Triangle Home Design & Decor

We are honored to share that a recent Tobacco Road Custom Builders renovation has been featured in the August/September issue of Home Design & Decor Triangle. This recognition serves as a testament to the methodical craftsmanship and disciplined stewardship we bring to every estate evolution.

Sculpting the Mediterranean Influence

The featured project, titled "Made for the Mediterranean," highlights a transformative overhaul of a 8,000-square-foot Durham residence. After a rigorous eighteen-month search for the right building partner, the homeowners entrusted Tobacco Road to bring their global inspirations to life.

Read a transcription of the featured article below:

MADE FOR THE Mediterranean A Durham couple pulls inspiration from their travels abroad to guide the renovation of their kitchen and master bathroom. Text by Blake Miller | Photography by Sara Coffin Designer Lauren McKay's clients wanted to build a custom home. But after spending eighteen months interviewing several home builders, the couple couldn't agree on what they wanted their home to look like let alone who should build it. "The whole process just felt incredibly long and tedious," the homeowner says. Faced with a crossroads, the couple decided that purchasing an existing home would be the next best step. After looking at a few in the area, one finally caught their eyes. "We saw the potential the moment we walked in," says the homeowner of the eight-thousand-square-foot home in Durham. "It looks over this beautiful pool and rose garden." Despite its great bones, the home still needed a major uplift in key spaces such as the kitchen and master bathroom. The homeowners enlisted the help of builder Doug Greene of Tobacco Road Custom Builders and Twila Heiner of KB Express, who drew the renderings of the made-over kitchen to install updated and more modern spaces. "We've always been drawn to all-white kitchens, so we knew that was what we wanted," the homeowner says. "But we also love to travel, especially to the Mediterranean, and we wanted that incorporated into the design, too." Upon Greene's recommendation, the homeowners hired designer Lauren McKay to help with the interior design of the home, including the renovation of the kitchen and master bathroom. "They sent me a ton of inspiration images and it was easy to see that everything was white, bright, and crisp and airy," McKay says. "There was no question about what color the cabinetry should be." Allen & Sons Cabinet Shop designed the custom, streamlined cabinetry with a custom finish, which McKay complemented with maintenance-free quartz counters. The designer, though, wanted to incorporate the Mediterranean aesthetic the homeowners were drawn to, which she did by adding the Moroccan-inspired backsplash accent tile. The laser-cut geometric-wood pattern inlay in Carrara marble tile brings a touch of warmth to the all-white kitchen while also accenting the brass hardware and faucet. "IT WAS EASY TO SEE THAT EVERYTHING WAS WHITE, BRIGHT, AND CRISP AND AIRY." —LAUREN MCKAY In the master bathroom, the design team continued that same Mediterranean aesthetic with a patterned porcelain floor tile that was reminiscent of what the clients had seen while traveling through Europe. From there, the team complemented with warm, wood accents such as the custom distressed wood vanity with black trim by Allen & Sons and a chandelier with wood accents by Generation Lighting. The grid design on the shower was inspired by images the homeowners had pulled from Pinterest. "We wanted a soft, industrial look to the shower," the homeowner says. The overhaul of these two spaces completely transformed and influenced the design of the rest of the home. "We knew what we wanted but just couldn't pull it together alone," the homeowner says. "Lauren and Tobacco Road Custom Builders were able to bring it all to fruition and it looks amazing. Better than we imagined."

The renovation centered on the kitchen and master bathroom—spaces we reimagined to balance historic character with modern "technical horsepower." By joining a "white, bright, and airy" aesthetic with Moroccan-inspired accents and laser-cut geometric patterns, we were able to fulfill the homeowners' vision for a soft, industrial, and travel-inspired sanctuary.

The Power of Collaborative Partnership

This distinction is a direct result of the synergy between our expert build team and our visionary design partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to:

• Lauren McKay Interiors: Whose creative brilliance guided the "crisp and airy" design palette.

• Our Build Partners & Craftsmen: Whose unwavering attention to detail ensures the Gold Leaf Standard is met in every miter joint and finish selection.

  
  

A Commitment to the Future

While we are immensely proud of this milestone, we view it as a benchmark for the future. As the homeowner noted, our team was able to "bring it all to fruition" in a way that exceeded their own imaginations. We remain committed to this level of ethical transparency and analytical excellence for every discerning homeowner we serve across the Triangle.

The Gold Leaf Standard: Partnering with Tobacco Road Custom Builders

At Tobacco Road Custom Builders, we move beyond the transactional to create unique living experiences. With over 30 years of collective expertise, our award-winning team brings unmatched technical mastery to luxury residences and renovations throughout the Southeast. We specialize in solving complex architectural challenges with an analytical perspective, ensuring every project, from transformative additions to new estates, is a personal masterpiece of uncompromising quality.

Ready to start your next chapter?

We invite you to reach out and discuss your vision for a legacy home in the Triangle and beyond.

Phone: 919.810.8114

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