When you love your neighborhood, but your house is less than inspiring, what can you do? For an Asheville, NC, family of four, the answer was hiring interior designer Liz Hackett of Liz Hackett Interiors to completely reimagine the space. With years of interior design experience and a deep understanding of the construction process, the family trusted Hackett to bring their home out of the 1990s and into the modern era.

BEFORE:

Kitchen with wood cabinetry, an island with open dish shelves, and a tall arched window over the sink.

“The bones of the house were dated. No matter what furnishings could be put into the space, the architectural style of the home was still stuck in the 1990s,” shares Hackett. A segmented, choppy floor plan was reconfigured
to be open and functional by adjusting the layout of the kitchen and mudroom. “A well-designed space needs to be beautiful, inviting, and most of all liveable,” she explains. “That was a guiding principle of the project. Nothing could be too fussy or untouchable.”

Bright white kitchen with a marble island, wooden stools, and brass pendant lights.

Shiplap painted in Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore brings a textural punch to the front of the peninsula. A champagne bronze faucet by Brizo matches the hardware by Lew’s Hardware, an inexpensive option for a brushed brass finish. The brass is carried through to the light fixtures in the kitchen and eating area, both by Visual Comfort.

Bright white kitchen with a round wood dining table, black chairs, and tall glass doors.

In the living room, the space was completely transformed by lowering the ceilings. “The ceiling had weird angles and screamed 1990s,” shares Hackett.

​​​​​​​BEFORE:

Traditional living room with dark leather sofas, a white fireplace, and an ornate gold mirror.

By lowering and leveling the ceiling to one flat plane, the overall space actually feels larger and less disjointed.

Furnished living room with a patterned fireplace, oval mirror, dark sofa, and tall bright windows.

The newly designed fireplace became the focal point with detailed trim, brass sconces, and a patterned black and white tile. “The homeowner fell in love with this pricey tile, so we used it in a space that was visually impactful, but stayed affordable given the small square footage needed,” says Hackett.

Living room with a geometric tiled fireplace, round mirror, and black wire lounge chair.

For the furnishings, the owners trusted Hackett’s simple, classic, and clutter-free signature style. A comfortable sectional in a dark navy performance fabric with a herringbone stitch grounds the space. The coffee table from World Market brings in a touch of brass and the rounded edges pair nicely with the sectional. The black rattan chair, nesting tables, and round mirror on the mantle are from one of our favorite Asheville design stores, Dwellings.

Living room with a charcoal sectional, glass-and-brass coffee table, pale rug, and tall grandfather clock.

Hackett’s advice for choosing pieces for your own home? Stick with the classics that you will love forever, and don’t worry about finding the “perfect” piece. She explains, “There is always more than one good choice. Don’t be overwhelmed—find something that you love and hopefully you’ll love it forever.”

House tour card with designer Liz Hackett and details about a 2,800-square-foot 1990s home in Asheville.

To connect with Hackett, visit lizhackettinteriors.com

We shared this story with you in our Spring/Summer 2020 Issue of NEST Magazine. To view the full issue, click here.

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