When Madison LeCroy, who stars on “Southern Charm,” first connected with interior designer Betsey Mosby through Instagram, the two collaborated on the ideal design plan for LeCroy’s home.
LeCroy said she chose Mosby to work with because, “Betsey’s style is classic, Southern and cozy without trying too hard. Since I wanted the new house to feel lived-in but elevated, she felt like the perfect fit for our family.”
Having had many conversations with LeCroy about her ideal aesthetic, Mosby agreed that working together on the project was aligned. “I found my inspiration by looking at Madison’s personal style and also the way that she will be using the home to support her career and family,” she said.
Mosby added that her firm works in a custom capacity, completely selecting each element and having it produced versus purchasing readily-made products on the open market. As this episode of “Kitchen Chronicles” would have it, however, just before Mosby went to place those orders for the home, a new house fell into place for LeCroy and her husband Brett Randle.
As a team, Mosby and LeCroy quickly pivoted by updating some of their initial ideas while completely changing other strategies that would better fit the new space. “The new home has great bones with a fabulous spatial layout, extra space they needed with a baby girl on the way and lots of great custom details,” Mosby said. “The aesthetic we are creating for the home is more traditional than coastal, accented with contemporary details that match their cool vibe and are fitting for their young family. I’ve loved working with them and we have several more phases planned that will help them fully realize their dream home. Madison’s closet, for example, was one spot that we were immediately able to update just by painting. Because she films in that small space a lot, we chose a pinky-nude color that is super flattering and that will also feel warm and cozy all day, every day. Also, we have window treatments and a beautiful ceiling paper in progress, as well as a pretty light fixture and new hardware. Given the nature of her career, we have made decisions for her home that will make her daily life easier and more beautiful, since so much of it is on camera.”
Mosby said she’s also edited the kitchen space by painting the wood accent hood ivory, changing out the backsplash to a classic white subway, swapping the trendy gold hardware to a higher-end unlacquered brass and painting all the cabinets, walls and trim the same clean ivory as opposed to incorporating accent colors. She explained, “These techniques helped the kitchen feel larger, giving us a cleaner canvas to work with 
while furnishing Madison’s other spaces and bringing her vision to life. Over the coming weeks, we have plans to swap out the pendant lighting and to plaster the hood as well, which will fully update the space. Additionally, we plan to add more of a pop in the dining area by upgrading with wallpaper, while also color drenching the small butlery attached to the kitchen. These points of interest will stand out more in those places, making the kitchen feel clean, classic and beautiful.”
LeCroy added, “We are having fun selecting all the details such as the backsplash, lighting and barstools, so the final look is still unfolding. We’ve still got a lot of work left to do.”
Mosby continued, “Madison has been easy to work with and very trusting, as well as excited about the changes we have made. She’s also been very patient and we are all looking forward to seeing the realized product very soon.”
LeCroy is already enjoying the kitchen even before the space is complete. One component that she loves is that it’s open to the living room, making it easy to cook and still be part of the action with her boys. “I’ve never had a big island before and now I’m obsessed,” she said. “That area has become the heart of the house, whether we’re cooking dinner or just catching up over snacks.”
The spacious floor plan is also ideal for entertaining, LeCroy said. “When we have friends over, I love to keep things simple but fun. A big grilled seafood spread or Lowcountry boil is always a hit because it’s easy to make, is interactive and no one ever leaves hungry. I’ll also usually throw in a big salad, fresh bread and something sweet to finish.”
When it comes to serving adult beverages for her guests, LeCroy said, “One of my go-to summer cocktails is a grapefruit gin fizz, which I make with gin, fresh grapefruit juice, a splash of elderflower liqueur and a splash of sparkling water. Shake it with ice and pour over a slice of grapefruit in a large glass. For a hot day, it’s a light and refreshing cocktail that’s not too sweet.”
For low-key family nights at home, LeCroy added that the house favorite is spaghetti since it’s simple to make and her son asks for it at least once a week. “I’ll add a salad or some roasted veggies on the side,” she said. “But that pasta is the star.”
LeCroy also suggested keeping life easy by stocking the pantry with basics such as pasta, jasmine rice, chicken broth, hot sauce, garlic, lemons and lots of olive oil. Additionally, she keeps her fridge full of fresh fruit, salad fixings and cheese. For the bar, she recommended an inventory of tequila, gin, Topo Chico and a good bottle of champagne that’s “always ready for guests or for a good night in.”
According to LeCroy, in addition to working with a professional designer, a big part of any kitchen renovation is organization. She’s enlisted the help of Orderly SC to ensure ease of operations behind the scenes of her busy life.
By Sarah Rose
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