the Southeast, as far south as Florida and west as Texas.

Eastover does both residential and commercial business. Their work is on display on the porch at the Duke

“Morrison’s home in Concord is a beautiful representation of the finishing touches Eastover Collection artisans create”

Mansion, where they custom-made two nine-foot-long planters with wheels, so they can be easily moved for various events.

Morrison’s home in Concord is a beautiful representation of the finishing touches Eastover Collection artisans create.

Guests to her home are greeted by two boxwood planters flanking the front walkway, complementing the roses or camellias she loves to plant. Her show-stopping backyard garden features planters with double ball topiaries. She likes to change out the bases with seasonal annuals like pansies, impatiens or coral bells, and accent them with dusty miller or trailing vines. She recently installed a spire from Eastover, adding another architectural focal point to a beautifully maintained garden.

Her outdoor space is well-manicured and lovely, and like Eastover Collection, a source of joy for her.

“This is what I love to do,” Morrison says. “I love to connect and be a part of somebody’s creative process. This is part of who I am.”

A Designer’s Own Canvas

SHADIE COPELAND UPDATES HER 1938 MYERS PARK HOME WITH A REFRESHED KITCHEN, COZY BREAKFAST NOOK AND A STYLISH POWDER ROOM

ARTICLE BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEATHER ISON

It all started with a blue Lacanche range.

Designer Shadie Copeland, founder of Shadie Copeland Interiors, ordered the high-end kitchen appliance in late 2022, knowing it had a 14-month lead time. Each one is custom-made in Burgundy, France, and can be crafted in multiple colors and finishes. Copeland, who juggles up to a dozen projects at any given time, had been planning her own renovation since her family purchased the 3,500-squarefoot Myers Park home in 2018. Six years later, she finally got to flip the script and become her own client.

“The kitchen had been redone in the ‘90s, but it was small and cramped, and the layout was pretty choppy,” she says. “The appliances were old, and it had this awful, yellowed wallpaper. The back of the house, where the breakfast nook is, was added in the ‘90s, too, but it wasn’t a seamless addition.”

Copeland, who works from home, often has clients over to show them design elements in her kitchen. “It’s wonderful to have for personal use, but definitely doubles as a showroom for me,” she says.

“I KNEW I DIDN’T WANT A WHITE KITCHEN —I LOVE COLOR”

“I love having that range—it’s super functional through the holidays,” Copeland says. “It’s awesome having a double oven that doesn’t take a bunch of vertical real estate.”

They eliminated a butler’s pantry and a walk-in pantry to expand the kitchen’s footprint, but the biggest challenge was opening the original exterior wall between the kitchen and breakfast room. It required structural engineering and a large beam, which they hid with a grand arch.

That arch—along with the range—set the tone for Copeland’s entire aesthetic.

“Those were the two things I had to have,” she says.

She upgraded the double-hung windows to arched versions and painted all the trim and cabinetry in Sherwin-Williams’ Cascades, a dark teal that felt both moody and warm.

“I knew I didn’t want a white kitchen—I love color,” says Copeland, who opted for a high-gloss finish that would be durable with small kids. “We also chose it because a lot of light reflects off the cabinets, so it doesn’t feel dark within the space, as a matte finish would.”

The patterned wallpaper by UK-based designer Josephine Munsey pulls in hues from the range and cabinetry. The marble

countertops came from Vitoria International Stone in Charleston. Copeland chose unlacquered brass knobs and pulls to coordinate with the range hardware and installed three-light chandeliers with ribbed wood stems.

The team at Vogler Metalwork & Design designed a custom brass vent hood, and Copeland sourced the fireclay sink from Shaws, a 125-year-old company in England.

“I wanted tried and true appliances, but also solid pieces that had a story behind them,” she says.

She continued the wallpaper into the breakfast nook, where a drum pendant with a scalloped shade hangs overhead. The built-in cabinets feature a mix of solid and ribbed fronts painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Vaguely Mauve. The hardware has the same unlacquered brass finish as the kitchen.

The powder room came together mid-renovation.

“We had to do some structural repair work from below the kitchen, which allowed me to redesign the bathroom,” Copeland says.

