My Charlotte house, mountain cabin, and office contain these colors, which makes moving pieces from one place to another a breeze. When using this neutral color palette, I pay close attention to texture. I also include different shades of black and white. Yes, you can and should use white and cream as well as black and gray together! Applying the same exact shade of black or white can make a space feel very cold and a little too modern. Mixing is important, and patterns are important.

This project is a good example of integrating a neutral palette of textures and patterns. In the large foyer, I incorporated a brass and marble dining table with an oversized floral arrangement to fill that entry void. The large statement piece in front of the glass front door also blocks the view of passersby, providing privacy. Mixed with neutrals in the open dining room and a ceramic stump at a lower level, the space is a cohesive whole.

We mixed a white-on-white patterned paper on the other foyer wall, which is oh-so-subtle behind our client’s black-and-white art piece. A thin console was added to keep the passage open, and we included a fun stoop with a small black-and-white polka-dot pattern. (I love a good accessory under a console or table; that extra layer helps finish a look.) These pieces sit atop a gorgeous tile floor, compliments of Palmetto Tile in Charlotte. Shades of black and white with an abundance of subtle pattern make this room’s design work beautifully.

Lastly, we focused on the dining room. Pattern on pattern on pattern may seem crazy, but when the colors are similar, this technique creates an eye-catching moment when you enter a room. A classic Schumacher Queen of Spain wallpaper was myclient’s must-have. It is very dressy by nature but appears more casual when mixed with a patterned jute rug and a large mixed-media paper art piece by Keith Keim. For added drama, we included a beaded chandelier in dark charcoal. Pattern-filled and detailed, this revamped dining space is meant to be lounged in and begs to be noticed.

BETH CONANT-KEIM is the owner of LUCY AND COMPANY, a full-service interior design firm located at 2108 South Boulevard, Suite 213. For more information, visit LUCYANDCOMPANY.COM or call 704-342-6655.