MALEIA EVERIDGE & KIM HARBIN
Bringing West Coast Style to the Lowcountry
story by JEANNE REYNOLDS photos by SUSAN DELOACH
Stepping into the Elis Nash Home Furnishings store on the outer edge of downtown Beaufort is a bit of an Alice-in-Wonderland experience: Cross the threshold and you’re suddenly in a different world that looks like nothing you’ve seen in the Beaufort Lowcountry. A floor-to-ceiling wall features unique handmade pottery and wood-worked vessels. A rustic wood trough rests atop a table, waiting to be filled with flowers, shells or nothing at all. An intricately hand-carved vintage chest begs to be touched, and around the corner, a pair of industrial handmade steel shelving units hold books and art. Steel floor lamps are topped with seagrass lampshades.
The business is the brainchild of Maleia Everidge and Kim Harbin — although “love child” might be a better description based on their intense shared passion for creating beautiful interiors. The two met soon after Kim moved to the area three years ago when her real estate agent, Amy McNeal with Lowcountry Realty, also a longtime friend of Maleia’s, immediately realized the two would click over their mutual interest in design and connected them with each other. Within a few months, their collaborative vision resulted in the creation of Elis Nash, LLC, and they hit the road to start shopping. Maleia manages the store and customer design appointments, while Kim provides behind-the-scenes investment and operations expertise — but both say their real joy is being together on creative buying trips.
They first opened their doors in Habersham, then moved to 905 Boundary Street about six months ago following a total renovation that opened and brightened the space to showcase their curated collection of home furnishings, art and decorative objects. Many of the pieces have a relaxed coastal vibe, but don’t expect to find the typical Lowcountry or traditional southern style prevalent in much of the area.
“The collection is very organic, very neutral with spots of color,” says Maleia, a 30-year Beaufort resident with a degree in interior design from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a long resume in interior design. “It’s coastal, but more Pacific than southern or Lowcountry. Many of the pieces are custom-made for us by metal workers, artisans and artists we’ve met on our buying trips.”
“We want it to be distinct,” adds Kim. “We travel the country procuring individual pieces we love from the states and Europe, eventually pairing them to tell a beautiful story.”
And not just beautiful, but personal. “Your home is your sanctuary,” Kim says. “You should love every single piece in it.”
Or as their website puts it, “Interior design transcends mere aesthetics; it is a mindful practice that fosters well-being. Rooted in timeless minimalist principles, our approach rejects the ephemeral in favor of enduring quality, creating spaces that serve as sanctuaries for the soul. Simple and elegant interiors evoke a sense of joy, peace and comfort. We feature distinctive furniture, art and objects that blend the old with the new.”
Mixing old and new, and varying textures is obvious throughout the Elis Nash collection: think a rattan chair with a cement side table, a centuries-old French farm table topped with modern art, or a pair of mid-century modern chairs anchored by a zebra rug.
“The way we’ve chosen to do this is very hard,” Kim says. “We seek out vintage finds or a certain look. People don’t expect to see this here.”
The reaction has been positive, the pair report, with a great response from both longtime Beaufort residents and those migrating to the area from larger cities.
“We offer a shopping experience unique to the Lowcountry for people who appreciate a serene and minimalist, yet sophisticated and soulful home,” Kim says. “People with this aesthetic are delighted to discover Elis Nash.”
The business also offers design services tailored to each customer for furnishings and custom-order upholstery.
“It’s a very referral-based business,” Maleia adds. “We work with past clients, new referrals and an array of interior designers. Design should tell a story and be transformative.”
The partners agree it’s important to support not just other designers but women in business. Their support extends to the community, most recently as a sponsor of the Open Land Trust’s “Brunch on the Bluff” event.
“Both of us were very close to our mothers and we both have had many wonderful supportive women in our lives,” Kim says. “There are so many talented women artisans in the Lowcountry.”
MEET THE ELIS NASH TEAM
MALEIA EVERIDGE
• Home state: North Carolina
• In Beaufort since: 1996
• Family: 3 children
• Book on my nightstand: The Poisonwood Bible
• Favorite music genre or artist: Rolling Stones
• Go-to work outfit: I love elevated style.
• Dream vacation: Europe
• Top design tip: Love your home and fill it with treasures.
• Favorite piece ever bought: Belgian farm table
• Kim is a great partner because: She’s very sharp and has a fabulous eye. It’s natural for her — it’s not a job, it’s more of a passion.
KIM HARBIN
• Home state: Virginia
• In Beaufort since: 2023
• Family: husband
• Book on my nightstand: Lean In
• Favorite music genre or artist: Ray LaMontagne
• Go-to work outfit: Depends on my mood
• Dream vacation: House in Provence
• Top design tip: Don’t compromise. Love every piece in your home.
• Favorite piece ever bought: European repurposed flower table
• Maleia is a great partner because: She has a magnetic personality — everyone who knows her loves her. And she’s brilliant at harmoniously bridging diverse styles with spouses and partners.
5 DESIGN TIPS FROM ELIS NASH
1. Pick one piece to start your color palette or look, such as a piece of art or a rug.
2. When relocating from another part of the country, don’t bring all the furniture from your old house. Keep one or two things you really love and build around them.
3. Get an expert eye on what to keep and what to change. Advice from someone not emotionally attached to your pieces is key.
4. Declutter to create focal points. You don’t need something on every wall and in every corner.
5. Your house is your sanctuary. You should love everything you see when you walk in.
