MODERN FAMILY
By Blake Miller; Photography by Adam Kane Macchia; Styling by Kendra Surface
This article appeared in the May/June 2026 issue of Home Design & Decor’s Charlotte edition.
A thoughtfully reimagined family home balances beauty and function while layering color, pattern, and smart design to create spaces that feel both elevated and effortlessly livable.
When Sarah Lyons first met her client, the connection was immediate. Both mothers of young children, the two became fast friends, bonding over the juggle of work and family life—and a shared love of design. So, when the client and her husband set out to update their Eastover home to better suit their growing family, Lyons was their first and only call.
The stately white Colonial had just three owners in its lifetime, with only one significant renovation completed by its previous residents. While undeniably beautiful, the home’s layout and finishes no longer aligned with the pace and needs of modern family living. “We have two boys, a girl, and a Labrador, so things get messy and hectic,” explains the homeowner. “We really needed a space where nothing was too precious for dog hair and dirty socks and everyday living with growing kids.”
Seemingly small inefficiencies—a lack of pantry space, an oversized casual dining room, and a too-tight family room—were among the first to be addressed. Working in close collaboration with Lyons, architectural designer Emily Bourgeois of Bourgeois McGinn reimagined the layout, resulting in a home that feels markedly more functional and attuned to daily life.
But the transformation extended well beyond the floor plan. Lyons reworked the interiors with an eye toward ease and comfort, turning what had been a formal, underutilized family room into a relaxed, inviting space for movie nights and game days with a family of five. A tiny den for the kids was transformed into a more open game room. “My client had a strong instinct for what wasn’t working,” Lyons explains. “She knew she wanted change, even if she didn’t always know exactly how to get there. But she was incredibly open—when something resonated, she fully embraced it.”
That openness paved the way for bolder moves, like swapping the family room’s neutral walls for a soft blue Venetian plaster that introduces both color and texture. Pattern, too, became a throughline. In the reimagined breakfast nook, a lively Orangerie chinoiserie wallpaper by Voutsa takes center stage, balanced by a custom channeled leather banquette in a neutral hue. Even the pantry was given a moment of personality, wrapped in a vibrant wallpaper that transforms the once purely functional space into an unexpected delight.
While the home isn’t awash in color, it’s thoughtful, unexpected color moments that lend a sense of sophistication and quiet playfulness—softening the formality and making it feel more in step with the family’s lifestyle. “Sarah just nailed it,” the homeowner says. “She would look at a space and know exactly what needed to happen. She was so much more than a designer—she understood how we wanted to live and brought it to life in a way that feels both beautiful and effortless.”