Inside Elissa Grayer’s Jewel-Box Powder Room at High Point

The Dalton-Bell-Cameron house, built in 1914, was one of the most unique homes in High Point, North Carolina. Built in the Craftsman style, the house was quite different from its more traditional Victorian and Colonial neighbors. But the pioneering structure was stricken by two major fires—one in 1997 and the other in 2012—and by 2017 it was in such a forlorn state that the city ordered it be to be either repaired or demolished.

At that point, the High Point Preservation Society stepped in to save it, just prior to it being sold to Rick Lewis and his wife Margaret Bell Lewis, who had once lived there as a child. Following the purchase, the Society and the Junior League of High Point moved quickly to help with the goal of restoring the home. To assist the new owners with some of the restoration costs, they decided to raise funds by creating a showhouse in the historic home, enlisting a diverse group of 21 extraordinary designers to bring the interiors back to life.

In this powder room designed by Elissa Grayer, natural luxury with a graphic modern twist comes from the textured walls wrapped in handcrafted paper and banana bark. A seamless span of rich, dark quartz grounds the design, while accents of navy, pearl, and glints of gold make for a strikingly sophisticated space.

aspire design and home: How much time did you have to complete this room, start to finish?
Elissa Grayer: The room was given to us in the Spring of 2019 with an opening date of October 2019. The design took shape over the course of the next few months. The actual install was completed in a matter of weeks. Our team flew down 2 weeks before opening to make sure the renovation was on track, and to install the decorative elements.

aspire: What was your biggest challenge? Did you have a Eureka moment during the process?
Elissa: We knew we wanted to make a visual impact with this small space, so when Phillip Jeffries approached us with their new collection, we were truly inspired. The woven pattern Sanctuary created a bold patterning that we could layer with softer, more traditional elements.

aspire: What was your inspiration for this room?
Elissa: This small but mighty powder room was inspired by the natural materials of the Phillip Jeffries paper paired with the beautiful floral print of the fabric from Mokum.

aspire: Did you step out of your comfort zone for this project, and if so, why?
Elissa: Definitely. I typically gravitate to a more soothing palette of blues, grays, and greens, but wanted to work with classic black and white with a soft touch of pink for this room. It really tells a big story for such a small space.

aspire: Despite the fact that there were so many designers involved, there is an inherent cohesiveness to the home. Did you all converse/collaborate? Or was this a completely individual process?
Elissa: That is always the most interesting aspect of a showhouse. I don’t believe any of us were given parameters to work within, but the trending palettes and materials all seem to work together.

aspire: Is your preference for a showhouse a small space or large space? Does one or the other provide a better opportunity to stretch your creativity?
Elissa: Small spaces are always more challenging creatively, which is why we chose this Powder Room. It really is about creating a “jewel-box.” Every element is important and nothing can be hidden or left out of the design process.

aspire: Describe the town of High Point in one sentence.
Elissa: A warm and friendly home for design inspiration.

This or That?

aspire: Paint or wallpaper?
Elissa: Wallpaper
aspire: Hardwood or rug?
Elissa: Both!
aspire: Beach or Mountains?
Elissa: Beach
aspire: Saturated Color or Black and White?
Elissa: All of it!
aspire: Brunch or Dinner?
Elissa: Brunch
aspire: Midcentury or 18th Century?
Elissa: 18th Century
aspire: Draperies, shades, or nothing?
Elissa: Draperies
aspire: 2001: A Space Odyssey or The English Patient?
Elissa: The English Patient
aspire: Week at the spa or week of Broadway shows?
Elissa: I need both right now!

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