J. Banks Design Group Went for Bold in this Mountainside Showroom
A daring mix of materials takes this ‘modern mountain’ showroom to new heights.
Story by Alea Wilkins + PHOTOS by Becca Bond
A room this complex doesn’t come together by chance. To layer striking patterns, textures, vintages and color palettes in an orderly fashion requires precise planning. Intentionality is the name of the game, and Sarah Kowalski, lead designer at J. Banks Design Group, is a pro. For a mountainside showhouse in Cashiers, North Carolina, she transformed the foyer, living room and kitchen into a modern cabinet of curiosities, an exciting blend of rustic materials, safari prints and teal, teal, teal.
“In the case of a designer showhouse, you can go a little more unexpected, a little more bold,” she says. Every corner has a surprise in store: olive cowhide counter stools, reversible throw pillows and copper-hued pottery from a Hilton Head artist all find their place. Bringing together so many distinct elements risks gaudiness, but when thoughtfully curated, the effect is sophisticated and arresting.
“It’s a fine line of finding things that will go together, but I didn’t want the room to be one note. I wanted to find a way to bring in different elements,” she says.
Kowalski’s project exemplifies maximalism at its most refined, not simply a collage of styles but the creation of a new one altogether.
Wow factor
In every corner where convention might call for restraint, Kowalski chooses boldness. The space reads like an elaborate “I Spy” spread. Below sits a poured-glass coffee table; above hang beehive-shaped lanterns crafted from coconut shells. Through careful design, every distinct feature comes into perfect harmony. From the start, Kowalski’s natural inclination toward texture guided her.
“It allows you more freedom and flexibility to pair it with other things because you’re not locked into one tone or material,” she says. The home’s architecture also played a role. Its marble and dark wood finishes inspired her to go modern, though she insists, “I don’t believe modern has to be cold.”
Instead, Kowalski paired rustic pottery with abstract tables and layered cozy rugs beneath sleek ottomans. Like a home that evolves over time, her mix of contrasting pieces reflects a lived-in feel, a more organic arrival to the present rather than a showroom snapshot. “I don’t love things that are perfectly matched,” she says. “I want it to feel collected, not like someone designed and purchased it all at once.”
The result feels alive. The lily pad coffee tables, named for their rounded tiers, suggest gatherings such as game nights, where every drink needs a spot, or family reunions where generations mingle and disperse. On the backs of the counter stools, Kowalski tied small teal tassels as her stylistic signature. It’s a subtle touch, but to her, it completes the story.
“It’s down to the fine details,” she says. “They may seem subtle at first, but people appreciate that next level.”
Here every piece is purposeful. Deliberate decision-making brings chaos into cohesion, and there’s a method to maximalism. When done strategically, design doesn’t follow rules. It makes them.
