4 min read“The Golden Rules of Decorating” from House Beautiful’s October 1989 Issue:
“Why do we love certain houses, and why do they seem to love us?” T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings asked in our pages. Here, the answer unfolds over nine years, as a Charlotte, North Carolina, cottage becomes a deeply personal home through thoughtful restoration, meaningful antiques, and an appreciation for what came before.
Stylist Ashley Hotham Cox made a bold decision. She and her family may live in the house next to her parents’ in Charlotte, North Carolina, but that wasn’t always her plan. In fact, it wasn’t her parents’ plan, either. Twelve years ago, Cox’s mother bought her neighbor’s circa-1940s house with plans to eventually extend her own property. However, after purchasing it, her mother discovered a treasure so unique that she decided not only to keep the house but also to invite Cox to move in. “There was a room paneled entirely in rare, now-extinct, wormy chestnut,” Cox raves about the feature that ultimately led her and her husband to move into the charming cottage.
The interiors stylist and former design editor got straight to work tackling structural to-dos, including raising the roofline, adding dormers, and replacing all of the windows. Her mother led the charge on the architectural changes, while Cox handled the interiors. “Together, we polished this natural gem while honoring its historic bones,” Cox says.
In keeping with the house’s age, nearly every room is filled with antiques and vintage pieces. “I love the texture and patina that old objects and furniture offer,” she says. “I can’t stand when a room is filled with nothing but new.” The dining room, outfitted with unique finds ranging from Murano glass to vintage bamboo curtain rods, is where her affinity for age is most on display.
The great room, with the wood paneling that first sold the family on the home, is also brimming with treasures, including a set of slipper chairs, a French armoire, and a Niermann Weeks light fixture. While curating the home took patience, Cox says the final result was worth it. “Just as I’ve evolved, every room has grown and matured into something more elevated,” she explains. “It only took nine short years, but I now feel fully at home.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Ashley Hotham Cox
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
The Space: A four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home across 3,000 square feet
DINING ROOM
High-glossy teal brings the glamour of a bygone era.
A lush color drench helped Cox create the jewel box effect she wanted. “I went with one of my all-time favorite shades, peacock,” she says.
To mix things up, a traditional dining set was traded for a floating banquette with chairs. A collection of vintage and inherited plates decorates the walls.
GREAT ROOM
Vaulted ceilings and wormy chestnut walls make this one of the most special spots in the house.
Eight years after whitewashing the chestnut paneling, Cox reversed her “greatest design mistake.” A team of painters sanded it back, revealing pickled wood that now bridges the home’s two histories.
FAMILY ROOM
Pigmented walls act as the perfect backdrop for Cox’s collection of treasures.
Coated in a glowing Creamsicle orange accented with a strié paint technique, this is a casual spot for quality family time.
STAIRCASE
The climbing gallery wall is constantly evolving with new finds.
An easel showcases kid artwork at the staircase entrance. “I wanted this gallery wall to include emerging and established artists, so I mixed pieces my kids made with ones I had commissioned,” Cox says.
KITCHEN
A triangular tile backsplash brings a graphic, modern edge.
“I always imagined having a French farmhouse-inspired kitchen; this is clearly a departure from that, but sometimes you just have to take a chance and see where it takes you,” Cox says.
POWDER ROOM
An antique mirror adds a touch of patina.
Cox chose a maze-like Kelly Wearstler wallpaper from her “design crush” for the petite washroom. “The graphic print provides just the right movement,” she says.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Plates act as an unexpected artistic accent.
In the primary bedroom, Cox’s many antique finds mingle for a retreat that’s both dynamic and relaxed. A neutral grasscloth wallcovering brings subtle texture.
BOY’S ROOM
Rich brown adds a masculine touch.
After serving as Dad’s attic office and then a playroom, this doorless, closetless, bathroom-free loft became their only son’s bedroom—he hasn’t complained yet.
GIRLS’ ROOM
A candelabra-inspired chandelier matches the drama of the wallpaper.
To make the space feel more spacious, the same artful Pierre Frey pattern was used for walls, ceiling, and windows.
NURSERY
A lucite crib helps the piece fade into the background.
To disguise the wonky roofline and angles of the nursery, Cox opted for a feathered yellow wallpaper by Schumacher. Throughout, modern touches—like a lucite crib—mingle with vintage finds.
About the Designer
Founder and principal of her eponymous content creation firm, Ashley Hotham Cox is an editor, interiors stylist, floral designer, and creative consultant who brings her curatorial eye for design to every element of a project. Having spent the past decade and a half working across the design space for local, regional, and national publications, including FLOWER, Traditional Home, and HD&D magazines, Ashley leverages her editorial point of view into creative direction for interior designers, artists, photographers, and other creatives to tell their story and elevate their footprint.
