Garden District
About the Project
Built in 2002 in Charlotte's First Ward, this townhome became Ashlund and her husband's first home together in 2016. The renovation touched all four floors, refining finishes and materials throughout while respecting the home's original scale and architecture. When the home sold in 2023, it set the record for the highest price per square foot in First Ward, a clear example of what good design can do — not just for how a home feels to live in, but for what it's worth when you decide to sell.
Location
Charlotte, North Carolina
Photographer
Ashley Lee Photography
Upstairs, the primary bedroom was reimagined. Black and deep violet paisley velvet wallpaper gave way to shiplap, bringing a lighter, more textured character to the room. Carpet that once ran through the second floor was replaced with hardwood to match the main level, unifying the house from top to bottom. New lighting was selected throughout, and every bathroom was renovated in turn.
In early 2019, the kitchen received a full renovation. Soffits were removed to allow for floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, with a thoughtful railing and ladder detail incorporated into the design to reach the top shelves. The cabinetry colors were carefully picked to speak to the design details in the adjacent open concept living and dining areas, while the handmade tile backsplash tied the space together. Because the townhome didn't allow for gas, Ashlund selected a Bertazzoni induction range to anchor the space.
Shelving throughout the home, some original to the house and some added along the way, became home to books and personal objects — the kind of details that make a space feel collected rather than decorated.
The rooftop deck was the home's best-kept secret. What had been little more than a utility closet was reimagined to become a fun cabana — designed to complement the space, not just store the essentials. Part garden, part gathering spot, with the Charlotte skyline in view, the deck became somewhere worth climbing several flights of stairs for, sunrise or sunset.
