With a cleaner architectural framework as its foundation, designer Allan Chapman layered in refined furnishings, artful color, and collected details to create a home that feels both fresh and deeply personal.
For designer Allan Chapman, the most rewarding projects begin with trust. So when one of her closest friends asked her to reimagine her newly renovated home—trading its traditional interiors for something fresher and more reflective of the family’s next chapter—the answer was an easy yes.
The renovation of the circa 1928 home was a thoughtful collaboration between designer Amanda Swaringen of Carolina Design Associates and builder Bryan Gerrard of Gerrard Builders, who reimagined the architecture with a cleaner floor plan, expanded doorways and sight lines, refined finishes, improved flow, and a thoughtfully designed addition. “We took it down to the studs with this renovation,” says the homeowner. To complete the interiors, though, the homeowners turned to close friend Chapman, whose understanding of their family of five made her the perfect fit for the refreshed interiors.
Having designed the couple’s home before the renovation, Chapman entered the project with an understanding of their aesthetic, lifestyle, and aspirations for the space. This time, the homeowners wanted a quieter, more contemporary sensibility—swapping bold patterns and saturated hues for a refined palette, cleaner lines, and thoughtfully layered furnishings. “The previous interiors were definitely more colorful and had more pattern,” says Chapman. “With the renovation, the husband wanted it more modern, just more minimal overall.” Her challenge, though, was about finding the balance between the wife’s love of traditional design and his desire for something more contemporary.
Curated, Never Cluttered
Starting with a fresh canvas, Chapman and her longtime friend approached the process as a creative collaboration, volleying ideas about color palettes, artwork, and lighting back and forth. Buying trips to High Point Market and Darnell & Company in Charlotte helped shape a collection of pieces that feel both modern and timeless and a touch traditional. “I looked to keep the foundation neutral with white and cream walls,” explains Chapman of her approach. “And we added in color more sparingly and more intentionally.”
In the living room, Chapman embraced a restrained approach, proving that quiet confidence often makes the strongest statement. Rather than layering on decoration, she established a serene, neutral foundation that allows the architecture—and the homeowners’ evolving collection—to take center stage. “They wanted the house to feel curated, never cluttered,” she says.
Color arrives with intention through pillows, stools, and accessories, elements that can be easily refreshed over time. Having collaborated with the couple for years, Chapman periodically introduces new accents, giving the space a renewed sense of energy while preserving its collected appeal. “I enjoy interiors so much, and I get restless and like to change things up every now and then, so this was such a great option for us to keep things neutral so we can swap out other accessories when we get bored,” says the homeowner.
A Bold, Welcoming Dining Room
The dining room underwent one of the home’s most striking transformations. Once anchored by a dark mahogany heirloom dining set that had long defined the space, the room now feels lighter, brighter, and decidedly more inviting. “It felt very dark and heavy,” Chapman says. “They wanted something bold and welcoming rather than overly formal, especially since it’s such an important pass-through space.”
A dramatic sweep of emerald drapery establishes a vibrant focal point while creating a visual dialogue with the sunroom beyond. At the center, a custom round mahogany dining table paired with sculptural acrylic chairs offers a fresh take on tradition. Overhead, North Carolina glass artist Louise Gaskill’s custom Murano glass chandelier, awash in swirling turquoise and green, commands the room with equal parts artistry and whimsy, transforming the space into a gallery-worthy centerpiece for everyday living.
Tailored to the Way They Live
Before embarking on the renovation, the couple spent five years living in the home, giving them time to understand how they wanted it to evolve. While Chapman’s original interiors were already elegant, the sweeping renovation—including a thoughtfully integrated addition and a fresh design vision—transformed the house into one that feels brighter, lighter, and infinitely more inviting.
For the homeowners, the success of the project lies as much in the collaboration as the finished result. “Allan is an incredible listener,” they say. “She really hears what her clients want and works with them to make those ideas happen. She goes above and beyond to make the process feel easy and collaborative, so you always feel like you have a hand in shaping your home. In the end, it doesn’t necessarily look like her house—it looks like your house, tailored to the way you live.”
Interior Design: Allan Chapman
Architecture: Amanda Swaringen, Carolina Design Associates
Builder: Bryan Gerrard, Gerrard Builders
