A Crestline Cottage Renovation by Mary Coley McMillan

When the McMillans downsized to a Crestline cottage, they called on daughter Mary Coley, a Charlotte-based interior designer, to make the house feel like home.


The open floorplan includes the kitchen, den, and bar. “It was designed to be a lounging area,” Mary Coley explains. “To keep the space accessible, we carved out a niche for a banquette in the Calacatta Viola marble island (Birmingham MarbleWorks). A brass range hood by custom fabricator Bradford & Hines tops a European-sized La Cornue range. The portrait of the family French bulldog, Romeo, is by artist Sarah Helser. Photos by Jean Allsopp, Styling by Morgan Stephenson

Susanne and Tom McMillan had lived in Mountain Brook for a decade when they decided to downsize. With the help of middle daughter Luci, a local real estate agent with RealtySouth, found a four-bedroom, two-story house in Crestline that, despite its under-construction condition, was a perfect fit. The couple’s oldest daughter is a Charlotte-based interior designer and founder of Studio MC. “Floors had been installed and some sheetrock was hung, but it was just a shell.” The unfinished status allowed Mary Coley to tailor the home to her parents’ needs and personalities. “They are empty-nesters, but they still wanted the feel of a family home,” says the designer.

Den with mohair sofas in Crestline Cottage

In the den, a pair of mohair sofas flank a fireplace wrapped in pecky cypress and a limestone surround. Cabinets on either side house blankets, games, and photo albums. A Tommy Mitchell art installation brings luster, as does the Venetian plaster ceiling.
A hand-painted silk wallcovering by Fromental makes a statement in the powder room. A Nero Marquina marble vanity is set against a mirrored wall. Mary Coley added an electric bird box from Circa that begins chirping upon entry.

Natural stone plays a key role in the home’s overall design. “The fireplaces, kitchen island, and powder room vanity were all meticulously laid out to serve as the wow factors of each room.

Interior Designer Mary Coley McMillan

To achieve this balance, Mary Coley leaned into more sophisticated furniture silhouettes, delicate finishes, and slabs of heavily-veined marble that provided color palette inspiration.

Throughout the home, ebony-stained hardwoods and Benjamin Moore’s The Decorator’s White provide a neutral canvas for Mary Coley’s mix of cool blues and timeless pinks. Colors evolve from dramatic in public spaces to quiet in the more private rooms. “Just inside the front door, we created a high-drama first impression with the formal living room and dining room by showcasing their most meaningful existing pieces while incorporating new, modern lines with upholstery and architectural elements,” says Mary Coley.

The formal living room’s black marble fireplace surround was custom-designed from a remnant of Nero Marquina Black Marble (Birmingham MarbleWorks). The painting above the sofa—an eagle over water by Kitty Williams—was commissioned in remembrance of homeowner Susanne’s late brother, Norman.
Dining Room, Crestline Cottage
In the dining room, Mary Coley used her parents’ existing furniture. As dramatic counterpoints, she added a mirror and Italian crystal chandelier from Circa Interiors & Antiques, along with wallpaper by Kelly Wearstler for Kravet. “We color-matched the pink ceiling and trim paint to the wallpaper,” she says.

“To complement the traditional dining room antiques, we installed a striking wallcovering and high gloss on the ceiling. It brings together the old and new.” Beyond the formal spaces, the center of the main floor encompasses the kitchen, a casual dining space, and an informal den. “Plaster ceilings and marble continue the upscale vibe,” says Mary Coley, “but it becomes cozier as you move deeper into the home.” The nearby powder room evokes drama with a hand-painted silk wallcovering and a black mirror wall.

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The primary bedroom is a peaceful retreat thanks to walls painted Farrow & Ball’s Ammonite. Custom bedding from Leontine Linens dresses the bed in traditional white. A painting from Lucky Fish Gallery in North Carolina adds a spot of color.

The wows continue in the bedrooms but at a whisper volume. “The primary suite is a retreat with monochromatic tones, textures, and smooth lines,” Mary Coley says. The upstairs offers similarly restful retreats laid out in a way that caters to adult guests—namely Mary Coley, Luci, their spouses, and their younger brother Tommy.

Taking on her parents as clients was surprisingly fun and easy. What began as an empty shell is now a home where Tom and Susanne display their style and welcome their children and friends. And the stunning results are a testament to this family’s close connection and esteemed heritage of style.

“This is my room when I come to town,” Mary Coley says of the pink guest suite painted Benjamin Moore’s Inner Peach. A green velvet bed with vertical tufting on the headboard keeps things “fun and youthful but not childish,” she adds.

Meet Mary Coley McMillan

This rising design star grew up with family in the furniture industry, studied interior design at The University of Alabama, and worked in Atlanta before starting her own business, Studio MC, in early 2022. Today, she works on projects across the Southeast in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. Here she shares a few tips for perfecting your style.

TEAMWORK MATTERS: Success in interior design develops from the collaboration between the designer’s expertise and the client’s desires. My favorite part is the reveal of the finished project.

SCALE IS EVERYTHING: Hang your drapes close to the ceiling and make sure they rest less than an inch above the floor. Do not install a rug in places where furniture does not fit. You can play around with styles, but messing with scale and balance is where you lose the custom look.

TRUST YOUR PRO: It is easy to see a photo of a look that you love on Instagram or Pinterest, but it isn’t necessarily the right look for your home. Trusting your interior designer’s opinions is crucial.

INVEST IN ART: Original art can tell a story of an experience, provide a place for your eyes to rest, or shine as the focal point of a space. It not only reflects the personality of the artist but also of the homeowners.

Mary Coley McMillan, Studio MC, Studio-mc.com, Instagram: StudioMC


Resources

Builder: Cleve Shearer, Shearer Building Company Kitchen: Banquette: Lee Industries; Pendant: Apparatus; Backsplash: Zellige Tile; Cabinets: Cantley & Company Primary bath: Lighting: Visual Comfort. Vanity and shower marble: Birmingham Marbleworks. Throughout home: Most upholstery: Lee Industries; Rugs: Hiltz Lauber; Window Treatments: Southern Drapery (to the trade); Plumbing Items: Fixtures & Finishes

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