Home Renovations That Preserve Character

Have you ever been doom-scrolling and run across a controversial home renovation video? One where a slap of paint goes on top of the ornate crown molding or an original mantle is pried off the wall. While homeowners are certainly welcome to make any changes to their home (no judgement here, ever), we’re experts at preserving a home’s character while also bringing it into modern style. 

We recently tackled a dated home project that needed changes in both flair and function. But, it was important to our clients to maintain some of the home’s original elements, and to that, we said, “challenge accepted.” 

Here’s how we did it. 

Primary Bathroom

Functional design is crucial to any home renovation, and as our clients knew this would be their forever home, it was important to think way ahead with our plans. Things like roll-in showers and stylish grab bars will ensure the family will be able to both use and enjoy their home for life, but we still needed to ensure style was at the forefront. 

Here, we accented the roll-in shower with stunning gold hardware and brass fixtures. We added a beautiful curved arch for intrigue and depth, then tiled it all with a stunning teal pattern. The floor continued throughout the bathroom—shower included—in a striking geometric pattern. 

With all of that “new,” we can’t forget the “old.” The home’s original wood trim remained intact, grounded by complementary colors and modern drapery to help it blend seamlessly. Lastly, we retrofitted a custom vanity in this no-demo redo: an Amish-made statement piece with charming feet, stylish knobs, and optimized function (yes, even the drawer in front of the sink worked!). 

Hall Bathroom

The attention to detail continued down the hall in a full guest bathroom renovation that transformed the space from cramped and builder-grade to expansive and fresh. The dated shower-bath combo received a needed upgrade with floor-to-ceiling white subway tile, a built-in white tub, beautiful chrome fixtures, and a dainty wallpaper depicting birds on tree limbs to keep the relaxation moving throughout the room. 

The original wood molding remains here, offering a natural contrast from the rest of the white-hued room. Despite the impressive shower overhaul, this room also didn’t require a gut job. We added a similar Amish-made vanity, custom-made to fit the space and the functions perfectly. 

For the Grandkids

The upstairs bathroom serves an entirely different function than the rest: with a slew of grandkids, it was important to offer them their own dedicated space that was fun, splash-friendly, and still attractive. The before photos reveal a single sink vanity and an enclosed, outdated shower that was strictly functional. Needless to say, that all had to go.

We swapped the single sink for a double vanity, creating a true jack-and-jill option for multiple grandlittles. We accented the sinks with beautiful oval mirrors, modern sconces, and textured wallpaper that will all stand the test of time. And, we went ahead and brought up the backsplash a few inches to protect the wall from any accidental splashes. 

We opened up the shower with sliding glass, and added a touch of whimsy with a chevron-meets-herringbone tile pattern in navy and white. We toned down the original wood window with a complementary shade, seamlessly weaving in new elements with the original. 

If your home’s natural character has you on the fence about a renovation, fear not! We’re here to help.

Designing For The Future: Aging in Place

It’s an exciting feat to settle in your forever home – a place you know will serve as a staple in your life through many phases. If you’re facing a design project, it’s important to consider design integrations that will help the home serve you in all phases. A built-in entertainment system may serve you today, but considerations for mobility and accessibility are great to have well in advance before they become a need. 

We recently renovated a collection of bathrooms in our clients’ home, and we incorporated subtle elements to make life all the more accessible for our clients as they grew alongside their home. 

Here’s what we did. 

Roll-In Shower

The traditional design for showers – especially showers that combine with a tub – are less than accessible for anyone with a mobility limitation. In this home, we designed the shower with an oversized opening so a shower chair or walker could easily fit inside. It’s a “roll-in” design, meaning there is no ledge or lip to pose a potential hazard when entering and exiting. 

Support Systems

While planning a stunning tile transformation to give our client’s home a modern makeover, we went ahead and added a stylish grab bar inside the shower to serve as extra support whenever needed. Gone are the days when these additions were bulky and unsightly – now, handles and grab bars can beautifully integrate with other hardware to create an appealing and oh-so functional look.

Why Consider? 

The ADA Standards for Accessible Design outline requirements for new buildings and major renovations to ensure accessibility for all individuals, regardless of ability. But beyond code compliance, incorporating universal design features like curb-free showers, reinforced walls for future grab bars, and wider doorways can make a home more livable and welcoming for everyone – from young children to aging adults (or one of life’s little accidents that require mobility support). 

Planning ahead not only makes good design sense, it makes your home more inclusive for the long haul. And, in a case like this one, we were able to carefully plan and select details that seamlessly integrated in the design well in advance of when these things were needed. 

Want to chat through ways we can integrate accessible design in your project? Connect with us here. 

Inside “The Design Event You Can’t Afford to Miss”

Continuing education is one of our favorite parts of the job—what’s new, noteworthy, and back in style? Attending shows, seminars, and events is the best way to stay informed on all of the above, and High Point market in North Carolina is one of the best opportunities to learn… and have some fun along the way. 

The PWID team gathered with fellow designers for a multi-day design adventure. And with Paige being the planner she is, that included plenty of epic dining reservations, area activities, and speaker panels that all combined to leave us with lasting takeaways in design and beyond. Here’s what we learned. 

Seminars & Showrooms

High Point Market gathered together industry greats, from prominent interior designers to media mavens, builders, and vendors from all areas. When browsing the showrooms, we were able to connect with our friends at Materials Works, Thibaut, Pooky Lighting, Worlds Away, Julian Chichester, and King Hickory. 

On Monday, we attended a seminar called Financial Mastery in Design & Construction: Budgeting, Pricing, and Profitability. The session was led by podcast hosts Luann Nigara and Brad Leavitt, plus designers and builders, all talking about how they work together to prioritize budgets and finances in a design project. We resonated hard with this one — staying on target is hugely important for us and our clients, and it’s impactful to see many aspects of the industry sharing the stage for a common goal.

