Get inspired by Southern Living’s Stunning and Innovative 2017 Idea House: A Private Dream Island Retreat Tour with Delta Faucet

Let the truth be told, a majority of a blogger’s career is spent in front of a computer but once in a blue moon a dream opportunity knocks at your door!  Last week, I was so fortunate to be invited by my friends at Delta Faucet to experience a private tour of the stunning and innovative Southern Living’s 2017 Idea House located on the exclusive resort island of Bald Head Island, North Carolina. It was a DREAM whirlwind 48 hours and I’m excited to share all my inspirations all with you. (image above via Southern Living)

You Had Me at Front Door

It’s safe to say that I’m ready to tear my house down and build a replica of this 3,281 square-foot, 3 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home designed by Mosher Design Group and built by Whitney Blair Custom Homes.  This home is nestled in a treed Southern Living Community and backs up the the Island’s only public park. It’s bright and airy with 10 foot ceilings and exudes loads of maritime southern charm. Let’s peek inside the Southern Living’s Idea House Coastal Cottage…

Old Meets New

Once in the front door, I was immediately welcomed by a tall, spacious, warm and inviting great room. Southern Living’s Idea House enlisted builder Jeff Sanderson wanted to create a “feel good” comfortable home and he did just that! Interior designer Lindsay Coral Harper spared no expense when it came to designing and decorating this beauty.  A mix of natural layers and vintage antique wicker, rattan and brass meets whimsical bold colors and patterns that immediately captivates you.

Warm neutral colors with pops of coastal bright colors create this unpretentious space. In the dining area, vintage wicker barrel back chairs are paired with a new dining table. Organic soft fabrics and warm natural fibers compliment the geometric pattern play of the Southern Living’s Idea House great room’s sitting area. A large octagonal mirror reflects all the natural light and the gorgeous gilded iron and glass statement lantern.

House Headquarters  

In the center of the house Mosher strategically placed the state of the art custom cook’s kitchen. The soft cream painted cabinets, exposed floor boards from the second floor and large opening to the second-floor makes this the “Heart of the Home”.  Illuminating this stunning space is a large custom coral chandelier that hangs from the center upstairs open balcony area. The bright coral complements the island pendants. Chartreuse colored counter chairs and framed native grasses art add just the right amount of tropical island flair. (image below via Southern Living)

Barefoot Optional

Don’t worry about bringing the dirt inside. Builder Jeff Sanderson used 150 year old reclaimed 12 inch floor boards from the Wilson Tobacco Factory throughout the entire first floor.  With a light sanding and oiling these floor can withstand any dirt and traffic and will still look beautiful for another 100+ years.

Soft neutral painted cabinets, sand colored quartz counters and unfussy window coverings allow for the windows, lighting, hardware, and plumbing to take center stage. Lindsay Harper chose the Delta Essa single handle pull down faucet in Venetian bronze finish. It’s sleek lines with Touch20 Technology allows easy access to the covered back porch and dining area through the large bifold windows.

Parks, Porches, Patio & Dining Al Fresco

Spanning the entire back of the house is a covered porch with an outdoor kitchen. “Open up all the sliding doors and windows and the walls become transparent,” says architect Eric Mosher. Large windows and doors blur the lines between the scenic outdoors and in.

Looking out over the park is an open air gathering space where more vintage wicker and ratan are paired with all weather teakwood outdoor furniture. Lindsay used accents of lime green and coral to add color and a festive island vibe.

Chillin’ and Grillin’

Tucked in the back corner is a super shiny & uber efficient outdoor kitchen decked out with all the bells and whistles. In the center is the stainless steel grill and hood that brings your eye up. Charcoal painted cabinetry house a beverage cooler, additional stove, pot filler, hide-a-way blender and a convenient bar sink. What more could any porch party need?

Easy access to the kitchen, pantry and back wet bar are right through the large glass side door. The Cassidy Single Handle pull down faucet in arctic stainless steel matches the commercial stove and other commercial grade appliances.

Turquoise Tranqulity

This home has not one but TWO master bedrooms. The first floor master suite is filled with warm wood antique furniture, vintage carpets, hand painted seagrass wallcovering, original art, luxurious  Matouk linens, and an opulent Tilda crystal chandelier by Arteriors. A light blue ceiling painted in Sherwin Williams Embellished Blue SW 6749 evokes an island Summer sky. Even Ernest Hemingway would be impressed.

Reminiscent of older homes are the cozy nooks and intimate spaces.  There are no long boring hallways. I fell in LOVE with all the built-in bookcases and open shelving located in between every room. No space was unused making these shelves a functional place to showcase art, books, souvenirs and all things pretty.

Magnificent Master Bath

“The 497 pound 9 foot clear glass shower wall almost didn’t make it,” said Jeff Sanderson. Can you imaging this single piece glass coming by truck, then ferry, and then through the tree canopied roads and making it in one piece? It was a feat but this master bath is by far one of the most beautiful rooms in the home.  The clear glass divides the room and frames out the massive shower decked out with Delta’s Cassidy Raincan Shower heads with H2Okinetic technology. Hand painted concrete tiled floors, gorgeous quartz counters and bright white tiled shower walls rival any five star spa.

