Home and Garden of Jim and Karen Hamilton * Sponsored by Slate Interiors
Jim and Karen’s home was built in 1948 as a 900 square foot one-story cottage, typical of the postwar era. In 2007, it was expanded into the two-story home with a basement garage that it is now. A blend of both Charleston and contemporary design, the home has three covered corner porches—two in the front and one in back.
With nine foot ceilings both downstairs and on the upper floor, along with a wide-open floor plan, this home has a truly spacious feel. The main floor has been opened up with very few walls and the kitchen and bar are open to the rest of the house, all of which makes for great entertaining. The home’s original fireplace, still intact, provides a unique design element on both floors; downstairs, it has been refaced with travertine and sports a new contemporary mantel handcrafted by good friend who is a skilled woodsmith. Upstairs, the brick chimney is exposed in one of the bedrooms, providing textural interest.
The Hamiltons have a collection of the famous colored Blenko glass which is hand blown in West Virginia; it was acquired from various sources over the years, including thrift shops, antique shops, and yard sales. They also like to support small local businesses such as Slate Interiors, The Clearing House, Sleepy Poet, and The Potato Sack, so they have many pieces of furniture, artwork, and accessories from those sources. One of the most interesting features of the Hamilton’s property is the recent elimination of all the grass in their yard and the addition of planting beds in the front for herbs and vegetables. The herbs are prolific, but the vegetables are not as lush as hoped; getting enough sun can be a challenge. But Jim and Karen will keep trying and hope for a better harvest this year.