Designing An Elegant Abode For A Pair Of Empty Nesters

Shifting from their child-raising years to grandparenting mode presented a Greenville, South Carolina, couple with the opportunity to try something new. Like many empty nesters, they envisioned life in a smaller house. To make it happen, they called on the duo who had designed their previous residences, Atlanta-based architect Keith Summerour and designer Barbara Westbrook, along with general contractor Ray Foral. While a smaller footprint might have been the home’s impetus, it was the owners’ personal style that ultimately informed its polished elegance. “These aren’t people who slouch,” Westbrook notes. “The wife dresses impeccably and has a terrific sense of style.”

A French-inspired entry courtyard at the front of the property first signals the abode’s sophistication, followed by a light-flooded gallery foyer with windows on all sides. “We wanted you to enter that space and feel like you’re floating through the house,” remarks Summerour, who was assisted by project manager DJ Betsill. Given the dwelling’s thin profile, the kitchen and living areas bookend one side of the gallery, with the primary suite at the other. From the entryway, “You see straight through to the rear courtyard,” the architect points out.

Westbrook, working with senior project designer Amanda Leibson, kicked off the home’s design in her customary fashion by selecting lighting first, including nickel and brass pendants for the gallery. “It’s important to have lighting that’s interesting and tells the story of the house,” she says. The story she narrates here is one of refinement.