Surgeon couple's 1920s Neoclassical house in South Carolina, US | Home & Decor Singapore

By Karine Monie - 14 Jan 2024

Moe Draz, founder of Architrave Interior Design, shared how he revived this apartment nestled in an award-winning building with colorful modern art, European antiques and wallcoverings.

In the lively South of Broad historic district in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, in the United States, sits a neoclassical building originally designed by architect David B. Hyer in 1922, opening one year later as a vocational school.

Walls in grass cloth by Innovations in Wallcoverings. Lantern by Formations. Rug, Antique Oushak. Custom Window treatments in Holland & Sherry. Slipper Chair covered in Schumacher fabric.

Since then, this remarkable structure that embodies the rich heritage of the region has undergone a transformative journey.

In the early 2000s, it was reimagined to house 27 upscale apartments — including this one — and received the esteemed Carolopolis Award from the Preservation Society of Charleston. For Moe Draz, founder of Architrave Interior Design, working on such a project was a very special opportunity.

Walls, venetian plaster by Kristen Bunting. Window treatments, custom embroidered by Holland & Sherry Interiors.

Walls, Venetian Plaster by Kristen Bunting. Window treatments, custom embroidered by Holland & Sherry Interiors.

“I have always admired the building’s scale and architecture,” he confesses. Ed and Karen, a husband and wife duo of former surgeons, trusted Moe to transform their approximately 280 sqm (3,013 sq ft), 2-bedroom apartment that features large steel windows and 4m high ceilings.

19th Century lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary. 19th Century giltwood chandelier. Pair of antique gilt chairs. Oushak Rug from Mattar.

19th C. lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary. 19th C. giltwood chandelier. Pair of antique gilt chairs. Oushak Rug from Mattar.

“The project took about two years from start to finish,” remembers Moe.

“In keeping with the historic nature of the building and the couple’s love for antiques, we employed high quality traditional materials, like traditional casework, wood floors, marble, plaster walls and natural fiber textiles such as silks, wools and cottons.”

19th Century Fruitwood table. Custom bench covered in Fortuny fabric. Pair of Italian painted chairs in Fortuny fabric. Custom Mural by Gracie Studio.

19th C. Fruitwood table. Custom bench covered in Fortuny fabric. Pair of Italian painted chairs in Fortuny fabric. Custom Mural by Gracie Studio.

Walls in Gracie Studio Silk. Hand stenciled floor by Kristen Bunting. Pair of Louis XVI Jansen Console Tables. Brass lamps By Vaughan Designs. 19th Century Painted Italian bench.

Walls in Gracie Studio Silk. Hand stenciled floor by Kristen Bunting. Pair of Louis XVI Jansen Console Tables. Brass lamps By Vaughan Designs. 19th C. Painted Italian bench.

Traditional wallpapers were also key to bring this home to life.

“We wanted them to be classic enough to blend with the homeowners’ collection of antiques while not looking dated,” says the interior designer. In the long entrance hall, the yellow paper backed silk by Gracie Studios makes the space feel bright.

Wall Covering by Brunschwig and Fils. Faucet by Waterworks. Sink by Stone Forest. Marble floors by Materials Marketing.

A similar effect is achieved with the chartreuse yellow grass cloth in the sun room. In the breakfast room, the 18th-century inspired chinoiserie landscape mural — also by Gracie Studios — was customized to reflect the surroundings while in the powder room, the Bird And Thistle patterned wallpaper by Brunschwig & Fils is based on an 18th-century English textile that was originally printed in red on cream cotton.

Wall covering by Lewis & Wood. Custom painted millwork by Kristen Bunting. Wall lighting by Urban Archeology. Faucets and fittings by Waterworks.

A chevron patterned woven wallpaper that is reminiscent of tweed menswear fabric adorns the library; a classic English damask wallpaper by Zoffany was chosen for the primary bedroom and a Lewis & Wood wallcovering based on a painting by British decorative artist Adam Calkin stands out in the primary bath.

Antique chandelier from 1930s, Lombardy, Italy. Wall covering by Zoffany. Window shade fabric by Holland & Sherry. Bed by Alfonso Marina. Bed linens by Matouk.

The couple’s extensive collection of modern art and European antiques sets the tone in every room of the apartment, from the foyer with a Biedermeier chest, wall sconce by Vaughan Designs and a pair of Louis XV inlay chairs to the living room with an 18th-century chandelier from Italy, a bespoke sofa in Fortuny velvet with trim by Houlès and a pair of antique French Empire chairs, among many other outstanding vintage and antique features throughout the home.

“I felt that the stately entry hall of the apartment, the scale of the rooms and client’s collection called for an elevated atmosphere reminiscent of a grand Parisian or New York City apartment,” says Moe Draz. “I think we achieved that.”

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Surgeon couple's 1920s Neoclassical house in South Carolina, US | Home & Decor Singapore