Scott Bartos, Principal Designer
with Paragon – Custom Homes

an Interview by Cari, Director of Universal Design at Paragon

Paragon Custom Homes is a luxury custom home builder in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest and beyond. As builders, we specialize in Universal Design, Inclusive Design and Sustainable Building, while crafting homes in communities and individual lots across North Carolina. We believe that designing every home we build starts with a conversation. In our Design is a Conversation Series, we sit down with interior designers, architects, homeowners, and community leaders to continue the conversation. We believe there is a better way to build and to talk about building, and it all starts with you and your being here. Whether you trust us with building your legacy home, or simply read our words, you are part of our community and are helping us all make a difference through thoughtful design.

Thank you, for all the ways you make the world a better place. Feel free to reach out anytime, for any reason. We will always love hearing from you.

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“Less is more”

Ludwig Miles van der Rohe

Pioneer of Modern Architecture

We sit alfresco under tree-dappled light, finches chirp in the branches and there is a gentle breeze that brings in the sound of the slow traffic that lives around pedestrians and parks. Scott Bartos, Principal Designer with Paragon Custom Homes, is looking dapper as usual in a tailored navy polo shirt, crisp-pressed khaki shorts, and pair of white Converse shoes with an ornate red and gold fabric heel detail.

As he talks with me about his design journey, growing up in Michigan and loving Mid-Century Modern Design, before moving to Chicago where he was introduced to Ultramodern styles of Minimalism and walls of glass with clean lines, his mother calls. “Oh, it’s my Mom,” Scott says, picking up immediately. I hear her voice on speaker phone, “Hey Hun,” she says before asking questions about their Universal Design remodel outside of Raleigh with Paragon. Scott describes with clear and perfect words what is needed, and where those elements might be found, before they both say, speaking over each other, “Love you / Love you guys” before hanging up.

Scott is one of the kindest, most thoughtful and driven people I know. We first met at Paragon’s Southern Living Custom Home Builder Program Showcase Home, when he worked in tile with Triangle Tile in Raleigh, before we began working together. It has been a true joy watching his career with us blossom, and his design portfolio grow with different styles and clients. Building custom homes together for wonderful clients whose kindness and warm hearts show through in their designs has been a career highlight. Scott is a quick judge of style and character, and a true advocate for those he designs and builds relationships within his work and life. I’m so humbled to have him as a colleague and a friend. I know you’ll just love him, even if we haven’t met him yet, because I know I did from the moment we first shook hands. And, if you have met him already, then I know you’ll agree with me that Scott is a lovely person, friend, collaborator, and designer of custom homes.

Can you speak for a moment on how Chicago affected your design?

I would say my taste got elevated in Chicago. I got more modern. My taste has changed. Because I was for so long Mid-Century Modern, I really tried to tone that down, and have it be more….more having a modern element but trying to warm it up— and, having a mixture of styles. Like, I would still use a Mid-century piece, but not have a whole room. It was so popular for a moment, the mid-century. You know when you’re younger, you’re more influenced.

I feel like when you’re really young, you go through a bunch of different things, but then you’re old enough, you can do a whole design with an idea that is more you-you.

Yeah. It was really when I went to college when I changed. Because when I first got to college, I was really more….country. Then, I was in college, and I met my first boyfriend, and he had a lot of vintage pieces, but he was more modern. He got me to be more modern, and changed my style.

What did “country” look like for you, before college?

It was also just the era. I mean, you have to remember, we are talking 1994, and coming from Muskegon, Michigan, you know, things were slower to reach there than in the city. But, I have always loved a plaid. It would have been more slipcovered sofas. And, I think, again, it was the era. Every era has a “this is the color of the era” and for then it would have been French country blue.

Family Room: Scott welcomes us into his family room, featuring tailored details and a cozy modern vibe. 

What inspires you now, as a designer?

I have always loved men’s suiting fabric, to use in design. And, I am definitely more of a neutral person. I prefer texture over pattern.

What about architecture style? What architecture styles inspire you?

That, I like a lot. Architecture as an inspiration. I mean, before I (or you) would have to say I would have gone truly more modern, but I do like more of a Tudor Craftsman, but cleaned. No, like a bungalow. No! Oh, there are so many styles to like. Like a bungalow style. Again, to go back to the Chicago roots, there were so many bungalows in Chicago, that some were just so charming.

I love that. I feel like that’s a special type of bungalow: Chicago Bungalow.

