For Leah Bailey, the beauty of Lowcountry style begins with architecture and building materials. “To me, a typical Lowcountry home has a big front porch, lanterns, is usually white, and inside has reclaimed hardwood floors and inset cabinets,” says the Savannah interior designer, tasked with a custom second home for clients in nearby Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina. The goal was twofold: maintain the relaxed feeling of “Lowcountry casual” but mix in a bit of elegance and a few formal elements. And as always in this scenic part of the world, Leah sought inspiration for the color palette from the surrounding environment.
Working with architect Pearce Scott, Leah and her team first chose finishes for flooring, lighting, plumbing, and other hard details, to make sure the 6,000-square-foot house had the consistency and livability required for this family of five. “From there, we moved from one room to another to develop the personality of each space,” says Leah, who gave each room its own distinctions. The dining room includes built-in cabinets and a banquette, for instance, while a scullery is enveloped in shades of blue, a color that appears throughout the house.
For the designer and the homeowners, blue offers an instant connection to nature, bringing a sense of the outdoors into interior spaces and injecting a soothing element into every room. “It was important to me for the main areas to have blue mixed with neutral tones,” Leah says, adding that bedrooms and bathrooms in the house wear deeper versions of the color. “Blue can play a supporting role and still make a statement,” such as an antique chair covered in blue velvet the wife chose for her office, or kitchen barstools upholstered in blue fabrics. “We combined texture, printed fabrics, florals, and embroideries to get a mix, but we didn’t use too much of anything.”
As a handy resource, the designer can show her clients home furnishings and accessories from her Leah Bailey Interiors shops, with locations in Savannah and Bluffton, as options for a project. “It was especially helpful for the wife to see things in person, since she’s so visual,” says Leah, citing the office antique chair as one on-the-spot decision.
She made sure that vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces were mixed in with the custom and retail furnishings. “I layered in antiques so that everything doesn’t feel too new,” Leah says. “We don’t want it to look like everything was ordered on the same day; plus, it’s the mix of history that defines this area.” The primary bedroom, for example, is a tranquil space with an antique mirror and bench complementing newer furnishings. The foyer and primary bathroom also stand out, thanks to vintage rugs, artwork, and accessories.
With her love of the area’s past and coastal setting, Leah is particularly fond of designing Lowcountry projects in Savannah, Palmetto Bluff, and Charleston. “This is where the environment shapes the way a home should feel,” she says. “I’m constantly inspired by the quiet marsh colors, the softness of the light, and the mix of old and new that define this region.”
She also loves the opportunity to create second homes that families can enjoy for generations to come. For this family, with three grown children and their friends coming to visit, the new home is a place for entertaining and celebrations as well as quiet weekends. To Leah, successful second home design comes from rooms that are effortless to live in, easy to maintain, and layered with pieces that reflect the area’s character as much as the homeowner’s personality. “My goal is to design a retreat where families gather and friends return year after year,” says the designer. “The beauty of the surroundings becomes part of the home’s story.”
This article appears in the Spring 2026 issue of GEORGIA DESIGN.