Beyond the Show

One extra fun aspect of High Point Market is the nightly live music. Taking center stage at this year’s show were Gabby Barrett and Sister Sledge. High Point, North Carolina, is home to tons of lovely restaurants we knew we couldn’t miss—we thoroughly enjoyed dinners in Downtown High Point and Katherine Brasserie.

High Point Market was a hop, skip, and a flight away from Nashville. Upon arrival in Raleigh, we checked into the Courtyard by Marriott in Winston-Salem and headed to night one of our four-night adventure, filled with beautiful places and exciting ideas. 

Want to chat more about what’s trending in design and how we can incorporate it into your home? Start here! 

Functional Spaces for Your Furry Family

We’ve said it plenty of times: the key to effective design isn’t pretty paints and polished surfaces, it’s focusing on functionality. Plenty of storage and electrical outlets might seem obvious, but what about things like where your shoes go when you walk in the front door? Or how your files will fit in your filing cabinet? Or, where you can wash off your pet’s muddy paws without making a giant mess. 

The latter was our biggest motivation for a recent laundry room renovation that took a tremendous amount of planning and thoughtfulness. Go behind the scenes with us as we reveal how we converted extra garage space into the cutest laundry-room-meets-pet-spa you ever did see.

The Logistics

This transformation borrowed a section of the home’s existing garage to create a laundry and mudroom that pulls double-duty as a pet spa. We kept enough room for a vehicle in the garage while strategically expanding the area to create the new space. 

Converting a garage space brought a handful of challenges — the concrete flooring required a water line installation for the sink, an existing window couldn’t be moved, and certain elements needed to remain.This took careful planning, including custom cabinetry designed to conceal a water filtration system and hot water heater that couldn’t be moved. You’d never know it was there.

The Design

While the mechanics required much attention to detail, the design is always just as important. This striking renovation features exposed shelving, borrowed from the kitchen design, a bright teal paint, adorable wallpaper covered in hand drawn dogs, and a bevy of different tiles. 

A standout feature is the custom dog wash station, complete with pull-out stairs for canine accessibility and a dedicated linen closet for pet essentials. That adorable puppy-covered wallpaper? It’s made from scrubbable vinyl for easy cleaning alongside the durable ceramic tile made to look handmade. A sleek black floor then conceals everyday wear from foot traffic and pets.

A Cause for Paws

We’ve been longtime supporters of the YWCA—we’ve served as a lead designer and assistant designer on many home projects for domestic violence survivors, primarily women and children (read more here). But, this month, the YWCA is raising funds for a different cause: pets. At Abbie’s Safe Home, many survivors fleeing abuse must unfortunately leave their pets behind. So this week, the YWCA is matching funds up to $20,000 to provide safe shelter for pets of survivors, plus veterinary care, trauma-informed pet therapy, and kits for their new home. Join us in supporting them here.

Let’s chat about how we can turn any space in your home into a functional one. Click here.

How We Designed the Ultimate Book Nook

If you're the kind of person who gets lost in a good book and doesn’t come up for air until chapter sixteen, then it might be time to carve out a little sanctuary just for reading. Recently, Paige revamped a cozy corner for a client, transforming it into the coziest mid-century-inspired nook. If you’re looking for specifics on how our client settled in, click here.

Whether you’re dreaming up a corner library, creating an intentional space next to your favorite window, or interested in a full-blown reading respite, we have some tips for what you need to fill your room—and your shelves.

Layer the Lighting

Good lighting makes or breaks a book nook. You want enough to read without squinting, but not so much it feels like a spotlight. Think small-scale table lamps, warm-toned bulbs, and layered sources instead of overhead lighting. Plus, play into windows and nautral lighting wherever you can, like we did by framing a large window in the room with closeable curtains for moody moments.

We’ve recently discovered the Visual Comfort LED rechargeable lamps that are portable enough to bring the adventure wherever you may be.

Bring in the Pillows

This is your excuse to go big. Oversized pillows are a must to prop behind your back, support your head, or just melt into on the sofa. The bigger, the better, and of course, make it pop. 

We may be partial, but Paige’s Pillow Party would be the perfect addition measuring 24" x 24”. Each made from repurposed designer fabrics, they bring personality, comfort, and a little color to any reading corner.

Ground the Space with a Rug

A rug helps define your nook, especially if it’s in a larger room. It adds softness underfoot and creates a cozy boundary around your reading zone. Go for something that feels good barefoot and adds a bit of visual interest without overwhelming the space.

Style the Surface

A side table or decorative tray goes a long way (and it can pull double-duty holding your wine or tea while you turn pages). Anthropologie has a great candle selection if you’re looking to match your scent to your style. Want to shop local? Pare Candle Co. makes clean-burning, all-natural candles and has even made custom scents for our clients.

Make It a Sensory Experience

Reading is about escaping the real world, so make your nook feel like its own little universe. Layer in things that engage the senses—a soft blanket, a flickering candle, a subtle scent, a nearby bar. 

One of Paige’s personal favorites? The Calm Roll-On from Thistle Farms. It’s soothing, grounding, and purposeful. 

Pack Your Shelves (or your Kindle)

What’s the point of a book nook without the right book? From thrillers to Rom Coms, here are a few of our favorites: 

• Brittany | The House in the Pines (a Resse's Book Club pick!) by Ana Reyes

• Paige | It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

• Mattie | Design Magazines, including Nashville Interiors & Luxe Southeast

Whether it’s just a corner chair or a full room transformation, the best spaces are ones you actually want to spend time in. If you need help making yours feel as cozy and layered as your favorite novel, let’s chat.