When these new homeowners fell in love with ten acres in Tryon perfect for their wholesale plant business, they knew the 1.5-story brick bungalow that came with it needed serious work. The bones were good, but the systems were outdated and the interior felt dark and cramped. They wanted a bright, modern farmhouse that could accommodate their active outdoor lifestyle and welcome extended family when they visited.

The existing floor plan presented several challenges. With the front door facing the road but the driveway approaching from the side, guests were never quite sure where to enter. The downstairs had three small bedrooms squeezed around a single bathroom, while upstairs offered two rooms and a doorless bathroom with barely enough headroom to meet code. The kitchen was barely functional, and there was no laundry room to speak of.

As their architect, I worked with them to reimagine how the house could function for their lives. We moved the main entrance to face the driveway and shifted the interior stairs to create a proper foyer. The main level bathroom gained eighteen precious inches, and we carved out space for a real kitchen with a small island. The back porch was enclosed to become a combined laundry room and pantry, improving the flow between the living room, dining room, and kitchen.

The second floor required a bigger intervention. We removed the existing roof and added a couple feet of knee walls with attic trusses, giving the upstairs the headroom it desperately needed. This renovation transformed the cramped second floor into a generous primary suite with a bathroom, walk-in closet, and a sitting area overlooking their beautiful property.

On the exterior, we replaced the brick with lap siding and added a wraparound porch—partially screened for those warm North Carolina evenings. New energy-efficient windows and improved insulation created a tighter building envelope. We also added a carport with an electric vehicle charging station to support their sustainable lifestyle.

The result is a home that works as hard as they do—functional, efficient, and filled with light. Most importantly, it gives them plenty of reasons to enjoy both the indoors and the outdoors of their Tryon farmhouse.