Kirkby Lane

This Raleigh home on Kirkby Lane had beautiful bones, but its previous farmhouse aesthetic didn’t reflect the warmth and polish the homeowners were after. They wanted to make the space feel more intentional–more layered, inviting, and designed for the way they live now.

Kirkby Lane unfolded in two thoughtful phases. First, we focused upstairs, transforming an empty bonus room and a dated sitting area into functional, comfortable spaces for relaxing and entertaining. This phase also brought us briefly to the downstairs living space, where we made a handful of thoughtful adjustments to the living room. Phase two took us downstairs, where we updated the dining area, half-bath, and staircase–balancing cozy textures with clean lines and curated moments of personality. The result is a cohesive home that feels fresh, lived-in, and effortlessly elevated.

📍 Location: Raleigh, NC
🏡 Scope: Living Room, Dining Room, Downstairs Half-Bath, Stairway, Upstairs Sitting Area, + Bonus Room
🎨 Style: Transitional Warmth–Cozy Textures, Clean Lines, & a Layered, Inviting Palette

Inside a Raleigh Home’s Warm, Layered Makeover

Design Highlights

• Bonus Room to Go-To Gathering Space – What started as an empty, awkward space is now perfect for movie nights, family game nights, or simply reading a book by the window. In one of the awkward corners, we tucked a one-of-a-kind wet bar, complete with custom cabinetry, walnut countertops, marble mosaic, and custom shelving–fit to the space on-site for a seamless look. Cozy textures and comfy seating made it the go-to spot for both relaxing and entertaining.
• Staircase and Upstairs Landing Reimagined – Adding custom trimwork to the staircase and putting a bolder coat of paint on it helped this area stand out and highlight the welcoming feel our clients were after. This leads to the upstairs landing area, where we swapped unused built-ins for a cozy reading nook using pieces from the old living room. A few smart edits, new wallpaper, and thoughtful styling turned it into a charming, functional space.
• Living Room Refresh – The heavy farmhouse look got a major update. We replaced the rustic wood wall with clean trim, highlighted our client’s favorite pieces with layered lighting, and brought in a new sectional alongside some well-loved furniture to tie it all together.
• Half-bath Glow-Up – This tiny room now makes a big statement. We kept the paneling, added a rich paint color, and went bold with black-and-white botanical wallpaper. It’s now a polished little jewel box full of charm.

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