The new kitchen layout gave them a few extra feet to add a linen closet, which Copeland accented with vintage slatted doors she refinished. The floating vanity has a scalloped edge, and the marble wall tiles echo the arches in the kitchen. The sconces are from Arteriors.

Copeland finished off the project with some original artwork. For the breakfast nook, she found two prints at an antique show in her hometown of Aiken, S.C. The oil painting that hangs beside the door to the dining room is by artist Sherrie Wolf.

“It ended up being a perfect piece that could stand on its own against the busy wallpaper,” she says. “There are a lot of bold pieces and elements in this space, but I didn’t want any one thing to overpower another. That blue range in a white kitchen would be the one thing you looked at, but adjacent to the darker richness of the cabinetry, it fits really well. It’s a nice balance overall.”

FIN DING HAWAIʻI’S NATURAL RHYTHM ON O’AHU’S NORTH SHORE

ARTICLE BY KRISHA CHACHRA | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE RITZ-CARLTON O’AHU, TURTLE BAY

SURF, SAND

AND SUNSETS

On the Hawaiian islands, life rises and sets with the sun. When visiting O’ahu–particularly the gentle cadence of the North Shore–your body falls into step with nature. Days begin early and active: snorkeling alongside tropical fish, paddleboarding on glassy water or surfing rolling waves. Evenings slow to a peaceful pace, nourished by good food and cooled by ocean air, before sleep arrives soon after sunset.

Of Hawaiʻi’s eight islands, O’ahu welcomes the most mainland visitors, with Waikīkī acting as a magnet for beachgoers drawn to white sand, high-end shopping and fine dining. But for those eager to unwind, the infamous H-3 highway–37 years and more than $ 1 billion in the making–carries travelers across the island to its northernmost point, where The RitzCarlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay awaits. Relaxation begins the moment you arrive.

GETTING THERE

The drive from Honolulu International Airport to Turtle Bay cuts through the Ko’olau Mountain Range via a series of tunnels that lift you above the treeline of the Ha’iku Valley, revealing breathtaking views of Kāne’ohe Bay on the windward side. Hire a driver so your eyes can survey the scenery rather than the road, taking in landmarks such as Mokoli’i (Chinaman’s Hat), the dramatic cliffs of Kualoa Ranch–famous for its role in Jurassic Park–and the pristine shoreline of Swanzy Beach.

Pause at the Crouching Lion for a casual bite, choosing from oysters, pork belly or grilled pineapple served alongside sweeping Pacific views. Continue north past the food truck lot home to the famed Aloha Shrimp–order the spicy garlic, garlic lemon or coconut shrimp–and mark the spot for a return visit. Nearby, the Polynesian Cultural Center offers an engaging, off-property excursion for families.

RELAXATION

Once you pull into Turtle Bay, the stress you’ve carried halfway around the world begins to dissolve. Guest Relations Manager Alfonso Arcolas greets arrivals with a warm aloha spirit, adorning guests with fresh flower leis. The open-air lobby is home to Off the Lip, the resort’s main bar, where panoramic ocean views frame an infinity pool accented with floating fire features. Grab a coffee from Ho’olana and watch children snorkel in Kuilima Cove, the resort’s beach entrance. While all Hawai’i shorelines are public, the cove remains largely uncrowded, making it

ideal for snorkeling. The resort offers a robust slate of complimentary daily activities, including hula dancing, lei making and ukulele lessons–as well as wellness classes, pickleball courts, pools, beach chairs and umbrellas.

Request an oceanfront room to catch sunrise or sunset–depending on the season–and settle fully into relaxation mode. With salt air on your skin, the resort invites exploration. Book a spa treatment and experience lomi lomi, the traditional Hawaiian “loving hands” massage that uses continuous, flowing strokes of hands, forearms and elbows. Horse lovers can ride along miles of oceanfront trails from the on-site stables, while guided hikes to Waimea Valley reveal waterfalls and rich cultural history. And of course, there is golf. Visitors can enjoy two 18-hole championship golf courses–one designed by Arnold Palmer, the other by George Fazio–that offer traditional, playable experiences against a backdrop of challenging tropical jungle, wetland scenery.

