Sometimes, you just know when something’s right. For Mark and Ruth Stewart, that feeling led them to their Westlake Valley home in Sanford. After raising their family in a traditional farmhouse on twenty-seven acres, they considered downsizing when they became empty nesters. In 2022, their search took a turn when they saw an auction listing for a 1970s midcentury modern in a neighborhood with large, wooded lots.
“We knew it would take something special to draw us from our family home,” Ruth says. “But the more I walked through it, the more I fell in love.”
The 3,800-square-foot home had three bedrooms and three baths, providing plenty of space for family gatherings and visits with grandchildren. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered views of surrounding trees and the lake, while unique architectural details—hand-laid brick floors, a double fireplace, an open layout, and original beams—embodied midcentury charm. Ruth was eager to preserve these features while adding modern conveniences.
After a competitive bidding war, the Stewarts won the home and immediately enlisted designer Ashley Davenport of Sweet Southern Home & Design, who had already been set to remodel a bathroom in their farmhouse before plans changed. “The house was a time capsule, untouched since the 1970s, with great bones and abundant architectural details,” Davenport says. “We wanted to honor its midcentury character while blending in the natural surroundings.”
Davenport, along with contractor Don Stec and Nick Bristow of Heritage Woodworks, got to work on the extensive renovation, which included a down-to-the-studs remodel of the kitchen and two bathrooms, updates to the third bath, and a refresh to built-ins, trim, and original brick and wood floors. Fresh paint and new furnishings completed the transformation, breathing new life into a timeless classic.
The home’s greatest features also posed some design challenges. Open sight lines required careful planning to create distinct spaces with cohesive flow. An outdated boiler system and hidden metal pole behind the kitchen walls required creative workarounds, and three ceiling levels in the owner’s bath called for multiple reconfigurations.
The design embraced midcentury-modern style and a natural “tree-house” feel, enhancing views without overpowering them. A palette of blues, greens, browns, and oranges echoed nature and the home’s 1970s roots. Linear lighting and low-profile furniture preserved open sight lines, while burl-wood accents, white oak cabinetry, and a walnut vanity complemented original brick floors and columns. Details like flat-front push-to-open cabinetry, hand-mitered custom slat panels on the refrigerator and cabinet console, and fluted wood on the bathroom vanity added sleek lines and texture. A coffee bar, a gaming nook, and a sunken dining room offer tailored spaces for gatherings and entertaining.
“Transitioning from their traditional home to a midcentury modern required a leap of faith for the Stewarts, but our synergy made it a smooth process,” Davenport says. “Together, we created a space that truly feels like home.”
Ruth adds, “Ashley rose to the challenge! Inside and outside blend seamlessly, making me feel surrounded by nature. I couldn’t be happier with the oasis she created.”