Yeah, yeah.
Alright, I’d like to change gear a little bit.
Okay.
I want you close your eyes. Walk us through the parade home, your parade home, as though we are a visitor.
It’s in my head already. We walk through the front door, and immediately look out the back and you’d see all the trees in the back, but then we would turn to the right and see the office and I would point out the trim work detail and our hidden closet.
It sounds lovely already.
Then we’d go out and walk into the main space, the living room, I point out the fireplace, the cast limestone fireplace. And we’d turn to the kitchen and it would be all about the light fixtures. Then the kitchen hood that was all done by hand. We’d walk into the dining room, and I’d point out the grass cloth wall covering. I’d consider taking you outside, but then continue inside. We’d go to the powder room with our custom slab vanity. Next, the primary bedroom and bathroom. Once done with the primary, we’d go across to look at the other two bedrooms. Both have their own en-suite. We’d find ourselves at the back of the house, its drop zone and laundry room.
(It is at this point, kind reader, that a pair of French bulldogs distract us. They are being walked around the little Parisian-vibe park we’re seated at as we talk. The one is a puppy. It is adorable. We both make noises of adorableness. The puppy is not on a leash, we worry he will get lost. He does not get lost; he gets picked up by his human to cross the little road. We bemoan that they are not going to take another tour around the park for us to coo at them from a distance. And, we are back.)
Whoops, I forgot the upstairs; we’d go to the recreation room, and the backsplash on the wet bar, and the hallway pocket we created to house a closet. I’d show you all the unfinished space, because there is a lot of nice storage in this home. We’d go back downstairs, and go into the screened in porch, down the stairs to the back patio area, where I’ll show you the ramped walkway up to the driveway, and I’d point out the trees behind you, and tell you those trees will never go away. Nothing will ever be built on it, and I’d say that the creek that you might not notice as it passes through the trees might be fun for kids to go and investigate. Then I’d show you the garage, and the zero entry into the home, and wrap up the tour there, letting you investigate without me, because I’d want to explore on my own and have some private time to walkthrough it and imagine, to consider honestly and form your own opinions and view the home afresh.

A Place to Sit: This wood-rich reading nook is cozy and inviting while also being clean-lined and tailored.

Dining Room: Fresh flowers and greenery accent a blend of mid-century modern pieces and modern art. 

Is there anything that you want to say about designing your first Parade Home?

I would say that it was an interesting process, as this wasn’t originally going to be a parade home, it was only a showcase home, and the middle of so many other clients, then something clicked, I don’t know what, then it turned into my house and I knew what I wanted it to be, I got inspiration, and all the language and talking to anyone about it was my house. Then, of course, it was the parade house.

Tailored is a word that I hear most when it comes to your design work. What makes a design tailored?

Clean lines, not fussy or ornate, but with an attention to the details, having restraint to not just do everything that you see that you like. This goes back to less is more quote that we started with today. Tailored is my word.

Modern is too. At least, I think so. What makes a design modern?

Same as tailored, but perhaps with less individual character: simple, minimal, curated. You really have to think of what you’re using with modern design, because one item can really stand out.

Texuture & Pattern: With wool and metal and wood, this bedroom highlights Room & Board canopy bedframe while also having room for original art.

Finally, as a designer, what do you most wish to be remembered for most?

I’m going to say: my thoughtfulness.

I think that is perfect, because if I’d have written an answer for you, that’s exactly what I would have said. I feel like that goes beyond just interacting with clients, it’s also in the design itself. Thinking “Oh, that was so thoughtful.”
Thank you.
You’re welcome! I know you’ve been working through updating your own current home with hardwood floors, light fixtures, everything. What’s the next big update on your personal home?
Pella black windows, two over two, and a dark built out awning over a new rich-stained wood front door for contrast.
Finally, what are your pick’s for this year’s colors?

Russet, or like rust, a muted orange saddle. And I will always be a fan of Neutrals.

Where Scott finds inspiration

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brandt- European flair, and found vintage item with a very crisp feel

Studio Mellone, NYC designer connected to Brazil designs

Sean Anderson Design, cool moody scandi NYC vibes:

“I like the fact there is a juxtaposition of clean likes then all this organic, even, you know, vintage furniture that he uses.”

Ultramodern Tudor and Chicago Bungalow Architecture

What it is like to work with Scott, as a designer —

a few current clients and partners to speak to his thoughtfulness:

He is great at listening to my ideas and guiding me as needed when my thoughts start to stray from the overall look we’re going for. And in times when I just can’t come up with anything he knows me well enough to offer suggestions that I will like.

Building a home can definitely have its stressful moments, and I jokingly refer to Scott as my therapist because he is so great at just listening – truly listening – and being there to help however he can.

Whether it’s a design question or just an “I’m overwhelmed” moment, he is calm, compassionate and upbeat. Every time I’ve gotten off the phone or finished a meeting with Scott, I’ve walked away genuinely happier as a result of spending time with him.