old soul, new spirit
By Taylor Bowler; Photography by Ali Harper
This article appeared in the July/August 2026 issue of Home Design & Decor’s Charlotte edition.
Rather than erase the past, a Columbia couple restored a 1953 home with collected pieces, hidden treasures, and thoughtful design for future generations.
When Heather and Brad Presnal bought their 1953 home in Columbia’s Woodhill Estates neighborhood in the summer of 2022, they weren’t looking for perfection. The house needed extensive work, but the couple recognized that history, character, and craftsmanship can’t be recreated in a new build.
The Presnals had already renovated two older homes in the area, and they loved the story behind this one. The 7,000-square-foot residence previously belonged to a local antique dealer and avid collector, whose influence lingered throughout the home. Original moldings accented the interior, a stone fireplace anchored the great room, and the foyer’s curved staircase wall was wrapped in Zuber’s iconic Chinese Decor wallpaper.
Working alongside the team at Essential Homes and enlisting designer Veronica Russell, the Presnals approached the renovation with a clear vision: preserve the home’s inherent character while intro-ducing a more modern sensibility. Rather than erase its history, the goal was to thoughtfully evolve it. “My husband and I both love a good project,” Heather says with a laugh. “The house had such incredible character, and we knew it had the potential to feel alive again.”
That mindset guided nearly every design decision. Rather than stripping the home down to a blank slate, Russell leaned into its eccentricities. She used the soft blue palette from the Zuber wallpaper as a starting point for the adjoining spaces. In the living room, she drenched the walls, trim work, and ceiling in soft blue hues, creating an atmosphere that feels sophisticated but not overly formal.
“Heather’s older furniture gave the home an eclectic feel, and it represents them because those things are meaningful to them.” That spirit of preserving meaningful pieces carried into the renovation itself. During demolition, workers uncovered two Sherle Wagner sinks and an original faucet hidden inside old cabinetry. Instead of replacing them, the team built entire bathrooms around them.
They approached the home’s newer spaces with the same level of thoughtfulness. In the reimagined kitchen, dramatic charcoal picket tile floors complement leathered steel gray countertops and black mesh valances for a look that feels bold yet inviting. Additions like the pool house and garage were designed with entertaining and family gatherings in mind.
“Of course we wanted it to be beautiful,” Heather says, “but comfortable enough to watch a movie, lounge by the pool, grill out, or just have good old family-and-friend get-togethers.” With three sons, she likes to imagine future grandchildren running through the same spaces.
“We have had so many favorite moments already,” she says. “The holidays have been wonderful. I absolutely love Christmas, and when everyone, including family from out of town, was here this past year, the house just came alive.