Kenmore: Contemporary Raleigh Home Remodel with Treehouse Feel
Set on a wooded stretch of Kenmore Road, this 1976 contemporary home had good bones but awkward layouts masking real architectural potential. For homeowners newly relocated from California, TEW Design Studio leaned into the "treehouse feel" of the lot, letting the home's big windows and wooded setting drive a warm, textural, contemporary refresh. The result blends the couple's travels and time in Spain with pieces from their old life, creating a layered, collected space built for hosting, for their dog, and for daily comfort.
Location: Raleigh, NC
Scope: Residential interior design
Style: Modern, warm, woodsy, eclectic
Design Highlights
- Phased approach, cohesive result — Living room, dining room, kitchen sitting room, and primary bedroom came first, with the guest bath following in phase two, all guided by one unified vision.
- Working with the architecture, not against it — Selections were chosen to restore the home's contemporary identity and play up its wooded, light-filled setting rather than fight it.
- A budget-savvy built-in solution — Outdated built-ins were swapped for freestanding bookshelves, with only the affected section of hardwood refinished — a near-invisible fix that saved the rest of the original floor.
- Preserved craftsmanship — Existing wood trim from the old built-ins was carefully retained and integrated into the new design.
- A home full of story — Art and travel finds, including pieces from the couple's time in Spain, are mixed with existing furnishings for a curated, personal, lived-in feel.
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