Surf enthusiasts may sign up for the Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience, offering instruction for all skill levels, from wave riding to stand-up paddleboarding in calm Kawela Bay. If hanging ten feels ambitious, younger guests may prefer “surfing with a pup” through North Shore Ocean Guides. Surf instructor Rocky Canon and his canine companion glide across the flatter waters of Kuilima Cove with a kid in tow–a fun and Instagram-worthy excursion. End the day with night snorkeling. Explore the underwater world by flashlight, where bioluminescent coral and nocturnal sea life, including eels and demon fish, appear in their natural habitat.

DINING

Beyond the lobby bar and café, The RitzCarlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay offers three main restaurants on property, along with its

signature Paniolo Hawaiian cowboy lū’au–an all-season celebration of the island’s ranching heritage. Typically held twice weekly, the outdoor experience takes place near the stables and features a traditional pig roast, live music, hula dancing and a fire knife performance. It is a popular event, and early reservations are strongly encouraged.

With rideshares and taxis limited on the North Shore and food delivery services often unreliable, guests are well served by the resort’s dining options. Alaia, with breezy views of the pool and ocean, showcases seasonal harvests sourced from nearby Kuilima Farm. For a change of scenery, hop in a golf cart from the lobby to Lei Lei’s Bar & Grill, set along Turtle Bay’s golf course and offering laid-back local fare.

For a more formal evening, reserve a table at Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi. The James Beard Award–winning chef and pioneer of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine delivers refined Asian-fusion classics such as misoyaki butterfish, teriyaki short rib and fresh poke bowls–all served just steps from the white-sand beach.

True to its name, the Sunset Pool Bar can be the perfect place to linger with a casual bite as the ocean swallows the bulbous sun.

The pool and hot tub remain open as silhouettes of surfers zigzag across the final waves of daylight. Another day in paradise comes to a close, but after deep rest, lulled by the natural rhythm of the ocean, the sun rises again, bringing with it a fresh set of North Shore adventures.

KRISHA CHACHRA is a Charlotte-based travel writer for regional and national magazines. She has visited more than 55 countries on six continents. Contact her at krishachachra.com or on social media at @destinationsanddelish and @krishachachra .

ARTICLE BY TAYLOR BOWLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEATHER ISON

SLEEP, PLAY, SLAY

Rooms with Imagination, Organization and Main-Character Energy

Cozy bedrooms, whimsical bathrooms and playful nooks make these custom spaces as functional as they are fun. Designers Jody Kurtz and Sydney Mesi of Kathryn Lilly interiors and Ashley Sussman of Ashley Sussman Interiors have created rooms with pops of color, plenty of storage and pieces to grow alongside their clients’ children. High-end pieces blend with budget-friendly finds, and personal touches like a Taylor Swift poster or a vintage record player make each room feel unique. The result is a collection of spaces that will be lived in and loved for years to come.

Opposite page: Kurtz of Kathryn Lilly Interiors wrapped the girls’ lounge in oversized stripes to create a bold, graphic moment. The delicate, floral-patterned wallpaper offsets the stripes, and the pearl necklace chandelier is reminiscent of vintage jewelry. Paint: SherwinWilliams’ Snowbound and Sherwin-Williams’ Rose Colored. Lighting: Vakkerlight. Wallpaper: Love Shack Fancy.

Above: The geometric wallpaper makes a bold statement, while the oak bed frame with woodbacked cane arches adds texture. Mirrors on either side of the bed give the space symmetry and make it feel larger without competing with the patterned wall. Wallpaper: Schumacher. Bed and Nightstand: Four Hands. Bedding: West Elm. Accent Pillow: Etsy. Rug: Surya.

Left: Kurtz and Mesi carried the soft blush palette from the bedroom into the bathroom. Patterned wallpaper and a curved-front vanity add dimension, keeping the space from feeling flat. The hexagon marble floor tile brings a feminine, refined look without feeling overly fussy.  Cabinetry: Walker Woodworking and Greenbrook Designs. Wallpaper: Spoonflower. Mirror: Surya.

