WHEN KATE HEALY MET HER CLIENTS, THE FIRST thing they told her was that “they wanted to make it new again,” the designer says, referring to the couple’s 5,500-square-foot Apex home. The rustic home, built in 2001, was just shy of hitting its twentieth anniversary when the couple decided that they wanted something fresher, cleaner, lighter, and brighter.
“I’ve always loved the look of Cape Cod exteriors and exposed post and beam interiors,” says the homeowner. “When we first designed the interior of our home, our builder [Steve Moodie of Moodie Design Build] looked to the Biltmore House for inspiration. Our floors are quarter-sawn white oak and the trim is quarter-sawn red oak. It was very heavily influenced with the natural wood tones. We had natural toned beams, floors, built-in cabinets, trim, doors, and paneling in some rooms, and the walls were a beige color. It was a very warm tone and we loved it.”
But after nearly two decades in the home, the couple longed for something different, and though they considered purchasing a newer home, their hearts always brought them back to their horse farm. “I loved the brightness of the current trends in interior design and the influence of the modern farmhouse,” says the homeowner. “Our house sits on a thirty-acre horse farm so going to the modern farmhouse look was not a stretch.”
The couple enlisted Healy to head up their kitchen renovation and overall interior design reboot. “The original interiors were very much country farmhouse before,” says Healy. “I could tell that they wanted to entertain more, but felt that their home was too dated.” With that in mind, Healy pulled together a design concept that took the modern farmhouse aesthetic and put the couple’s personal stamp on it. “I loved the look of the white walls with the natural beams,” says the homeowner, who presented Healy with tear sheets from various magazines to serve as inspiration for the interior design.
The first step was reworking the layout of high traffic areas like the kitchen and adjacent dining room, which was closed off from the rest of the living spaces. “They really wanted a more open floor plan, and so opening up the dining room and redesigning the kitchen helped tremendously,” says Healy.
“They talked a lot about the kitchen island and how they wanted it large enough to seat their entire family for a casual meal, but they didn’t want it so big that it took over the space.” New white cabinetry instantly brightened the once dark kitchen, while an extended kitchen island topped with quartzite and Caesarstone counters created an additional dining space where everyone could gather. “The brightness of the kitchen along with the extra space we gained makes it fun to entertain and cook. The kitchen always ends up being the hub of our home when we gather with family and friends,” says the homeowner.
With the renovation completed, Healy set to work on the interiors, transitioning the earth-toned rustic cabin aesthetic into a sleek, updated modern farmhouse. Their previous furniture and accessories didn’t align with the new aesthetic, so the homeowners sold or gave away most of it, allowing Healy to start from scratch. “Kate definitely encouraged me to veer away from matchy-matchy,” laughs the homeowner. “She added several layers, textures, and colors.” In an effort to create another entertaining space, the formal living room was transformed into a chic billiard room. “That room was just another space with furniture that was never used,” explains Healy. “We turned it into a space to entertain in multiple ways instead.” With the addition of a floating bar top and counter stools, as well as a built-in bar, the room became an attraction for both family and guests alike. “We have always loved to entertain in our home,” says the homeowner. “I love our home because we have lots of places to be comfortable and the open floor plan lets people have a place to sit and enjoy each other’s company.”
Ultimately, the homeowners are thrilled that they didn’t leave their horse farm and buy new. The thirty acres that surround their family home is where they always wanted to be—they just needed help updating it. “I feel like we were able to preserve all the features of our home that we loved before,” says the homeowner, “and add fresh updates that made it feel like we were in a brand new space.”