INTERIORS
Mid-Century
WRITTEN BY
Aida Saul PHOTOGRAPHY BY Brianne Williams EDITED BY Nicole Crews
Modern
When you think of Charlotte , North Carolina , Mid-Century Modern architecture isn ’ t the first thing that comes to mind . So in 2011 , when Leslie and John Culbertson purchased the Lassiter House and approached me about designing the home , I dove right in , Bauhaus-inspired pool and all .
Designed by renowned native North Carolina architect A . G . Odell Jr ., the house ’ s bones — wide open spaces , window walls , extended eaves , and lack of ornamentation — exemplified the international style . The fact that the historic 1952 iconic structure laid in stark contrast with the stone and brick homes of Charlotte ’ s Eastover neighborhood was part of the appeal , even though the home had been unoccupied for years and was in major disrepair . Incredible photographs taken of the house after completion lined the mantel ledge and made it alluring to imagine restoring this home to its former glory . So we set out on a journey to preserve the structure and create a vibrant and exciting home to suit the needs of the Culbertson family including rescue dog Hamlet and sons McRae , Luke and Julian .
The most important decision came at the front end of the project . In 1970 an addition including a salt water pool with a structure including a large den with a dressing room and bath was created . Due to an extreme pitch of the roof and the awkward placement of the structure that closed off the egress to the back yard , it was decided that it should be demolished and the house returned to its original footprint .
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