Kurtz and Mesi opted for muted green cabinets with scalloped edge detail. Pink grout sets off the white penny tile floor and complements the wavy bubblegum-hued mirror frame. Cabinetry: Walker Woodworking and Greenbrook Designs. Cabinet Color: Sherwin-Williams’ Jasper Stone. Lighting: Hudson Valley. Mirror: Cooper Classics.

Above: The bed, upholstered in turquoise velvet and grounded by brass legs, is both playful and timeless. An accent wall with floral wallpaper adds softness and depth, while the pink scalloped valance conceals an electronic shade. Wallpaper: Scalamandré. Bed: Anthropologie.  Nightstands: Worlds Away. Light: Crate & Barrel. Rug: Well Woven. Secretary Desk: West Elm.

Right: Unexpected details like the butterfly wallpaper on the ceiling and ombré shower tile keep the bathroom lighthearted but elevated. The soft white walls create a subtle warmth and let the bolder colors shine. Walls and Trim Paint: Sherwin-Williams’ Creamy. Wallpaper: Spoonflower. Tile: Surface Studio.

Ashley Sussman took advantage of this room’s high ceilings and opted for an upholstered canopy bed. The glass chandeliers incorporate some art deco influence and the girl’s love of pink.  Chandeliers: Dekoor. Nightstands: TOV Furniture. Bedding: The Company Store. Lamp: Pooky Lighting.

The semi-custom drapes have patterned trim tape and pinch pleats for a polished finish. To energize the space, Sussman positioned a pair of color-blasted paintings above the chaise.  Chaise: West Elm. Art: Uttermost. Drapery: Two Pages.

Below: A ribbed bubble chandelier softens the sharp lines of the trim and bookshelves, and the pink upholstered bed grounds the room with softness and playful color. Drapery: Two Pages.  Chandelier: Joss & Main.

Bed: Skyline Furniture. Nightstands: Ballard Designs. Bedding: Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Teen. Lamp: Regina Andrew. Art: Uttermost.

Left: The team at Siteline Cabinetry installed the custom-built-ins; Sussman added gold knobs and pulls for some sparkle. The blackout shades have pink trim tape to play off the bed frame.  Roman Shades: Two Pages. Hardware: Anthropologie. Desk Chair: One Kings Lane. Pillows: Pepper Home.

THE YEAR OF THE HOME

Local Designers Share Design Trends They Expect To See in 2026

MEREDITH BEREGOVSKI

Owner and Lead Designer, Georgia Street Design

“People are moving away from the white kitchen. Not only in the kitchen, but throughout most homes in general, the trend seems to be saturation of color and mixing in old antiques with new decor. There’s also an uptick in requests to recreate spaces that were previously labeled ‘the formal living room’ into reading rooms or dedicated rooms for mahjong. I love that people are pulling the game table back out! I also think a reading room is such a nice retreat from the outside world.”

JESS EBERT

Owner and Creative Director, Four Story Interiors

“Color drenching is a paint technique we’ve been leaning into for some time now, and I can confidently say it’s here to stay. Using one color across the walls, trim and even the ceiling makes a space feel really cohesive and intentional. It’s a great way to give rooms with lower ceilings the illusion of height, while also creating a cozy, elevated feel. Every year, my personal ‘color of the year’ is Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter. It’s the perfect warm, taupe neutral.”

BERKELEY MINKHORST AND KELLEY LENTINI

Co-Founders, House of Nomad

“Kitchen renos are here to stay with more of our clients wanting more functional and unique kitchen spaces. From custom island designs and banquettes to adding in spacious sculleries, we have seen more of a focus on this area of the home. We are also seeing our clients focused on using spaces in a more personal way. We have turned many a formal dining room into a reading or listening lounge to enjoy with friends and to create a more meaningful purpose for unused spaces.”

ARTICLE BY ELLIOTT HARRELL

“Our clients are focused on using spaces in a more personal way. We have turned many a formal dining room into a reading or listening lounge to enjoy with friends and create more meaningful purpose.”

NATALIE FEY LETS ART COLLECTION TAKE CENTER STAGE IN UPDATE OF TRADITIONAL FOXCROFT HOME

TRADITION, REFRAMED

After more than 20 years of collaborating on design and construction projects, Natalie Fey’s longtime clients invited her back to give their 5,000-square-foot Foxcroft home a refresh. Now empty nesters, they wanted a space to entertain friends and family and showcase their extensive art collection, a mix of inherited and newly-commissioned pieces.

