Written by Natalie Aldridge.
Few names in design manage to strike the perfect balance of elegance, wit, and effortless charm quite like Charlotte Moss. Since launching her firm in 1985, Moss has become synonymous with interiors that are layered, lived-in, always welcoming, and tell a story. Rooted in her Virginia upbringing and enriched by a lifelong love of history, art, and travel, her work is a masterclass in creating rooms that feel both timeless and personal. Along the way she has dreamed up collections for Century Furniture, Fabricut, and Pickard, and penned eleven books. Her latest book, Home: A Story, tells the tale behind her current collaboration, Southern Living’s 2025 Idea House.
This year, Southern Living enlisted Moss as the creative force behind its 2025 Idea House, and the result is a modern Southern dream. Set in the rolling hills of Keswick, Virginia, the home feels built into the land yet lifted by Moss’s signature touch. The living room, washed in chartreuse, frames the countryside like art; the library invites lingering with a book and a cocktail; the primary suite glows with serenity; and the porch has been transformed into the chicest open-air salon. Even the boot room and laundry have been elevated to spaces worthy of poetry, because for Moss, beauty does not stop at the threshold of practicality.
To mark this milestone, Moss’ new book, Home: A Story, is devoted entirely to the Idea House. Part design diary, part inspirational volume, it offers an inside look at the making of the home, from the earliest sketches to the final layered details. It is a celebration of Southern hospitality, thoughtful interiors, and the art of living well, captured in a way only Charlotte Moss could.
And now, we are delighted to share a glimpse inside…
Take a look inside Idea House and the pages of Moss’s new book, a true testament to her gift for creating spaces that linger long after you have left them!
Images courtesy of Read McKendree Photography, styling and book design by Kimberly Power.
The Idea House is open to the public for tours from August 14 through December 21, Thursday through Sunday. For more information on the 2025 Southern Living Idea House, visit here. And be certain to order your copy of Home: A Story, here. You can also follow @southernlivingmag, @charlottemossny and @charmossny on Instagram for additional information and ongoing inspiration.
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x Natalie
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