MUCH LIKE THE COBBLER'S CHILDREN who have no shoes, a designer’s home is never complete. It’s probably not for lack of trying, or even a lack of energy, but, instead, it may simply be because designers are constantly evolving. What looks done to everyone else is still in progress to the designer, and Hannah Ozburn knows this feeling well.
“I don't think my house will ever feel ‘done,’ as I am always updating and fluffing the space with things I love,” she explains. “It’s so hard to decorate for yourself. I am constantly exposed to beautiful textiles and furnishings, so I have a hard time committing to a scheme. At the same time, though, I want things done yesterday, so I am always working on my home, buying things I love but
changing them when I find something I love more.”
Ozburn and her husband, Marc, moved to Charlotte from Nashville in 2018. Their home search was limited, as Ozburn knew she wanted a home in the Myers Park area for the great location and the number of young families. The older home checked a lot of boxes for the family of five, and details like the dental molding and arched doorways drew Ozburn in right away. “The house was in pretty good shape,” she explains, “so we just painted everywhere, upgraded the kitchen and back porch, and decorated.” The colorful home oozes personality, with pale pink walls in the living room right off the entry and a cozy green den where the family can relax or entertain. “Those two rooms actually work really well next to each other, as they share the same color palette in the textiles and furnishings,” she says. “And my kid’s rooms are especially colorful, too; I like to let them have a role in defining their space. My oldest daughter loves rainbows and her room definitely reflects that.”
With three young children, the Ozburns use every inch of space in their 1920s home. No space is off limits and nothing is irreplaceable, and every room needs to serve their busy lifestyle. “We don't have a breakfast room right now, so we are using our dining room for family dinners, entertaining guests for dinner, puzzles, and coloring,” says Ozburn. She continues, while chuckling, “I could never purchase anything that I felt was too precious because, at the moment, for example, my dining room light fixture is hanging by a thread after my kids were playing The Floor is Lava on the table!”
Ozburn’s self-described “traditional-with-a-twist” aesthetic creates a look that feels collected and well-loved. Having worked for interior designer Steven Gambrel for years in New York City, her style is influenced by his strategic use of color with a healthy dose of femininity. The pale pink living room, one of her favorite rooms, is paired with neutral upholstery, natural materials, and zippy fabrics combined with abstract art. “I especially love all of my art in the living room, which are all pieces I’ve collected,” she says. “The large piece over the sofa was a wedding gift from my parents, but my children’s portraits done by my friend Fielding Archer are among my favorites.”
Though the home looks complete, Ozburn feels she is at a crossroads. “We need a little more space for our family,” she says. “So, the question is, do we keep evolving and do a renovation that speaks to the integrity of this older home, or do we move on from here? I never thought this would be my forever home, so we shall see!”
When asked if she would change anything about her home, Ozburn contemplates and decides she would change the dining room wallpaper. “It feels a little too tropical for Myers Park,” she laughs. A perfect response, it seems, from a designer who’s constantly designing her own home, even when it’s “complete.”