“THE BOOKCASES HOUSE A COLLECTION OF SOUTHWESTERN OBJECTS AND ACCESSORIES INHERITED

BY THE HOMEOWNER’S MOTHER.”

The project included a kitchen renovation, a new scullery and updates to the dining, family and formal living rooms. They replaced the red oak floors on the first level with five-inch white oak and added custom wood molding in the foyer to showcase paintings by American artists Francis Drexel Smith and Bernard Childs.  Fey, owner and lead designer at Celadon Interiors, worked alongside the team at Houghland Architecture and the builders at Andrew Roby on the yearlong project.

To set the stage for a grand entrance, Fey installed a checkerboard floor. “(The husband) doesn’t chime in too much, but he ran this by me,” Fey says. “I said, ‘Absolutely!’ This is the perfect spot to do it.” Instead of pricey marble, they found a porcelain lookalike at Surface Studio.

She swapped out a dated chandelier with geometric lanterns from Circa Lighting and added a faux bois (French for false wood) stair runner from Stark Carpet. A mid-century settee and circular table with bone inlay ground the space.

In the family room, Fey reworked the built-in shelves by adding fluted cabinet doors at the bottom and wallpaper to the back. The bookcases house a collection of southwestern objects and accessories inherited by the homeowner’s mother. She revamped the fireplace with a new mantel and Carrara marble-tiled surround. The homeowner had a painting commissioned by family friend and artist, Duke Beardsley.

“We pulled the orange color out of the painting to make the ottoman,” Fey says. “It’s a custom size made by Hickory Chair Furniture Co., so we waited a long time for it, but it was so worth it.”

For the kitchen, she went with classic white cabinets, a textured white Walker Zanger porcelain backsplash and quartz countertops. The custom stainless steel vent hood has aged brass bands that complement the burnished brass on the pendant lights. Fey upholstered the barstools, from A. Hoke Ltd., in a quadrille fabric to pull in the blue from the scullery.

CONTINUED >

To create space for a scullery, they removed the wall separating the kitchen and home office and relocated the office to the second floor. The new scullery got herringbone grasscloth wallpaper, custom blue cabinets and patterned floor tile from Surface Studio.

“We knew we were going to color-wash the scullery, but weren’t sure if we’d go blue or green,” Fey says. “Once we saw this tile, it answered our question.”

The globe wall sconces from Circa Lighting complement the gold fixtures.

Fey wallpapered the dining room in a floral pattern from Thibaut, updated the fireplace with cast stone and dressed the windows with the same linen panels as the living room. She paired the homeowners’ Colony Furniture dining table with new chairs upholstered in ultra suede. The DemiLune console tables, also from Colony, hold red Chinese urns that the homeowner collected years ago.

In the formal living room, Fey replaced the wood fireplace mantel with cast stone and covered the walls in a celadon grasscloth from Thibaut.

“It instantly warms a room and basically gives you a warm hug,” she says. “That was our starting point. The rest of the fabrics came in from there.”

Fey said the overall design is a reflection of her 20-year working relationship with the family.

“What’s great about these clients is that they full trust me and my ideas,” Fey says. “I love how we created a space for them to show off their art collection while making updates and incorporating colors, fabrics and all of the details.”

Instead of replacing the dining room chandelier, Fey updated the shades. The abstract painting above the

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East 8th Vintage  1950 E. 8th St. Charlotte East8thVintage.com

Granville  6808 Phillips Pl. Ct. Charlotte Granville-Charlotte.com

Hamilton-Stuart  3916 Park Rd. Charlotte HamiltonStuart.com

Heritage  2025 Thrift Rd., Suite 101

Charlotte HeritageMarkDesign.com

LaDonna Antiques and Interiors 1420 S. Mint St., Suite G-2 Charlotte @ladonnainteriors

