6 min readThere’s a classic look most mountain homes have—rustic finishes, wood-paneled walls, stone fireplaces. This forested weekend retreat, however, does not fall into that category.
In the incredibly lush setting of Roaring Gap, North Carolina, Louise Copeland’s clients found a home that could technically handle the planned gatherings of their many friends and family in terms of square footage, but it didn’t exactly fit the more modern design aesthetic the family of five desired.
“Roaring Gap is an old and quite traditional mountain community in North Carolina, while the clients have a more contemporary sensibility,” Copeland, founder of L.B. Copeland Interior Design, tells House Beautiful. While the home itself didn’t call for a super sleek look—it would’ve felt very out of place considering the traditional exterior—the designer still wanted to create an interior that felt true to her clients, was durable enough to handle their three young children and puppy, and felt connected to its surroundings.
Not a single space in the three-bedroom house was left untouched. Before any cosmetic changes could be made, Copeland had to redesign some of the awkward spaces to create a more functional layout. The old laundry room, a hallway, and a guest bathroom were reconfigured to fit in a proper laundry room and larger ensuite bathroom, while some openings were closed and others were enlarged to improve the overall flow. “We added a screened porch, which created a beautiful outdoor living space, and rebuilt all of the millwork throughout the house,” Copeland says. “Every room was updated with new lighting, paint, wallpaper, furnishings, and finishes.”
The long main living room was a bit of a puzzle to lay out, according to Copeland, as the octagonal windows on one side and curved steps on the other made it difficult to fit in the amount of seating her clients wanted while maintaining its openness. “We needed a large seating area for entertaining, a piano that is used daily, and a games table by the window, all while preserving the mountain views,” she explains. Using a very nature-inspired color palette that embraced browns and neutrals to keep everything grounded, Copeland was able to make this communal space comfortable, inviting, and airy without it feeling like a furniture show house.
Her clients needed space for a long table to host everyone, but the original formal dining area was being transformed into a multifunctional family and breakfast room, so Copeland and the architectural team at Greg Koester Design knocked down a few beams in the foyer to create a combination dining room and entryway. To warm up the space, rather than bring in a nice large rug that would likely get dirty from kids running in and out of the house with muddy boots from the nearby lake and woods, Copeland hired Madison Mauck Ellis of Mauck Made Art to paint a rug directly on the floor. It’ll wear beautifully and create a space-defining patina as the years go by.
“While we didn’t add square footage to the main house, it was a complete transformation,” Copeland says. She mixed traditional pieces with more contemporary items that invited a slightly funky spin on the mountain house aesthetic, like purple spool chairs in the bedroom and a vintage McGuire bamboo gaming table in the living room. “That balance is what I love most: it feels rooted in place without feeling expected.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Louise Copeland of L.B. Copeland Interior Design
Architect: Gregory Koester Design
Location: Roaring Gap, North Carolina
The Space: A 3-bedroom mountain home spanning 3,500 square feet
LIVING ROOM
An old fireplace was closed up to accommodate more seating.
There used to be a fireplace in this long living room, but Copeland’s clients opted to close it up for a better flow and more seating. It’s now home to a piano, a vintage game table, and numerous seating areas to accommodate the family and their guests. Since it’s so vast, the room supports many different uses, and plenty of people can sit and relax in the space.
LOUNGE
With a pull-out couch, this space doubles as a flex room.
Though the lounge can easily serve as another sitting area, Copeland designed it to be a bit more closed-off and private when necessary. “We added pocket doors from the kitchen so that, when needed, it can function as an office or additional bedroom,” she says. “Most of the time, it’s a lounge where the kids can relax and watch a movie after a day of outdoor activities.”
FAMILY ROOM
The most heavily used multipurpose space.
Previously the formal dining room, this area is now the most frequented space in the home. With a custom sectional, a casual breakfast nook, and a place to gather around the fireplace, it’s such an integral part of the entire design.
DINING ROOM
A hand-painted “rug” brings the wow-factor.
With a bold painted rug that’ll patina with age, this dining space-entryway combo immediately clues visitors into the unique design aesthetic of the home. The center table can expand into a 10-seater ideal for dinner parties, and much of the room is designed to make hosting a breeze, too.
“We removed the old millwork and replaced it with a hidden wine fridge, a serving sideboard, and open storage for the client’s beautiful glassware,” Copeland explains.
KITCHEN
Pocket doors provide separation between spaces.
Though Copeland recognizes that this isn’t the expected way of doing things, she and her team actually ended up closing off the kitchen from the rest of the house rather than opening it up, which tends to be what clients typically want. “We closed skylights that were in disrepair and added more overhead lighting, closed up a large opening into the room to add storage, and added pocket doors on one end to differentiate the space from the family room beyond,” she says.
Since there isn’t much overflow space, she closely focused on ensuring each drawer and cabinet provided a place for every utensil and tool necessary, avoiding open shelving and incorporating an appliance garage to keep the countertops beautifully tidy.
“I love how the vibrant Waterworks tile and the floral linen behind the metal mesh on the upper cabinets play together,” Copeland adds. “Those details make this simple galley kitchen much more interesting.”
FLEX BATHROOM
Brass details act as jewelry.
Though this bathroom serves as the full bath for the flex space, with a tub and everything, Copeland designed it to have a powder room feel, with a moody botanical wallpaper, brass details, and a bold floor. “We wanted it to feel fun and sophisticated, but also highly functional,” she says.
PRIMARY SUITE
A serene color palette blends with the outdoors.
The palette in this calming retreat is inspired by the many hues present in the view just outside the window. Though it’s sophisticated, it doesn’t feel too traditional or stuffy, especially with the modern floral draperies.
GUEST ROOM
Multiple patterns harmoniously collide while maintaining a soothing color palette.
Though this is a guest bedroom, the designer knew it needed to be just as beautiful as any other space. It’s located directly off the main family room area, so it couldn’t look boring or plain.
BUNK ROOM BATHROOM
Geometric details on the mirror add a youthful air.
Along with the bedroom, the designer kept the bunk room’s bathroom more timeless in design too, even though it’s mostly kids who are currently using it. She brings in a funky touch with the geometric mirror from Lulu and Georgia, but kept the rest of the space elevated and simple.
BUNK ROOM
A cool color palette keeps this space timeless.
With a twin-over-queen bunk and a twin-sized single bed with a trundle underneath, this guest bunk room can comfortably sleep five. While this was designed for the kids and their friends, Copeland’s clients “wanted it to double as a potential grown-up room for adults-only weekends.” She kept the color palette cool and elevated and didn’t bring in any overly juvenile decor.
GUEST BATHROOM
A simple layout reinforces the relaxed vibe of the home.
Copeland didn’t want anything too fussy when it came to the bathroom designs, so she kept a lot of similar themes throughout each one. Colors vary only slightly, and the simple layouts are essentially the same across all of them, including this serene guest bath.
SUNROOM
With the fireplace, this becomes a year-round room.
This porch was one of the best additions Copeland made to the mountain house. This area of the state can get pretty cold in the winter, so to ensure her clients could take in the beauty of their surroundings all year long, she installed a wood-burning fireplace and multiple space heaters. Especially during the summer and the fall, she explains, this communal room gets used most of all.
About the Designer
Louise Copeland is the leader of L.B. Copeland Interior Design, where she creates homes for her clients through a traditional eye with an eclectic flair. Her design process is shaped by her nomadic spirit, her time spent in New York City and San Francisco, and working with esteemed designer Steven Gambrel. While she’s based in North Carolina, her reach spans the nation, and she frequently works on projects in other states.
