Styled by Leslie May · Photography by Anna Routh Barzen

When it comes to family homes, the realities of muddy-pawed pets, children’s homework strewn across the coffee table, and laundry piles make themselves apparent, but interior designer Leslie May of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, knows that an elegantly appointed home complete with wallpapered ceilings, detailed millwork, and heirloom wood furnishings is still within reach. Leslie creates couture spaces that are equipped to serve the functions of family life, holding their own while children play and later catering to guests who arrive for a soirée in cocktail attire.

Leslie has mastered the delicate dance of weaving beauty and livability together. In her hardcover book, Bespoke Homes for Families, readers are invited to tour her home and those of her clients, learning her principles behind creating spaces that are both deeply personal and highly functional.

First Impressions

The journey begins where most visits do: in the entryway. “I want my favorite people to feel at home when they pass through my green lacquered front door and into my foyer,” Leslie says. Because guests typically move through rather than linger in this space, she sees it as a prime opportunity to make a memorable first impression with bold color, striking wallpaper, or unexpected patterns.

As the tour progresses into gathering spaces such as the living room, the designer often establishes a neutral foundation that allows smaller details to take center stage. Wall treatments add depth and texture, creating rich backdrops for artwork and treasured collections. Lacquered finishes, wallpaper, tailored furniture skirts, and layered textiles work together to create rooms that feel collected over time.

Jewelry for the Kitchen

In the heart of the home, the kitchen, Leslie softens the hard surfaces of stone countertops and stainless steel appliances through texture and unexpected hardware choices. She affectionately refers to cabinet pulls and knobs as the room’s “jewelry,” often favoring brass or tortoiseshell finishes—the latter of which pairs beautifully with her own blue cabinetry.

The Dining Room

The dining room is Leslie’s most treasured space in the home: the place where family recipes are served on heirloom plates and raucous laughter echoes around the table. A none-too-precious 1800s mahogany table, discovered at a Connecticut antiques market, welcomes every gathering, bearing more knife marks and drink spills as memories accumulate.

Full draperies create an intimate setting that encourages guests to linger, while a hand-painted mural inspired by South Carolina’s marshy Lowcountry and monogrammed linens lend the room a personal touch.

Layering meaningful objects is a hallmark of Leslie’s approach. In her abode, books reflecting her sons’ interests share display real estate with brass koi fish collected alongside her daughter during a trip to Paris. Family photographs mingle with cherished paintings and oyster plates that pay homage to her coastal roots in South Carolina.

“A truly fabulous home is more than a maze of rooms decked with couture draperies and lacquered ceilings; in fact, a memorable home is that bubble within which we learn to love, where we grow, laugh, cry…”

Leslie May

Bold Choices in Small Spaces

In more intimate spaces such as the powder room, the author believes in a great opportunity for the boldest of design choices. Here, she embraces vibrant patterned wallpaper, geometric light fixtures, and brass hardware, which she feels lends a greater sense of elevation and warmth than silver finishes. Leslie embraced a bold hue of green for the wallpaper, lacquer trim, and molding, which creates a vibrant cohesion. Small touches, such as framed photos and flowers along the vanity, finish the look.

Though her early career was spent in journalism, Leslie ultimately found herself telling stories of a different kind through design. Her signature “family style” approach showcases homes that are as cozy as they are glamorous. Each chapter of her book also shares a gathering, complete with menus and recipes. The volume is as much a guide to gracious living as a visual feast of interiors—a complete invitation to create a home serving the ones closest to the heart.

Prettiest of Pages

As a designer, writer, wife, and mother of three, Leslie May developed her signature “family style” approach from her own desire to create a home that is both polished and practical for children, pets, and everyday life. In her debut book, Bespoke Homes for Families, she welcomes readers into her own home and those of her clients, where colorful palettes, well-loved antiques, and custom details prove that beautiful interiors are meant to be lived in.

Throughout the pages, Leslie shares her philosophy on where to invest, where to embrace bold design, and how to create spaces that balance elegance with function. A gracious hostess herself, she also includes favorite recipes, entertaining ideas, and practical tips for gathering family and friends around the table.

This story appears in the Autumn 2026 issue of Southern Lady. Subscribe to receive every quarterly issue in print.