Southern Living Idea House Tour {Part Two}
- Nancy Lane

- Oct 4
- 4 min read

My love for Southern Living magazine runs very deep. It was first published in 1966 and was the only magazine my Mom had a subscription to, for her whole married life in fact. I remember watching and waiting for the mail to be delivered during the summer so I could get my hands on it first, before my four sisters or even my Mom could read it. I'll never forget walking barefoot through a sea of sandspurs so strategically that it felt like walking through a minefield in our front yard, a walk I'd gladly take to get the coveted first read.
Last fall we went to Charleston to visit the 2024 Southern Living Idea House and it did not disappoint. In case you missed it, you can check out part one to see the downstairs of this gargantuan house but first grab a drink and get ready as we venture upstairs together to peruse the 2024 Southern Living Idea House Tour {Part Two}, the second floor.
Southern Living Idea House 2024
Remember when we last left off downstairs, we were about to ascend the gorgeous stairwell....

Remember the cute mahjong set up at the bottom of the stairs...

Den/ Bar Area
Upstairs on the second level you land in a dutiful den area that did not disappoint with its layer upon layer of texture and pattern from floor to ceiling. Note the wallpaper on the fifth wall...the ceiling, featuring Rebecca Atwood's Carved Ogee Wallpaper in Sand.

You'll also find her fabrics on the drapes, sofa pillows, and ottoman.

All of which offer offer the perfect complement to the paint palette of Sherwin Williams SW6066 Sand Trap in satin finish on the walls with SW6003 Bateau Brown on the trim and cabinetry. Note the "secret" closet to the left of the bar that can hold extra linens or bar accoutrement. The amount of storage in this home is phenomenal.

The bar backsplash tile was absolutely gorgeous. Its called Lungarno Zellige Classique Glazed Terracotta Mosaic in Atlas White/Sahara Rose Tapis by Melcer Tile. I love the look of zelliege tile from afar but if you have OCD like me your eye might twitch a bit if you get too close to the grout lines. You've been warned. Turn your head for this next shot if it bothers you...

Upstairs Primary Bedroom & Bath
In the upstairs primary bedroom, as I said before, I am so in love with the bold choice to do a full wrap wallpaper from walls to ceiling next to the same print in window treatments as drapes and shades. That is not always going to work out, but this room speaks to the art of subtlety! The print is soft, the color isn't overwhelming, and there's plenty of natural light to flood the room and make it feel airy.

The designer's use of layering the same print - Rebecca Atwood's Little Palm Wallpaper (matched to the trim color SW Bateau Brown) on the walls and ceiling as well as all in on the drapery panels and roman shades was bold but not overwhelming. I call it perfection.

They even wrapped the vent cover and light baffle....genius.

The upstairs primary bathroom ensuite is small but mighty...

Sidenote: On an open tour it's hard getting a room to yourself so you just have to take the shot sometimes even if its a crooked one to avoid getting strangers in your shot.

I love the simplicity of the soldier stacked elongated subway tile and the classic marble penny tile on the shower floor. Note the slight curve finish on the backsplash. Details like that matter.

Personally I would prefer a wider niche but with the added bench below it doesn't bother me.

Twin Bedroom & Vestibule

As you make your way down the hall you'll find yourself in the vestibule area just outside the twin bedroom and bath.

The pillows on the bed bring in that small piece of lavender from the living room again, and the blue tone of that nightstand is gorgeous as well, and all tied together in colors in the area rug underfoot. I love it all.

A close up of the Rebecca Atwood wallpaper Bubble Mural in Cloud...with miniature artwork by Mary Maguire.

The twin bathroom surprised me with the undermount double sink layout and twin side mirrors...

I love the look for sure but I do wonder about future functionality when actual homeowners move in. There's not much room on the countertop but for littles who aren't getting dressed on their own by themselves, it might be completely fine.

There is plenty of room however in the walk in shower...


Coffee Vestibule
If we backtrack a bit, as you leave the den area through this arched doorway...


there's a little laundry area to the left...just before you enter the coffee vestibule.

Yes, you read that correctly. The coffee vestibule. It bears repeating. Right outside the Office and Office Bath you'll find the Coffee Vestibule. As a coffee addict, can we just take a pause here and salute the design team for including this important area. That's going on my list for our next house.


Office and Office Bath
For the home tour, what could be a bedroom, was staged as a home office.


With the beautiful bathroom ensuite...

I love a pretty cafe curtain, don't you? The fabric is Emily Dawes Textiles {Hemlock in Frost}. The wall and ceiling paint is Sherwin Williams Greek Villa SW7551 with trim and door painted in SW9647 Soft Sage.


A better view of the tile layout...classic and timeless but with a twist...just the way I like it.

Well, there you have it. The second floor of the 2024 Southern Living Idea House. Stay tuned for part three soon where'll we go outside and over into the carriage house. I promise its worth the wait.
Southern Living Idea House 2024 Design Team
Designer Allison Elebash of Allison Elebash Interior Design,
Architect Kirsten Schoettelkotte of MHK Architecture
Builder Tom Dillard of Dillard-Jones
Landscape Architect Scott Parker of DesignWorks
Styling by Buffy Hargett Miller
And finally, because you know I love you, here is a link to the source guide by room for the 2024 Southern Living Idea House. You're welcome. Thanks for reading!




