Members of the N.C. State Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life mingle with Triangle-area Kappa alumni at the house’s grand opening party in July.
by Mimi Montgomery
photographs by Keith Isaacs
Raleigh interior designer Carole Hollowell has designed many houses over the years – some for large families, some small. But creating a home for a sisterhood of 60 presented a new kind of challenge.
The Kappa Kappa Gamma living room sets the tone for the rest of the house: Sophisticated yet young and stylish, it’s also suited for the wear-and-tear of college students. Hollowell found furniture and design elements from a myriad of sources, both for budget practicality and to keep things fun. “There’s a whole realm of things,” she says, “from antiques to things I shipped in from Target … I mixed old and new.” The wooden chairs on the back wall are antiques, as are the chest and gold wall-mounted candle sconces. The iris painting that hangs above was made and donated by a local Kappa alumna. The N.C.-manufactured sofa and chair are upholstered in blue velvet, a luxurious choice that simultaneously hides spills and scuffs. A marble-topped coffee table sits atop an antelope hide rug made of polypropylene, which Hollowell says is “good for high traffic” and can be cleaned easily (while still looking chic).
Her client, the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, had a tall order: To turn a well-worn onetime fraternity house at N.C. State into a fresh, comfortable showplace for its first-ever chapter at the university. KKG wanted to create a house its inaugural pledge class would be excited to move into come spring semester.
Hollowell stands in the Kappa living room.
With State’s new Greek Village still in the works, the hunt was on for something the Kappa women could start renting this school year. A previous fraternity house off Western Boulevard had an industrial kitchen, large dining and living rooms, and 30-odd double bedrooms. But unsurprisingly, given its previous life, the house was in need of a strong dose of TLC. It got new floors, a fresh coat of paint, and what Hollowell calls “a good scrub-down.”
The study room is outfitted for late-night cram sessions. Stencil chairs Hollowell found online in white plastic sit at a distressed pine table long enough to accommodate a big group. The flower artwork on the wall from Wisteria provides a pop of color to keep things fresh.
Then it was time to design the interiors. “There was zero personality,” she says. The house needed to get some, and it needed to work hard, too. It had to be comfortable but supersized; resilient but pretty. And the budget was tight. Hollowell says she was up to the challenge, taking into consideration its high traffic needs while “making it feel a little more residential.”
An L-shaped sofa sits at the opposite end of the study room, perfect for a quick power nap. Mirrors, pop art, and a colorful Target lamp keep the room feeling open.
A hallway lounge off the women’s rooms is a fun mish-mash. Lamps from Target mix with Vanguard upholstery, cowhide stools, and graphic art.
Hollowell had previous experience designing furniture showrooms that spanned up to 60,000 square feet, so she wasn’t daunted by the scale. After visiting other sororities at State and UNC-Chapel Hill for inspiration, she sent visual design boards and budget breakdowns to Kappa officials for approval, outlining her plan for a young, colorful house with a touch of sophistication.
The grand opening.
The dining room is industrial and spacious while still stylish. Blue-lacquered bamboo chairs were found online complete with cushions, “for budget and a pop of color,” says Hollowell, while the tables are from a restaurant-grade table website. Hollowell had banquettes custom-made at Williams Upholstery in an ikat fabric in blues, greens, and white to complement. Of course, they’re also teflon-treated for the inevitable spills.
Colorful art and accessories keep the hallway lounge eclectic and homey.
The result is stylish and of-the-moment, but also practical. Hollowell is the mother of 15- and 17-year-old daughters, so she knows how young women live and what they need in a home. In the living room, dark colors (like navy velvet) and leather wear well and hide stains; the printed dining room banquette seats and backboards are Teflon-treated for easy wipe-downs. Lounge areas are hang-out ready with comfy sofas, while long tables with lots of seating and whiteboards on the walls are designed for studying. Bright colors, accessories, and colorful art abound.
Guests enjoy the the house’s July opening party.
“It was a lot of fun,” Hollowell says of putting the space together. “It was just so different than anything I’ve ever done.” It’s enough to make anyone nostalgic for the college days. “I’m going to invite myself back there,” she says with a laugh. Can we come, too?
