PREMIER LIVING

Global Twist on British Colonial

THE NELSON HOME

BY LINDSEY CLUTE / PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHILIP SLOWIAK

A couple standing together in a warmly decorated entryway. The man has long hair and is wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and light-colored pants. The woman is wearing a bright pink outfit and smiling.

Ben and Pam Nelson

Set on five acres amid a peaceful country landscape, this home belonging to Pam and Ben Nelson is both captivatingly unique and quintessentially Southern. Built in 2000 on the property they dubbed “Sycamore Creek,” the home’s traditional, timeless exterior, a design that Pam says resembles a Thomas Kinkade painting, remains unchanged; but in 2022, the couple decided it was time for an interior refresh.

Every corner of the home showcases the Nelsons’ handiwork. As the home’s builder, Ben’s workmanship ranges from the structure to the cabinets, dining table, molding, and other custom woodwork throughout. Meanwhile, Pam put her love of interior design to work, blending contemporary style with vintage charm in a look she describes as British Colonial.

A modern dining area featuring a round wooden table with a decorative centerpiece, surrounded by four stylish beige chairs. A unique chandelier with glass accents hangs from the ceiling, and large windows allow natural light to brighten the room. Indoor plants and bright decor add a touch of liveliness.

A modern kitchen featuring dark cabinets, a large island with bar stools, a dining area, and large windows with natural light.

The transformation began with replacing the home’s former palette with richer, more layered hues.

“When I started to get a vision of what our home really needed to look like, I knew I was going to make some pretty major color and style changes. I wanted to completely update it,” Pam says.

The couple also wanted a more open layout, an update they believe works well for entertaining and sharing time with family and many friends. The kitchen received one of the most significant transformations: it was completely gutted and reconfigured, with an updated bar area, new cabinetry, and a new scullery.

The finished space is calm, homey, and thoughtfully adorned, complete with sleek black shaker cabinets, leather chairs and bar stools, and a spacious island with a beige natural quartzite countertop. White board-and-batten molding adds texture while diffusing the otherwise darker palette.

A stylish pantry with black shelves filled with various food items, a dark granite countertop, a decorative gold mirror on the wall, and a chandelier overhead.

A spacious living room with large windows, a stone fireplace, and comfortable furniture, including an orange chair. A coffee table is centered in front of a couch, with decorative plants and artwork on the walls.

Joining the kitchen to form an open-concept great room, the spacious living room contains a velvet lime green sofa and mix of white velvet upholstered and brown leather armchairs beneath a blue marlin Ben caught in Mexico. A stone fireplace in the center is ready to provide warmth for the Nelsons and their guests, who visit regularly during the couple’s many birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and Pam’s girls’ nights.

“I like to get a bunch of girlfriends together a couple times a year,” Pam shares. “They could be my daughter’s girlfriends or my friends’ friends – a big range of nice girls of all ages. We get together, have some good food, and just be girls.”

When friends and family visit, the Nelsons have no shortage of conversation starters, with their family heritage and travels woven throughout the design.

“We’ve traveled a lot,” Pam adds, “and we’ve always been very curious about other cultures and the way other people live.”

Antique and inherited furnishings mingle with artwork and objects gathered from adventures around the globe, giving each room its own distinctive character while contributing to the sense of history that defines the Nelsons’ home.

Among the treasures is original artwork from Martinique in the Caribbean, a painting of Mount Vesuvius from Naples, Italy, and a page from an antique music book dating to the 15th century. The page, which features a “P,” hangs in the piano room and holds special meaning for Pam, the family’s resident pianist. A zebra skin from Africa, an Icelandic sheepskin on the piano bench, and a horn from Uganda further establish the aesthetic.

The foyer, which makes a dramatic first impression, embodies the Nelsons’ desire to make their home a reflection of their own experiences. Wanting something unexpected for the space, the couple landed on a mural; but rather than selecting an existing design, they decided to make a favorite memory the focal point.

“I said to Pam, ‘Why don’t we just start using pictures of our own?’” shares Ben. “We go so many places, so why should we use someone else’s photos?”

The resulting mural showcases photographs they took on safari in Tanzania and the Moroccan desert villages, immersing guests in one of their own adventures the moment they walk through the door.

A stylish living room featuring a grand piano, bookshelves filled with books, elegant armchairs, and a decorative rug.

“I wanted the home to reflect our lives: what we’ve done, what we’ve seen, the people we’ve met along the way, and our friends and family.”
– Pam Nelson

A spacious foyer with a staircase leading to an upper level, decorated with wallpaper depicting scenic landscapes. There is an elegant wooden console table with decorative items, a mirror on the wall, and plants adding to the decor.

A beautifully set dining room featuring an elegant round table with blue dinnerware, surrounded by cream-colored upholstered chairs. Above hangs a sparkling chandelier, and in the background, large windows let in natural light, with lush greenery visible outside. The room is decorated with artwork and traditional furniture.

Nearly every object carries a story, and Pam’s favorite from a trip to India is captured in a dining room photograph.

“The photograph of me at the Taj Mahal is like the accumulation of my life,” Pam explains. “It reminds me of all I’ve accomplished.”

The image complements a dining room where traditional craftsmanship meets the couple’s global aesthetic. Together with the Taj Mahal photo, a thoughtful tablescape atop a wood-carved, crotch mahogany table features cobalt crystal from Bohemia, Central Europe, and a centerpiece highlighting lemons to add vibrant color.

Additional memorabilia are seen throughout the rest of the home, and abundantly so in the primary suite, which contains shelves of carefully placed objects among the Nelsons’ favorite books.

The rest of the room is anchored by traditional dark mahogany furniture and a vintage French armchair. Dressed with gold and silver bedding, a light silver area rug, Mongolian sheepskin pillows, and a sparkling, crystal-beaded chandelier, the room projects a sophisticated atmosphere. The glamor is elevated by an upscale boutique closet, complemented by a three-way mirror and an additional nook for Pam’s shoes and accessories.

A beautifully furnished bedroom featuring a wooden bed frame with intricate details, a soft beige bedspread, and bedside tables with lamps. There is a large chandelier overhead, and the room is decorated with mirrors and a plush rug. Large windows allow natural light to fill the space, highlighting the warm wooden tones and inviting atmosphere.

A cozy bedroom featuring a wooden bed, a decorative bookshelf with various books and items, a mirror, and a plush chair by a window. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and soft lighting creates a warm atmosphere.

A dining area with a large table set for a meal, surrounded by chairs, overlooking a swimming pool and landscaped garden.

The back patio is the final space that transports the homeowners and visitors to another culture. Detailed dining and seating arrangements overlook the glistening pool and quaint pool house, while a palette of blues, creams, and lemon-yellow accents bring the space to life. Wicker furnishings, playful tassels, and layered textiles complete the look, producing the magic of other worlds – from Thailand to Positano – right in the Nelsons’ backyard.

“This home is a part of me; it’s who I am,” Ben concludes, summing up the home’s significance. “I was able to create something that I wanted and that I could enjoy; that I could call mine.”

After 26 years in the home, Sycamore Creek is just that: a story of the life Pam and Ben have built together, shaped by their craftsmanship, travels, and memories – a home that evolved with its owners.

A cozy outdoor seating area with wicker furniture, decorative pillows, and a patterned rug, surrounded by greenery.