Main St. Antiques & Design Gallery  500 S. Main St. Mooresville MainAntiques.com

Sleepy Poet Antique Mall  6424 South Blvd. Charlotte SleepyPoetStuff.com

Slate Interiors  2025 Thrift Rd., Suite 100 Charlotte ShopSlateInteriors.com

South End Exchange  111 New Bern St. Charlotte SouthEndExchange.com

The Brass Grasshopper  1325 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd. Matthews TheBrassGrasshopper.com

The Depot at Gibson Mill  325 McGill Ave. NW. Concord DepotGibsonMill.com

White Owl Antiques & Collectibles  8455 State Hwy. 49 Mount Pleasant WhiteOwlAntiqueMall.com

A CHANCE SOCIAL MEDIA POST BIRTHS A POPULAR BUSINESS

WOODWORK THAT WOWS

One Facebook post in early 2020 changed the trajectory of Jeffrey Feldstein’s career.

While helping a friend build garage shelves for his wife’s many Christmas trees, she took pictures of the project and posted them to the social media site, unbeknownst to him.

“Within three hours of her post, five people contacted me saying, I want [these shelves],” he says.

Feldstein, formerly an insurance salesman and restaurant owner, had just finished getting his real estate license. He’d always been handy and liked to tinker around his house, building things like an heirloom wooden cradle when his first child was born. But the primarily self-taught woodworker had never considered creating things for other people.

With Covid well underway and a bleak real estate market, though, Feldstein decided to give it a shot, starting a woodworking business out of his garage.

Next month Waxhaw Woodworking will move from its current 2,500-squarefoot workshop to a new 6,000-square-foot one. The demand, Feldstein says, hasn’t stopped since that initial Facebook post.

“Every month from the day I started has been better than the prior month,” he says. “It has never, ever been slow.”

ARTICLE BY ELLIOTT HARRELL PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WAXHAW WOODWORKING

Feldstein doesn’t do garage shelves anymore. Think stunning statement dining tables, like one of his latest commissions, a 12-foot-long table made from solid walnut, as well as outdoor dining set-ups and custom-built-in cabinets.

“Woodworking is a real huge passion of mine,” he says. “So, to me, I don’t go to work anymore. I go to play.”

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6842 Carnegie Blvd., Ste. 200 Charlotte, NC 28211 (980) 423-1272

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ED Therapy

KATIE KICKERTZ

D.D.S., M.S., BOARD-CERTIFIED ENDODONTIST

As a local, female, and board-certified endodontist, Dr. Kickertz provides more than just treatment; she offers empathy and expertise. Whether you’re a patient in need or a doctor seeking a reliable referral, Premier Endodontics is your go-to source for dental pain and root canal emergencies.

Home Far Away

A Curated Collection of Hotels That Feel Like Home

ARTICLE BY KALI MCNUTT

Travel brings me the most joy, inspiration, energy and confidence so I decided to spend the last year making it a priority. Fifteen new-to-me cities and some lifelong loves (read: Paris) left me with a thought: chic hotels abound, but a property that evokes a sense of true well-being

Casa Polanco

Mexico City, Mexico

CASAPOLANCO.COM | @CASA_POLANCO

Upon arrival: A hibiscus mezcalitas cocktail is a must. Stunning architecture and all the five-star perks (clothes pressed? Check. Private airport shuttle? Check. Dyson Airwrap with all the trimmings? That, too.) What can be an overwhelming megacity is made extraordinarily peaceful behind the imposing iron gates and verdant entry of Casa Polanco, a neocolonial mansion situated on Parque Lincoln in Mexico City’s upscale Polanco neighborhood. Discreet, airy and bright, Casa Polanco is an ideal long-weekend escape for friends or couples. It’s a serene and sophisticated stay within walking distance of some of the city’s best shopping (Ikal Concept Store and Lago LATAM) and an eight-minute walk from dining mecca Pujol.

