THE JEWEL BOX

TEXT BY BLAKE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS EDWARDS

THE TEAM BEHIND OZ ARCHITECTS AND OZ INTERIORS TRANSFORMS AN OUTDATED HOME INTO A MODERN-DAY ARCHITECTURAL STUNNER.

ABOVE: The homeowners wanted a landscape design with low water and maintenance requirements, but one that still complemented the home. After lengthy research, they found several options to achieve the aesthetic and enlisted Autrey Kemp Nurseries and Gardens to bring the design to fruition.

BELOW: Just off the back of the house, the patio space is the outdoor entertaining and family hangout zone. The modern fireplace sets the tone for the area, which features furniture by Teak Warehouse in a durable Sunbrella fabric.

WHEN SCOTTSDALE, Arizonabased Oz Architects and Oz Interiors first got the call about a project in Charlotte, the team initially thought the focus would solely be on the interiors. But when the group flew out from their headquarters to see the home on site, they immediately knew that this project would encompass much more. “It morphed into ‘Let’s make this into the home they really want,’” says architect Nick Sehman.

The SouthPark home was a 1970s traditional red brick Colonial, “a five, four, and a door,” as the homeowner lovingly called it, referring to its traditional exterior and entrance with five top windows, four bottom, and a front door. “It looked like every other home on the block,” says Oz interior designer Laura Huttenhauer.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, the design team, along with builder Stanwick Dunham, wanted to transform the house into their client’s dream home: a warm, modern dwelling that respected the original traditional architectural details rather than strip them away. “Our architectural philosophy is rooted in the idea that homes and buildings should last longer than our own lives and should be built to be used for generations to come,” says Oz interior designer Inga L. Rehmann. “We wanted to keep the integrity and

The house keeps the traditional concept of the original home, but by opening up the entry with full-height glass units that carry you into a two-story tall foyer with a floating steel staircase, the entry becomes a stunning modern focal point. Created by true artisans, the staircase functions like a piece of art in the center of the home.

“With the vanity placed in front of the windows in the guest bath and easily viewed from the guest room, we had the opportunity to do something really fun in here,” says Rehmann. The team designed a custom vanity with a floating marble "cube" sink flanked by oak cabinets, and a custom oval mirror anchored between the ceiling and the countertop.

Elegant lines with modern furnishings inspired the design of the primary bedroom. A custom headboard with perforated back panels allows light to peep through while wall to wall draperies bring softness to the space. The homeowners’ painting by

“By opening up this kitchen space to the adjacent rooms during the remodel and changing the original smaller bay window into a full floorto-ceiling pop-out sitting nook, this kitchen is flooded with light at all times of the day,” says Rehmann. “Our goal was to keep the kitchen lines simple and elegant by using brass accents and modern handblown glass pendants [by Articolo], and by concealing the hood behind the walnut cabinet faces above the range.” good bones of the original building while honoring the character of the traditional brick homes we saw throughout Charlotte.” Adds the homeowner, who disagreed with outsiders’ opinions that the home should be razed: “We wanted to do something different but also be respectful of the neighborhood; I didn’t want to build a home that looked like it belonged in California.”

The design team, including principal architect Don Ziebell, went to work redesigning the facade with subtle edits like a more modern entry, larger windows with black steel frames, dormers, and a more cohesive, streamlined look on the adjacent addition that was added years prior.

Inside, the once choppy floor plan was opened up. A kitchen refresh resulted in a warm contemporary gathering place for the family of four. “Our goal was to integrate the existing addition, and new additions, with the rest of the home in material and character while bringing in a few modern touches, so that the whole home felt purposeful and complete,” says Rehmann. Atop the addition, a new primary en suite was added, giving the homeowners more square footage. The design team transformed the third-floor unfinished attic into a full-floor casual family hangout space with a warm, modern Scandinavian aesthetic to match.

But one of the most pivotal changes to the home was in the foyer, where Sehman reworked the previously traditional one-story entry into a breathtaking modern staircase that doubles as a work of art. “It’s completely unexpected based on the home’s traditional-looking exterior,” says the architect, who notes that Steve Lukens of Masterpiece Staircase & Millwork was critical in bringing the design to fruition. “This is the stunning focal point of the home. At night when the lights are on, it glows beautifully. The glass windows, steel columns, and floating steel staircase were integral to the whole project and influenced the interior design.”

With the family room’s proximity to the dining room and kitchen, the designers wanted to keep lines soft and rounded.

Pieces like the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sectional and the vintage armchair by Jindrich Halabala in a soft wool/ chenille blend create an easy, comfortable, and cozy place to gather.

The chandelier is by Circa Lighting.

The interior design, while modern, is decidedly warm and inviting. “We didn’t want to make the house feel too clean, too sleek, and overly modern because that wouldn’t complement what was happening on the exterior of the house,” explains Huttenhauer. “I think warmth from the wood tones adds to that moody feel versus everything stark white.” Furnishings with a bit of a modern flare mingle with midcentury modern and traditional elements. “We like to blend textures and materials, with layers of different styles in varying finishes and furnishings. We like to balance wood with metal and glass with textured elements; we love that juxtaposition,” says Rehmann. “The homeowners call their home a jewel box because unique details and special design touches are scattered like gems throughout the house.”

The result of the project that took more than a year to complete is a home that feels elevated, inviting, and warm, and unlike anything typical in Charlotte. For the couple, who hail from New York City, the home—from the exterior to the stunning interiors—is exactly what they envisioned. “You know you have something special when the subcontractors, some really talented craftsmen, tell you that they’ve never seen anything like this home in Charlotte,” says the homeowner. “They work on homes all over the area, so when they say it’s special, you know the design team created something pretty incredible.” u

Strong Scandinavian modern influences lead the design in the third-floor family room with the use of plywood wall paneling and a midcentury-style Malm fireplace, making this space even cozier.

OPPOSITE: The dining room, which is adjacent to both the family room and kitchen and on axis with the foyer, was designed to be an open meeting space for the family to share their meals. The vintage black-painted wooden chairs with rush seats at the table were the first pieces of furniture that the designers purchased for the house.