The rundown house, while authentic in its 1908 charm, needed homeowners that could see beyond the disarray to its potential. Those homeowners were Chad and Catherine Harrell, who purchased the home when they moved back to North Carolina from London.
“The house was barely inhabitable and had a bad odor,” says Chad. “I guess you can say we weren’t afraid to kiss the frog.”
Besides the practical matter of turning the quadruplex back into a single family home while abiding by North Carolina historic code, the Harrells had two goals. First, they wished to honor the traditional architectural elements while infusing the home with their love of travel. And second, Chad, who builds energy efficient housing on military bases, wished to demonstrate that historic preservation and sustainability could walk hand in hand. He repurposed materials such as brick from an inoperable chimney, which became a wood-burning fireplace on a screened porch, and he gave new life to 200-year-old wooden floor joists as part of a second staircase.
Going beyond repurposing materials, Chad closely followed LEED Platinum sustainability requirements. Now the family’s Energy Star rated historic home is 78 percent more energy efficient than existing homes in the neighborhood and 48 percent more energy efficient than today’s average new construction. It includes a geothermal heat pump, spray foam insulation, sealed attic and crawl space, and energy efficient windows.
When you look at the interior, however, you quickly forget that sustainability was not the only driving force in this renovation. Interior designer and family friend, Lindsay Hair of Lindsay Hair Interiors, incorporated clean, modern lines using enthusiastic, vibrant colors that suit a young family living in a historically preserved home. Since Hair is also a travel aficionado, she enjoyed working in the European elements from the Harrells’ previous London flat and even included the Union Jack rug to accessorize their son’s bedroom.
“My love of travel keeps my eye scoping a variety of styles, materials and products, but a good home is a home that reflects the people who live there,” says Hair. “My job is to tap into their preferences and combine them with their functional needs to design a home that has interest, fluidity, and most of all the homeowners’ personality.”
She let nothing stand in the way of achieving the Herrells aesthetic wishes, purchasing products from a range of sources. Catherine’s grandmother’s traditional dining table combines easily with the modern resin chairs to make it kid-friendly. Mid-Century mod-inspired side tables and owl lamps, both from Target, make a statement in the playroom. Textiles and fabrics from Maharam, Kravet, Cowtan and Tout, Romo Fabrics, and Samuel and Sons add vibrancy. Even an old gun barrel from Chad’s fighter jet makes a personalized statement as the kitchen island’s footrest.
Hair recommends bringing in a team early in the process for a major renovation project like this one. In addition to using Chad’s real estate expertise, she worked with Greg Paul Builders and architect Meg McLaurin to balance design and sustainability. Together, they earned an Anthemion Award from Capital Area Preservation for historic preservation.