When a single father of three kids needed a Greensboro house ready for day-to-day life, interior designer Kara Cox was up for the task. “He knew he didn’t have the time to build a custom home or fully renovate a house because of his work schedule,” says Cox, “so he purchased a builder spec house that had recently been completed in a great neighborhood.”
The Cape Cod house had a lot going for it already. The good parts: it had 3,000 square feet, with an open floor plan for entertaining, and space for a home office. The not-so-good: uninspired lighting, an all-gray color palette throughout and builder-grade carpeting. Kara immediately got to work, changing out light fixtures, replacing carpet and creating an environment for the homeowner’s striking art collection. “We painted the entire house in a soft warm taupe with blue accents to complement the warmer colors in the artwork,” says the designer. She also chose furniture in lighter finishes to keep the vibe casual, and she mixed in modern materials such as lucite, glass and antique brass.
Artistic details give the house a more personal touch, as well. A “bubble” light fixture by Oly and bold 3D art in the dining room elevates a room often filled with traditional furnishings. Kara chose a geometric wallpaper for the powder room as another conversation piece, and a richly colored vintage rug for the kitchen to break up all the gray. “There are a lot of builder spec homes that can be tailored to a new look,” says Kara, “We did a lot of customization to what most people would have considered a move in-ready home.”
Take a look at the details of the finished product:
The finished product is the perfect place for this family to call home!
Thanks to Kara Cox for sharing this project with us. And thanks to Stacey Van Berkel for today’s beautiful photos.
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