When a Charlotte couple went to Pursley Dixon Architecture looking for a new build on a small footprint, Ken Pursley was eager to take on the project. Fans of the architecture firm’s work, the clients were moving from an uptown condominium to a small lot in Eastover and felt confident that Pursley’s team could create the ultimate living space for them. The kicker? Every square inch of the home had to be beautiful and functional. Pursley was undaunted by the challenge and called on their in-house interior designer, Bronwyn Ford, to help bring their vision to fruition from start to finish.
“It was refreshing to be asked to design something small but with a high level of integrity,” Pursley says. “It’s a fun challenge to design a house with an ambitious program on a tight lot. Much like designing a yacht, every inch must be considered and thoughtfully utilized to maximize the efficiency of the planning.” Ford’s biggest portion of the project presented some challenges of its own, though none that she couldn’t handle. “Once in the interior design phase, we had to repurpose or reuse as many pieces as possible from their existing Charlotte condo,” she says, “which is not typically a problem, but the new home’s architecture, layout, and scale were vastly different than their old. We were able to create a fresh, more modern vibe with new upholstery and pillows.”
Over the next two years, Pursley and his team poured their creativity into building a beautifully functional home for the couple. The narrow lot was in a desirable section of Eastover that allowed the couple to walk to their favorite places on Providence Road and enjoy the beautiful street views out their windows. Still, it was elevated from the road to offer more privacy. The downstairs master bedroom was built in the back of the home to provide further privacy, complete with a hidden courtyard and a covered porch just outside. With a portfolio of ideas from the couple in hand, Pursley and Ford were able to marry the clients’ wishes with the firm’s expertise and design-savvy. “The wife had wonderful images and ideas that were easily folded into a smaller home design infused with rich detail,” Pursley says. Ford adds that since the firm offers both architecture and interior design services, the opportunity to employ both provides a particular satisfaction in completing a vision. “Our designers work closely with the architects to ensure that the soft goods specified for the home are cohesive with the overall aesthetic vision from the onset,” she says. “In the end, we hope and truly feel that it’s tailored to that specific homeowner.”
Pursley and his team, as they do in each project, paid particular attention to the architectural details that make a home with a smaller footprint feel equally as open and airy as a larger home. This includes highlighting sightlines alongside the use of details that help the eye move smoothly from room to room throughout the home while adding a special touch to each. As an example, Pursley points out his favorite room. “I love standing behind the kitchen island looking toward the street,” he explains. “There is a rich architectural layering that charms the eye as it moves toward the bay window on the front. The plan is open, but the beams of the kitchen, the arch of the dining room, and the plaster coffers of the living room define each of these spaces uniquely. Those features act as speed bumps that break down the long narrow footprint into spaces that are comfortable and thoughtfully proportioned.”
Ford was able to repurpose a large amount of the couple’s previous pieces in the new home with some creative design, including even just the simplicity of the color palette. “We wanted to include accessories that would make the large furniture pieces and architecture look elevated,” she explains. “Simply showcasing the more formal antique pieces against a subdued, neutral backdrop allowed them to be distinctive and interesting.” Custom sideboards in the picture window were layered with simple minimal accessories that added interest without distracting from the views of the gardens beyond. “I love the Catbird chaises we had custom made to fit into the side window box in the living room, too,” Ford says. “It is a wonderful spot to sit and enjoy the sunshine and observe the street view while being tucked comfortably inside the house.” In the upper lounge, Ford created a cozy and moody space to create a tension of contrast to the rest of the home, which is very light and bright. “I like to create a tension that makes everything in the room more interesting as a result of being paired together. Whether that’s light/dark, old/new, or traditional/modern, my belief is that good design is not about creating perfectly coordinated, idealistic rooms, but instead creating luxurious, comfortable spaces that can be lived in and appreciated for their imperfections.”