A Richly Layered Lowcountry Study

Get the look: Material world

Throughout the home Whitley’s playful blending of textures and darker tones was used to drive an aesthetic that tweaked the traditional. Moving away from the lights and neutrals that have come to dominate design, she sprinkled in eye-catching light fixtures and wove together patterns to create a home at the intersection of tradition and modernity.

In this office those contrasts are used to create an atmosphere of quiet comfort, with a more masculine color palette.

“This is the husband’s office, but in the evening this is where they hang out and watch TV,” said designer Lisa Whitley of J. Banks Design. “I would call this color drenching. We have the same darker chocolate color on all of the walls, the cabinets and the trim, so it’s a very masculine space that feels much darker in the evening.”

That said, there were plenty of opportunities to introduce contrasting texture, and Whitley took all of them. On the ceiling, a wide patch of pecky cypress lends visual intrigue above a light fixture of brass and banker green. On the floor, reclaimed wood unites the room’s overall aesthetic with the rest of the house. And at the center of it all, a bold custom-built desk makes a statement.

“That was custom made. We found a nice slab of walnut, and a local supplier gave it that mitered cut so we could create a waterfall edge to it,” she said. At the far end, a leg of matte black metal reminds us that this is a home of bold materials, blended fearlessly.

And yet it is also a Lowcountry home. And in the Lowcountry we take our scenery very seriously. The wide bank of windows not only frame the scenery, they expand the office. “That leads out to the front courtyard, so we added the door so if you’re on a call, you can walk around outside while you talk,” she said. “It’s nice to have those dark elements to maximize what’s happening outside. Plus, the hallway across from the office is full of windows, so you feel like you’re surrounded by the outdoors.”

Create a bold, inviting office with dark, monochromatic walls, reclaimed wood flooring and layered textures. A custom walnut waterfall-edge desk anchors the space, while sculptural lighting and a camel leather sectional add warmth and style. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the view, blending indoors and out for a refined Lowcountry retreat.