Lindsay Harper chose the Delta Cassidy widespread lever faucets in polished nickel for the master bath making them a perfect companion to the dual hammered sinks.

A Room With A View

Look at this view from the bottom of the stairs. You see just how beautiful the reclaimed wood floor boards are. Builder Jeff Sanderson and architect Eric Mosher talk design and future projects.

Floral Floors

The upstairs walls serve as a gallery for original art and photography. Harper hired an artist to hand paint the floor with a lattice pattern and green free form leaf silhouettes. Each leaf directs your to another room.

Above the outdoor porch seating area is a more intimate screened-in sleeping porch with large sliders.

Swings brings me back to my childhood. Every house should have a one. Mixed striped, floral, and tasseled accents pillows dress up the wicker daybed, rattan swings, and game table. A bright yellow woven rug anchors this fun relaxed tree house inspired outdoor space.

Kid’s Quarters

Opposite the covered porch is a bright cheerful guest bedroom filled with more vintage bamboo wicker, desk, and 2 twin upholstered beds. These playful pieces all sitting on top of dark green painted floor.  Lindsay styled books by color and added colorful whimsical nautical accent.  A girl after my own heart.

Just off the guest bedroom tying into the green floors is an orange and green guest bathroom with whimsical Clementine orange wallpaper and painted evergreen floors.

Mellow Yellow

Rounding out the second floor is the second of the master suites. It happens to be my all-time favorite room. I grew up in the yellow room and always felt that yellow was the most cheery color on the spectrum. Welcoming you as you enter the room is the most beautiful four poster wrapped in seagrass rope. More white crisp linens and coordinating palm accent pillows invite you and to stay more than just one night. The mere symmetry of this room is so comforting.

Love At First Sight

My favorite chair in the whole house happens to come from Lindsay Harper’s personal collection. Right under the front window is a vintage bamboo shell fanned chair with custom cushions. I can see why this chair is not for sale, it was so incredibly comfortable and shaped unlike any other chair I’ve seen. Definitely a show stopper!

More vintage bamboo furniture and accessories round out this dream master bedroom.

The upstairs master bathroom is a bright extra large room equipped with two pedestal sinks and matching Delta Cassidy Widespread two lever handle faucets in venetian bronze. Vintage wicker mirrors complement the large rattan globe light fixture that cast sparkling shadows and highlights on the walls and the Calcutta marble mosaic tile shower.

The Crofter

Little did I know that on Bald Head Island there is a special name for the living quarters above the golf cart garage- a Crofter.  Originally taken from Scotland and England’s small secluded farm workers cottages this island crofter is stocked with private charm, style and amenities. This is the view looking down from the landing as I entered the crofter quarters.

Call it a game room, getaway, guesthouse, anything you want- I’ve never seen so much beauty all in 300 ft.². It’s tiny living at it’s best.  This multipurpose room is jam packed with so much style including it’s own kitchenette, game area and full bath.

Monkey Business

Creating a visual stripe on the crofter walls is a monkey on a vine wallpaper from Cole and Sons Paper. These playful animals serve as the inspiration for the color scheme and matching home decor accents.

Anchoring the crofter is the recessed kitchenette painted in Sherwin Williams Turkish Tile. There’s no missing this cocktail corner. These cabinets painted in any other color just wouldn’t have the powerful impact!

This incredibly chic trundle daybed was covered in a shamrock velvet fabric and dressed with custom made bolsters. The dark turkish tile painted trim brings your eye up and frames out the picturesque front yard down below.

Mirror Mirror On The Window

Never in a million years would I ever think to put a mirror over a window. Lindsay Harper invites you into the all white bathroom with a round leather and rope mirror hung from a vintage pulley. An ash gray quartz counter dresses up the white Welborn vanity. Rounding off the accents are a monkey soap dish and polished nickel  Delta Cassidy widespread fixtures and bath accessories.

During my stay I took hundreds of photos. It was so difficult to narrow them all down! I will be sharing more of my trip including the amazing bed and breakfast that we stayed at in addition to all the gorgeous spots that we stoped on while on a private tour of Bald Head island.

After the tour of the Southern Living’s Idea House, Delta invited us to a private Paint and Sip event in the crofter garage. Below is the painting that I created that I will be randomly giving away in a week to one of you. Simply comment below with what was your favorite inspiration in this gorgeous home.

Thank you for coming along and thank you to Delta Faucet and Southern Living for inviting me on a trip of a lifetime to tour Southern Living’s Idea House. I cannot decide which trip was more inspirational Southern Living’s Idea House or touring HGTV’s Dream Home in Seattle? Follow along with my fellow bloggers for more Bald Head Island inspiration.

Julia Cuckoo 4 Design | Emily Emily A. Clark | Diane In My Own Style

*I have received products from Delta Faucet in exchange for this post. All expressed opinions are 100% mine.