We’re back with another house-crashing tour from our recent road trip through Charlotte, North Carolina. You may have already seen a sneak peek of the kitchen—now we’re filling in the rest. This family was incredibly warm and welcoming, and their transformed 1960s brick ranch is downright charming from the curb to the inside.
Because their renovation is so impressive, we included before photos to show the dramatic change Kristen and Stan achieved. They completed most of the work while expecting their son Davis—he was born just days after the final push—and baby Clara and Davis hit it off immediately. Sweet, right?
In last week’s preview we showed that stunning oversized lantern above the island; for those curious, it’s by Troy Lighting. The island vent hood is a GE Profile 36″ island hood, and the butcher block counter was sourced from Locust Lumber, just outside Charlotte.
The homeowners greeted us with a lovely spread—nuts, chocolate candies, icy grapefruit drinks, and animal crackers for the kids. They went above and beyond to make us feel at home.
I insisted we photograph everything before digging in, because once the snacks were out, the island quickly filled with napkins, toys, and glasses. So we moved fast and captured the space while it still looked pristine. Below is a wider view of the kitchen that opens up to the family room.
The before-and-after comparison really shows how transformative thoughtful changes can be. Here’s the view of the kitchen from the family room now—what used to be a tiny doorway is now a wide, welcoming opening.
The transformation is striking. The family room now feels layered and inviting with a mix of textures and furnishings that aren’t matchy-matchy but work together beautifully. Pillows and table lamps from Target sit comfortably alongside a worn leather chair from the Mitchell Gold outlet in Hickory, NC.
Light paint and primer on the old paneling made a huge difference, and opening the wall to the kitchen dramatically improved the flow. Personal touches abound: a large patterned rug handed down from Stan’s parents, a recovered chair displaying navy geometric fabric, and a red side table given new life with spray paint and a high-gloss finish.
We also toured rooms that are still a work in progress. The guest bedroom is coming together sweetly—twin headboards from family hand-me-downs, accent pillows from West Elm, and a cheerful rug from Crate & Barrel make the space feel cozy and put-together.
Davis’s nursery includes several DIY-friendly ideas. Kristen made patterned curtains from fabric by Duralee and layered another playful pattern for a pillow and drum lamp shade. The layered textiles create a lively, cohesive look—she even covered the lampshade herself.
Kristen showcased charming painted canvases in the nursery. These can be recreated at home by printing animal silhouettes, tracing them onto canvas, and painting the surrounding areas in varying tones—a simple, effective DIY.
The felt mobile above the crib was a lovely handmade touch and coordinated perfectly with the animal fabric used as mats behind framed photos. Small, thoughtful details like these tie the room together and make it feel personal and playful.
That’s Kristen, Stan, and little Davis’s warm, beautifully renovated home in Charlotte. Thanks to them for letting us drop by and share these photos. If you had to pick favorite details, ours were the oversized lantern above the kitchen island, the fabric-covered lamp shade in the nursery, and the navy chair paired with the red end table in the family room.
Side note: We caught a movie this weekend—Bridesmaids—and enjoyed it (and a little costume-spotting). It’s fun to notice the small styling choices that make characters memorable.