COUNTRY CHARM
Check out this pretty, homey, sun-filled South Carolina farmhouse-style kitchen.
If you’ve built a home from scratch,
you know that often it’s as if your dreams are coming to life right before your eyes. In the case of this home and its lovely farmhouse kitchen, it was a dream-come-true for the homeowners and for the builder as well.
Mary Ludemann is the owner and principal designer of Charlotte, North Carolina’s New Old, LLC. Her company builds homes, guides floorplan selections and helps choose lighting, flooring and more. At one time, Mary was an advertising account executive, but her childhood ties to home building arose once more in adulthood.
“My father was a builder, and I grew up with him building our childhood home in phases,” Mary says. When she was newly married, she and her husband decided to build their own home, and she “fell in love” with it. She took a pay cut, learned the trade, became a licensed general contractor and formed her company. She made her dream come true, and now she encourages her clients to reach for the stars too.
A LIFE IN THE COUNTRY
Mary says that when Matt and Alicia Schwartz approached her to build their home, they could already see vividly it in their minds. “The farmhouse was a long-held dream that began when they purchased eight acres of land,” Mary
“The homeowners wanted a bright and sun-filled space where they could hang out and cook together.”… Alicia enjoys texture and “anything that gives a sense of history.”
says. Throughout a year and a half, Mary spearheaded the construction of the Fort Mill, South Carolina, home, which included designing a kitchen fit for a farmhouse.
Mary says, “The homeowners wanted a bright and sun-filled space where they could hang out and cook together.” She adds that Alicia enjoys texture and “anything that gives a sense of history.” Shiplap, exposed brick, two types of countertops and glass elements were woven into the design.
WARM TOUCHES
There is a feeling of home and familiarity in this kitchen, and the fireplace serves as the cozy focal point. The homeowners envisioned comforting meals shared in front of the fire and a soothing spot where they could work on their laptops. The exposed brick, hand-cut by a local mason, makes this kitchen stand out. Mary explains, “The brick wall alongside the range wall was added during construction, as Alicia loved the brick fireplace surround so much that she requested we extend it.”
Matt had a surprise for Alicia that was kept a secret during construction. “Because they love good coffee and they were moving to the country without a Starbucks in sight, Matt added in a special surprise that we took great pains to keep secret from Alicia. Inside the hutch cabinetry to the left of the fridge, he added a Miele built-in coffee/espresso machine,” Mary says. Eventually, Alicia inquired about the mystery built-in in her kitchen and learned the truth. Mary says, “She now adores the coffee maker and couldn’t imagine not having it.”
Mary describes this kitchen best saying, “I love the warmth and inviting charm this kitchen has. The colors and textures just pull you in and invite you to sit and stay a while. It’s such a happy space.”