My Houzz: Pretty Tropical Touches in South Carolina
Beachy art, rattan seating and gold finishes give the rooms a sunny vibe
Margaret Wright
April 26, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Interior and lifestyle photographer based in Charleston, SC.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Kirk and Katie Shields and their 1-year-old daughter, Pace
Size: 3,500 square feet (325 square meters); five bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Year built: 2017
Woven textures, beach prints and tropical-patterned wallpapers are some of the decorating details Katie Shields used to make the Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, home she shares with husband Kirk and daughter Pace feel like a boutique hotel.
Katie, owner of a local eco-friendly nail salon, Mylkbar, draws decorating inspiration from her travels to more than 20 countries. “My favorite thing to do when I travel is go seek out cool hotel lobbies to grab drinks in,” she says. “These hotels in Europe and South America and Mexico have such different decor than we’re used to seeing in the United States.”
Who lives here: Kirk and Katie Shields and their 1-year-old daughter, Pace
Size: 3,500 square feet (325 square meters); five bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Year built: 2017
Woven textures, beach prints and tropical-patterned wallpapers are some of the decorating details Katie Shields used to make the Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, home she shares with husband Kirk and daughter Pace feel like a boutique hotel.
Katie, owner of a local eco-friendly nail salon, Mylkbar, draws decorating inspiration from her travels to more than 20 countries. “My favorite thing to do when I travel is go seek out cool hotel lobbies to grab drinks in,” she says. “These hotels in Europe and South America and Mexico have such different decor than we’re used to seeing in the United States.”
The Shields home was built in 2017 by The Biggers Co. with architectural plans drawn by Rush Dixon. The L-shaped home was designed to embrace its surroundings on the edge of a marsh. Katie added decor that would inspire the feeling of being at a beachside bungalow in Tulum, Mexico, a town on the Yucatán Peninsula. Tulum is one of Katie’s favorite cities as it’s where she and Kirk got married.
In the kitchen, plentiful windows create a bright and airy feel and envelop the room in stunning views. “The kitchen is our most special room,” Katie says.
An extra-large custom island adds storage space and is a favorite spot for the family to eat together or for Katie to work on projects such as flower arrangements or framing. The couple extended the island’s original planned size by an extra foot, and Katie says it was worth it.
Beehive chandeliers: Selamat Designs; half-circle table: One of a Find; Riviera counter stools: Serena & Lily
In the kitchen, plentiful windows create a bright and airy feel and envelop the room in stunning views. “The kitchen is our most special room,” Katie says.
An extra-large custom island adds storage space and is a favorite spot for the family to eat together or for Katie to work on projects such as flower arrangements or framing. The couple extended the island’s original planned size by an extra foot, and Katie says it was worth it.
Beehive chandeliers: Selamat Designs; half-circle table: One of a Find; Riviera counter stools: Serena & Lily
Butcher-block open shelving adds practical storage in the absence of upper cabinets, but Katie says that’s just one of the benefits. “I feel like I do dishes more frequently because I’m not having to open and close cabinets,” she says. “And when someone comes over, they don’t ask for a wine glass, they get it themselves. Everyone can come in and find things and be comfortable cooking together. We’re always hosting and I wanted something easy to navigate.”
The Pros and Cons of Upper Kitchen Cabinets and Open Shelves
The Pros and Cons of Upper Kitchen Cabinets and Open Shelves
“I love the view in my kitchen,” Katie says.
Wraparound windows in the dining room provide a waterfront view and flood the room with natural light.
Katie wanted the dining room to feel comfortable enough for the family to share meals together as well as formal enough for a party. The two joggling board benches provide ample seating and are handmade locally by Ryker Restorations. Joggling boards are a centuries-old bouncing bench design that originated in South Carolina. “They remind me of my childhood, bouncing up and down and playing on them. They’ve survived the test of time,” Katie says. Traditionally, the pine boards are painted Charleston green, but Katie chose white for a clean and contemporary look.
Before deciding on the joggling boards, Katie thought about buying a full complement of rattan chairs. Instead, she used two of them to accent the ends of the table.
Rattan chairs and dining table: Celadon; custom joggling board benches: Ryker Restorations; chandelier: Ro Sham Beaux
Katie wanted the dining room to feel comfortable enough for the family to share meals together as well as formal enough for a party. The two joggling board benches provide ample seating and are handmade locally by Ryker Restorations. Joggling boards are a centuries-old bouncing bench design that originated in South Carolina. “They remind me of my childhood, bouncing up and down and playing on them. They’ve survived the test of time,” Katie says. Traditionally, the pine boards are painted Charleston green, but Katie chose white for a clean and contemporary look.
Before deciding on the joggling boards, Katie thought about buying a full complement of rattan chairs. Instead, she used two of them to accent the ends of the table.
Rattan chairs and dining table: Celadon; custom joggling board benches: Ryker Restorations; chandelier: Ro Sham Beaux
In the entryway, a tassel chandelier welcomes guests into the formal sitting room. “I was going for a wow factor to introduce the house,” Katie says.
