A modern NoDa house stands apart from its Mill Village neighborhood. Here’s why it works
Editor’s note: Do you know of an interesting home we should tour next? Email us at charlottefive@charlottefive.com to let us know.
When Charlotteans Craig and Rachel Richards heard about a new home project in NoDa, modeled after a nearby church, they were intrigued.
Now, they are the proud owners of a three-story Midcentury Modern-inspired house on a residential street in Charlotte’s Arts District. The tiny cluster of homes, called Atlas Homes and built by Tim McCollum of Revolve Residential, stand out from the neighborhood’s traditional Mill Village homes. This uniqueness of this small group of houses is precisely what makes it works — with an emphasis on the artistic and eclectic, the very notion that they are so different is what makes them fit in here. The homes recently won the North Carolina Home Builders Association Community of the Year.
Front porches are a big deal to this corner of NoDa, with neighbors close enough to have conversations with passersby. At the Richards home, mornings are spent drinking coffee in egg chairs hanging from the ground-level patio or eating breakfast on the second-story patio. Evenings are much the same — just sub out the coffee for cocktails.
Let’s take a look around:
Front entryway
Designer Wendy Fennell of Bohemian Bungalow Design picked out this bright wallpaper for the entryway. “We wanted something that was bright and lively and made you feel like it was fun,” Rachel said. “It gives us a happy feeling as soon as we walk through our front doors.”
Ground-level guest bedroom
A guest bedroom ties in the hallway’s bright colors, with purple and yellow tones accompanying the room’s bright gold fixtures.
The kitchen
I always assumed second-level kitchens meant I’d arrived for my family’s annual beach trip, so to learn they exist in NoDa as well made me smile. The Richards’ kitchen is just a short walk to their second-level porch, which has a dining table meant for weekend breakfasts with friends.
Seating area on second level
A spot designed for a dining table is used as a seating area, where the couple enjoys indoor coffee or cocktails. The Richards placed a round table on the other side of the kitchen, where it serves as a dining space.
Living room
A bright green wall makes a statement in the living room. A mini office is tucked into one corner of the room, with wooden slats sectioning off the stairs.
Third floor owner’s bedroom
Is a third-floor owner’s suite a good idea? “We were a little bit challenged in the beginning, when we said ‘Do we really want three floors?’” Craig said. “I guess it keeps us in good shape, going up and down the stairs all the time.”
Check out some additional photos in the gallery below.
Alex Cason contributed reporting.
This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 6:30 AM.
