When Windy O’Connor saw her now gorgeous Southpark home on the market, while it needed a lot of updating and work, it had gorgeous bones and a truly beautiful old brick facade. Not to mention a fabulous pedigree. Windy knew immediately with her artist’s eye what this space could become.
Once the carriage house to a grand Charlotte estate known as the Morrocroft property, this outbuilding was built in 1927 as part of the estate of Governor Cameron Morrison and his second wife, Sara Eckerd Watts Morrison (yes, those Eckerds). Following the Morrison’s tenure as Governor, the couple moved to Charlotte to build their elegant residence and experimental farm of approximately three thousand acres just “outside” of the city. Passed down through the Harris family, the estate eventually became what we all know and love as the Morrison & Morrocroft neighborhoods. The carriage house was purchased as a separate property in 1982 by the architect Sherman Pardue, and again purchased and remodeled in 1993 when it was still a garage on the bottom. With the help of architect Murray Whisnant and a two year overhaul, the garage and its upstairs apartment was turned into a house. Which was purchased once again by a local interior designer and then sold to the O’Connors.
After an 8 month renovation led by Charlotte architect Ruard Veltman, the interior of structure was completely updated ~ the original lines enhanced by a truly elegant remodel. The O’Connors chose to leave the 3500+ square foot footprint intact, instead bumping out with glass walls in just a few spots to add light and space. It is this blogger’s idea of perfection.
The house is decorated with a mix of luxe and contemporary furnishings, all designed to accompany an ever-rotating selection of Windy’s glorious, vibrant abstract art and hand painted fabrics. Scroll down through the house photo tour to enjoy some of our favorite pieces.
Architecture: Ruard Veltman Architecture
Design: Ruard Veltman and Julia Palen Wood, Veltman Wood Interiors
Artwork: Windy O’Connor
Most of the house is painted in a creamy white ~ Benjamin Moore 971 ~ which works well with the home’s brick and original terra cotta floors, and allows Windy’s paintings to hold center stage. Some of the furnishings were custom designed by the architect ~ the kitchen cabinetry for example, and even by Windy herself ~ like the kitchen sconces.
Since no story about Windy would be complete without showcasing her work, here are just a few for your viewing pleasure. See more, with daily updates, on her Instagram account HERE. Or her website here.
Windy’s pieces are priced in general as: Oils $1700 to $3500+, Works on Paper: $400 to $550, and new this year, pillows $170 to $275 and textiles for order .
