Patti Roberts saw possibility in a blank slate. With vintage pieces, beautiful wallpaper, and thoughtful architectural details, she transformed a builder-grade house into a forever home full of warmth and personality.
Patti Roberts’ South Carolina home has the layered warmth often associated with an older house. Glass-paned doors sit beneath transom windows, wallpaper brings pattern to once-plain walls, and paintings of sailing ships appear throughout the rooms. Much of that character has been added since she moved in.
After eight moves in eleven years, Patti and her husband have settled into their forever home with their two boys and two orange tabby cats. They became the second owners when the house was just five years old. Although relatively new, it remained in its original builder-grade state, with few personal touches from the previous owners.
“I preferred it that way, as it was a blank slate,” Patti shares.
The before photographs show that starting point clearly: pale walls, simple lighting, expanses of carpet, and a white kitchen with speckled countertops. Outside, the yard had no porch or trees to soften the views of neighboring homes and the road beyond. There was plenty of room for Patti to make her mark.
Before
The changes have unfolded gradually, through landscaping, flooring, tile, wallpaper, and trim. That steady approach has allowed Patti to shape the house room by room, giving each space its own atmosphere while carrying familiar colors and materials throughout.
“I enjoy adding trim and wallpaper to my rooms, as well as adding new lighting,” she says.
Those choices are especially striking in the kitchen. Muted gray-green cabinetry, glass-front cupboards, and a substantial pale range hood now give the space a more tailored presence. Brass-toned pendants hang above a light, veined island countertop, while small motifs punctuate the tile backsplash. Wood stools with woven seats bring warmth to the darker island below.
The styling makes the kitchen feel connected to the rest of the home. Framed art leans against the backsplash, hydrangeas fill a glass vase, and bowls of produce add color to the counters. These familiar, everyday objects feel at home alongside the more substantial changes.
Nearby, vertical paneling and painted window trim give the dining nook a sense of enclosure. A round wood table, upholstered chairs, and a dark glass-front cabinet make it an inviting place to gather. A candle sconce and framed ship add the same warmth and personality found in the adjoining living area.
One of Patti’s recent projects changed how a room serves the family. She enclosed an unused dining room and turned it into a den, giving that space a new purpose.
The den pairs floral wallpaper with paneled lower walls and generous trim. Glass-paned doors and transom windows define the room while preserving views through the house. Inside, a cream sofa faces a large leather ottoman, and warm lamplight softens the patterned walls. The result feels intimate and welcoming, with enough detail to reward a closer look.
In a bedroom, a different botanical wallpaper creates a gentler mood. Blue-green leaves and delicate flowers form a backdrop for an upholstered headboard, striped pillows, and a checked bed skirt. Pale bedding gives the patterns breathing room, while a ship painting above the bed connects this quieter space to the rest of the house.
Across the rooms, Patti repeats elements without making every space look alike. Wood furniture, soft upholstery, and familiar shades of blue and green give the home continuity, while the wallpaper and lighting let each room have its own personality.
For Patti, vintage pieces are essential to making a room feel finished.
“Every room needs at least 3 vintage pieces in it, or it doesn’t feel complete to me!” she says.
She describes her style as “Vintage Modern,” but her explanation is more revealing than the label: “really just that feeling of old and new meshing together to create a cozy and inviting room.”
That mix is visible in the way she places comfortable seating beside furniture with distinctive shapes and finishes. A wood chest with rows of shallow drawers anchors one living room wall. Elsewhere, blue-and-white vessels share cabinet shelves with books and pottery, and a model sailboat stands beside a tall painted cupboard. The rooms offer small details to discover as well as comfortable places to sit.
The boat art also carries a family connection. Patti’s husband is from the Bahamas, and they visit at least once a year. Her collection of antique boat art brings that connection into their South Carolina home, from the gallery beside the staircase to the painting over the bed.
For a family that has moved eight times, there is something fitting about a home shaped gradually around the people who plan to stay. Patti welcomed the blank slate. Now, room by room, she is giving it a story of its own.