Auberge de la Maison

Courmayeur, Italy

AUBERGEMAISON.IT/EN/ | @AUBERGEDELAMAISON

On the Italian side of Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) lies the upscale foodie ski village of Courmayeur, and five minutes from the heart of Courmayeur rests the sleepiest of hamlets, Entrèves, where the star of the show—and perhaps all of the Aosta Valley—is the 33-room Auberge de la Maison. Layered Alpine-chic snugs create fairytale-cozy communal spaces where crackling fires glow aplenty. Excellent local wines and cheeses are a mainstay at the hotel’s renowned L’Aubergine restaurant, which serves standout fondues and polenta with a focus on local.

in guests is more elusive. It isn’t any one quality, but rather—for me, at least—a combination of scale, design, décor, ease and a unique viewpoint that makes a hotel sing. Kind, accommodating staff and that amenity most rare in modern hotels—abundant natural light—put a great stay into best-stay territory. Each of these smaller-scale properties evokes that coveted feeling of a luxe home away from home. Whether it’s a refreshing towel and homemade lemonade after a day of touring temples in Cambodia or a Calimero by a crackling fire after a day on the slopes in Courmayeur, these four properties prioritize absolute comfort, thoughtful design, delicious food and an unmistakably warm character.

Hôtel L’Eldorado

Paris, France

To my delight, I was once told by a born-and-bred Parisian that I know the city better than most locals. A badge of honor earned after a formative year spent in and around the city, exploring every off-the-tourist-path nook and cranny. One neighborhood I love is Batignolles. For me, it’s the perfect blend of convenience and authenticity. Forget influencers and bucket-list-checking first-timers; Batignolles is local. You’ll likely be the only non-native French speaker when dining in L’Eldorado’s lush (and popular) courtyard restaurant. Spacious rooms drenched in House of Hackney floral wallpaper are maximalist perfection, enveloping and warm. Large balconies provide a private perch to enjoy morning coffee or apéro overlooking the courtyard, while soaking tubs beckon beneath windows that actually open, making this hotel a Parisian dream come true.

Maison Polanka

Siem Reap, Cambodia

As first-timers to Southeast Asia, my childhood friend and I weren’t sure how much time to allot to each stop as we sojourned from Vietnam through Cambodia and on to Thailand. Knowing Cambodia was a favorite of a few trusted friends, we decided to make our stop in Siem Reap one of our lengthier stays. It wasn’t nearly enough time. A family home turned boutique hotel, Maison Polanka is the definition of quiet (literal and figurative) luxury. Traditional Khmer raised houses feature carefully curated collections of art, midcentury furniture and local handicrafts, reflective of the French-Cambodian proprietors’ exquisite taste.

You won’t be searching for your key card to access elevator banks, and you can forget about navigating endless carpeted hallways. What to expect? Little moments, like the property owner sitting down to note her favorite local boutiques and restaurants.

Budget for the pesky flight change fees—you’ll want to linger at these gems long past checkout.

Kali McNutt is the publisher of Birmingham Lifestyle magazine and a lifelong seeker of experiences that inspire, whether through travel, design or the stories that connect them.

THE ART OF THE MODERN KITCHEN

How Forest Kitchen Design Blends European Craftsmanship with Specialized Function

ARTICLE BY CARROLL WALTON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARTER WADE

Forest Kitchen Design has a reputation for creating stunning kitchens and the portfolio to prove it. Their work is a marvel in modern design, celebrating sleek finishes, disappearing hardware and the latest in European cabinetry, appliances and style. They create uncanny elegance in rooms built for food prep, or as co-founder Joel Linn says, “where you make the fire.”

Linn learned all about cutting-edge kitchen design growing up in Destin, Fla., where his Aunt Sherrie and Uncle John Linn started an award-winning kitchen design firm in the 1980s. They were among the first to introduce granite and marble countertops in properties throughout exclusive Seaside, Alys and Rosemary Beaches. Linn discovered his lifelong passion working an after-school job emptying trash cans and cleaning eraser residue off designers’ draft boards in Linn’s Prestige Kitchen showroom.

After college, he joined Forest Millwork in Asheville and eventually split off to launch Forest Kitchen Design in Greenville, S.C. There, in central South Carolina, is where his appreciation for European kitchen craftsmanship grew. Greenville serves as a home base for German companies like BMW, Bosch Rexroth and the French company Michelin. Greenville is also where Linn joined forces with co-designer Todd Mercer, who spearheaded the opening of Forest Kitchen Design’s Charlotte showroom in 2024.