Industrial storage skinny console: West Elm; Yala mirror and Fela tassel chandelier: Justina Blakeney, Selamat
Industrial storage skinny console: West Elm; Yala mirror and Fela tassel chandelier: Justina Blakeney, Selamat
This sitting room at the front of the house has no TV — rather, it’s designed as a beautiful place for guests to mingle. Katie says the gaucho chairs and wooden beams remind her of a hunting lodge she visited in Argentina. “It’s pairing the hard lines and neutral palette of the room with the blue tufted velvet chesterfield sofa and pink pillows,” she says. “I like a relaxed vibe.”
Tufted sofa: Anthropologie; coffee table and leather chairs: Celadon
Tufted sofa: Anthropologie; coffee table and leather chairs: Celadon
Behind the sofa, a custom sliding barn door painted pink with brass hardware adds a hint of glam.
Door paint: Pink Ground, Farrow & Ball
Door paint: Pink Ground, Farrow & Ball
Across from the kitchen is the family room, though when the couple designed the space it was meant to be the dining area. “I love it so much more now that I can be in the kitchen and people can be watching TV and I don’t feel separated from what’s going on,” Katie says.
Alaina velvet sectional in Dove: Lulu and Georgia; Thad acrylic table: Cost Plus World Market
Alaina velvet sectional in Dove: Lulu and Georgia; Thad acrylic table: Cost Plus World Market
Beach scenes, gold details and tropical plants give the family room a relaxed vibe.
The plush velvet sectional wraps around the edge of the space but remains open to the kitchen. “A lot of designers recommended closing off the kitchen with the back of the sectional, but I love it the way it is because people can connect between the living area and the kitchen and converse,” Katie says.
Pillows: Suite 33; painting (top): Danielle Cather-Cohen; Waikiki surf print (bottom): Teil Duncan
The plush velvet sectional wraps around the edge of the space but remains open to the kitchen. “A lot of designers recommended closing off the kitchen with the back of the sectional, but I love it the way it is because people can connect between the living area and the kitchen and converse,” Katie says.
Pillows: Suite 33; painting (top): Danielle Cather-Cohen; Waikiki surf print (bottom): Teil Duncan
The blue-and-white dotted armchairs swivel to easily accommodate conversation across the room or a movie night.
Console, swivel chairs and woven baskets: Celadon; spun metal standing planters: West Elm
Console, swivel chairs and woven baskets: Celadon; spun metal standing planters: West Elm
The master bedroom’s standout feature is the accent wall covered in banana-leaf-patterned paper. The pattern is the iconic Martinique, which originated at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Katie’s grandmother had the same wallpaper pattern in her home.
Nightstands: West Elm; curved rattan bed: Anthropologie; Tilda chandelier: Arteriors
Nightstands: West Elm; curved rattan bed: Anthropologie; Tilda chandelier: Arteriors
Katie also wanted to achieve an “eco-lodge” feel in the bedroom by pairing distressed wood and other natural elements with the bold wallpaper. A wall-mounted antler doubles as a jewelry display.
Dresser: Celadon
Dresser: Celadon
The master bath features beachy art and Turkish towels combined with the natural stone texture of the chevron-patterned shower tile.
Bathroom Workbook: 8 Elements of Beachy Style
Bathroom Workbook: 8 Elements of Beachy Style
Katie chose gold hardware to contrast the natural textures on the shiplap-style and stone tile walls.
Lanai mirrors: Serena & Lily; wall sconces: Arteriors
Lanai mirrors: Serena & Lily; wall sconces: Arteriors
A fringe chandelier in the walk-in master closet adds to the bright, bohemian vibe.
Fela tassel chandelier: Justina Blakeney, Selamat
Fela tassel chandelier: Justina Blakeney, Selamat
The powder room features a bold tropical-style pineapple-patterned wallpaper.
Wallpaper: Mind the Gap; Lanai mirror: Serena & Lily; wall sconces: Candelabra
Wallpaper: Mind the Gap; Lanai mirror: Serena & Lily; wall sconces: Candelabra
White beaded chandeliers line an all-white hallway.
“I wanted something a little different for Pace’s nursery that she would appreciate and still love as she grew older,” Katie says. Two twin-size beds flank a crib where she currently sleeps.
Beds, dresser and mirror: One of a Find; Sniglar crib: Ikea; open-weave wicker ball pendant: Kouboo; flamingo head wall decor: Target
Beds, dresser and mirror: One of a Find; Sniglar crib: Ikea; open-weave wicker ball pendant: Kouboo; flamingo head wall decor: Target
A simple split-leaf philodendron stem adds a tropical touch on top of a white wicker dresser.
This dried-flower crown adorning a pink hand-painted mirror is a memento from a baby shower celebration for Pace. “I can’t keep plants alive, but I can keep them dead!” Katie says with a laugh.
Katie painted the matching rattan twin beds in a custom pink shade, Jovial by Sherwin-Williams at 50 percent. “I don’t like having too many paint colors throughout my home, so I create a custom color and then tweak it for different uses through the house,” she says.
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
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Sorry, tried feeling the home as appreciate individuality in decor but just found it went in too many directions for me and thus made me feel confused rather than centered.
Very nice and comfortable looking home. As far as the "poisonous" plant in the child's room, it is fake. The owner even stated that she couldn't keep plants alive in the home.
ha ha!! I KNEW that was pink ground before I read it was. I saw it on the internet on a front door..and had to have it! Its nice on the walls too..thanks! Love your house!