WHEN SCOTTSDALE , Arizonabased Oz Architects and Oz Interiors first got the call about a project in Charlotte, the team initially thought the focus would solely be on the interiors. But when the group flew out from their headquarters to see the home on site, they immediately knew that this project would encompass much more. “It morphed into ‘Let’s make this into the home they really want,’” says architect Nick Sehman.
The SouthPark home was a 1970s traditional red brick Colonial, “a five, four, and a door,” as the homeowner lovingly called it, referring to its traditional exterior and entrance with five top windows, four bottom, and a front door. “It looked like every other home on the block,” says Oz interior designer Laura Huttenhauer.
Not one to shy away from a challenge, the design team, along with builder Stanwick Dunham, wanted to transform the house into their client’s dream home: a warm, modern dwelling that respected the original traditional architectural details rather than strip them away. “Our architectural philosophy is rooted in the idea that homes and buildings should last longer than our own lives and should be built to be used for generations to come,” says Oz interior designer Inga L. Rehmann.
“We wanted to keep the integrity and good bones of the original building while honoring the character of the traditional brick homes we saw throughout Charlotte.” Adds the homeowner, who disagreed with outsiders’ opinions that the home should be razed: “We wanted to do something different but also be respectful of the neighborhood; I didn’t want to build a home that looked like it belonged in California.”
The design team, including principal architect Don Ziebell, went to work redesigning the facade with subtle edits like a more modern entry, larger windows with black steel frames, dormers, and a more cohesive, streamlined look on the adjacent addition that was added years prior.
Inside, the once choppy floor plan was opened up. A kitchen refresh resulted in a warm contemporary gathering place for the family of four. “Our goal was to integrate the existing addition, and new additions, with the rest of the home in material and character while bringing in a few modern touches, so that the whole home felt purposeful and complete,” says Rehmann. Atop the addition, a new primary en suite was added, giving the homeowners more square footage. The design team transformed the third-floor unfinished attic into a full-floor casual family hangout space with a warm, modern Scandinavian aesthetic to match.
But one of the most pivotal changes to the home was in the foyer, where Sehman reworked the previously traditional one-story entry into a breathtaking modern staircase that doubles as a work of art. “It’s completely unexpected based on the home’s traditional-looking exterior,” says the architect, who notes that Steve Lukens of Masterpiece Staircase & Millwork was critical in bringing the design to fruition. “This is the stunning focal point of the home. At night when the lights are on, it glows beautifully. The glass windows, steel columns, and floating steel staircase were integral to the whole project and influenced the interior design.”
The interior design, while modern, is decidedly warm and inviting. “We didn’t want to make the house feel too clean, too sleek, and overly modern because that wouldn’t complement what was happening on the exterior of the house,” explains Huttenhauer. “I think warmth from the wood tones adds to that moody feel versus everything stark white.” Furnishings with a bit of a modern flare mingle with midcentury modern and traditional elements. “We like to blend textures and materials, with layers of different styles in varying finishes and furnishings. We like to balance wood with metal and glass with textured elements; we love that juxtaposition,” says Rehmann. “The homeowners call their home a jewel box because unique details and special design touches are scattered like gems throughout the house.”
The result of the project that took more than a year to complete is a home that feels elevated, inviting, and warm, and unlike anything typical in Charlotte. For the couple, who hail from New York City, the home—from the exterior to the stunning interiors—is exactly what they envisioned. “You know you have something special when the subcontractors, some really talented craftsmen, tell you that they’ve never seen anything like this home in Charlotte,” says the homeowner. “They work on homes all over the area, so when they say it’s special, you know the design team created something pretty incredible.”