Both Linn and Mercer love to cook. They say ultimately it’s a kitchen’s function that matters most.

“We want a design to be beautiful,” Linn says. “We want the proportions to be scaled perfectly. And we want it to be a very usable kitchen.”

That’s why he and Mercer spend an extended amount of time getting to know their clients in their own kitchens, peppering them with questions as they plan the designs.

One client loved to bake bread, so they designed his kitchen island with the eating surface at standard height, and at his hip height, an area perfect for kneading dough.

“It’s much more of a collaborative design approach, which is honestly way more fun,” Mercer says.

One grandmother presented them a quandary because she had little room in her kitchen for an island, but she wanted a surface for baking cakes with her grandchildren. Linn designed a smaller counter-height island where an eat-in kitchen table would have been. They created a more spacious feel by using a cabinet-integrated subzero refrigerator and still managed to incorporate a two-oven Wolf range.

“She uses the island all the time,” Linn says. “Every now and then, I get a picture of her cooking something. Sometimes she brings us something that she cooked.”

That’s the ultimate compliment, he says.

“Where you make the food is where people are going to gather,” Linn says. “It is naturally the most lived-in living space you could be in. Everybody has memories built around being fed good food, even if it’s simple, even if it’s chicken soup or mac and cheese.”

Mercer says their attention to detail remains the same whether they’re working on a modern or traditional kitchen, a $35,000 remodel or a $30 million home like one belonging to a client in Lake George, N.Y.

“Where you make the food is where people are going to gather,” Linn says. “It is naturally the most lived-in living space you could be in.”

The homeowner wanted to add a scullery where seconds could be prepared for her grandchildren even after dinner was served. She wanted a Gaggenau cooktop with gas, induction and an electric grill all in one unit. Forest Kitchen Design also installed an exposed rail, like one professional chefs use, where she could hang accessories like knife blocks, spice racks, paper towel holders and recipes, keeping them all off the countertop.

“We want a kitchen that’ll work for her,” Linn says. “And we don’t want to sacrifice the beauty as well.”

Family Owned & Operated

Proudly Serving Patients Since 1978

Led by twins Dr. Justin Hannon and Dr. Stephanie Hannon Stauning, Hannon Orthodontics is built on exceptional care and personal treatment oversight. The Hannons have been serving patients across the Charlotte metro region since 1978 when their father began practicing in Gastonia.

If You Eat One Thing

How DŌZO Turns a Humble Staple Into a Signature Dish

Chefs Perry Saito and John Gamble keep stepping up their game, from opening their popular food truck Katsu Kart in 2021, to moving to a 12-seat restaurant tucked inside The City Kitch in Wesley Heights. At the end of January they opened DŌZO Japanese-American Kitchen with a larger restaurant space in the heart of Dilworth.

It’s hard to go wrong while ordering from this menu, but if there’s one dish to start with, let it be the Crab Fried Rice.

“Good fried rice has so many factors to make it the right way, and it has always been shoved down to the side dish section of menus,” Saito says. “We wanted to make it stand out on its own and make the most ‘baller’ fried rice, while not losing our minds and just throwing truffles or A5 [wagyu] at it.”

Most importantly, Chef Saito credits the use of quality koshihikari rice. “Then,” he says, “we load it with crispy braised pork belly, local Urban Gourmet Farms mushrooms, fresh blue crab and lace it with crab fat butter we make with crab roe sourced from South Carolina. To finish it, we drop a couple of ounces of sake-washed ikura on top.”

“Good fried rice has so many factors to make it the right way, and it has always been shoved down to the side dish sections of menus.”

ARTICLE BY ALLIE PAPAJOHN |

“When we first started talking about DŌZO City Kitch, I thought the one menu item we needed the most...is fried rice,” says Saito, a fourth generation restaurant worker who grew up in his father’s sushi bar.  He teamed up with Gamble, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America-Hyde Park.

DŌZO Japanese-American Kitchen I 1419 East Blvd., Suite A.

FGF Interiors specializes in crafting bespoke residential and commercial environments that capture their unique essence. Every project is a personalized journey, balancing style, comfort, and exceptional quality to transform your vision into a vibrant, livable reality.