Once their babies flew the nest, this Raleigh couple was ready to get their pink back.
For designer Charlotte Lucas’s clients, embarking on their next chapter as empty-nesters meant more than finding a house-it was about creating their forever home.
Relocating to Raleigh from Boston in 2019, they rented an apartment and began a nearly two-year search for the right fit: ideally, an older home with character that they could make their own. They found it in a 1970s Georgian in one of Raleigh’s most established neighborhoods.
“We were looking for something different in this new phase of life,” the homeowner says. “When we walked in, we loved the house immediately and put it under contract within hours of viewing in February 2020.”
Having connected with Lucas before their home search, the family tapped her to lead the interior design. Though the home had great bones, they soon discovered that a cosmetic refresh wasn’t enough, and a down-to-the-studs renovation and addition would better suit the couple. Builder John C. Sanders & Company joined the team, working seamlessly through the challenges of Covid.
“They wanted larger, open spaces without compromising the home’s original character,” Sanders says. “Working alongside Carter Skinner Residential Design and Liggett Design Group, we seamlessly integrated the new addition, raised ceilings for a cohesive flow, and collaborated with Charlotte Lucas Design to ensure each space felt distinct yet inviting.”
“We touched every surface in this whole-home renovation, adding functionality and interest,” Lucas says. “Brainstorming with the client showed her leaning into colorful, elevated details and one-of-a-kind pieces, so I connected these threads into a design that best fit their lifestyle and joyful outlook on life.”
While preserving the original flow of formal living and dining rooms in front and casual spaces in the rear, they added a family room and expanded the kitchen. Throughout, bold color, layered textures, and curated details infuse the home with vibrant personality. A standout moment comes in the “Jewel Box,” a central room with six cased openings transformed into an intimate retreat with an elegant de Gournay wallpaper, pink trim, and gold accents. Pink appears confidently throughout—from high-gloss blush walls, trim, and ceilings in the living room to wallpaper-clad cabinetry in the homeowner’s closet. Yellow trellis wallpaper and matching high-gloss trim brighten the powder room, while the daughter’s bedroom pairs a blue House of Harris wallcovering with a rosy-hued adjoining sunroom. Downstairs, a sitting room wrapped in high- gloss black walls and yellow barstools adds an edgy counterpoint.
Balancing these vibrant moments, Lucas introduced quiet sophistication with bleached white oak–paneled walls in the family room and a serene, layered kitchen Still, her signature boldness weaves throughout: animal prints offset femininity, warm brass accents from crown molding brighten the kitchen island’s toe kick, and a plum-hued Lacanche range anchors the kitchen. Antiques and custom-built displays highlight the family’s treasures, while their extensive art collection, including three gallery walls—one affectionately dubbed “The Wall of Woman”— adds a personal layer.
“The final design truly resonates with them,” says Lucas. “It’s an inviting place to entertain and a cozy sanctuary for retreat.”
The family is still in awe of their finished home. “It is intimate, interesting, and full of life, color, and layers. I told Charlotte to come back in a decade—it’ll be just as she left it. Well, with maybe a few more pieces of art!”
