Photos by Justin Miers
Real estate guru Britta Thrift has updated homes before, but her latest project—a 1952 home with mid-century modern lines—had her dreaming up her biggest ideas yet. She envisioned not only updated rooms but also intriguing features. One example: a hidden mirrored door in the sunroom, opening to reveal a powder bath with (literally) a knock-out wallpaper.
“As soon as I got the house under contract, I told my mirror guy, ‘I’m going to figure out a way to put a door in here and make this a hidden door with a mirror on it … I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. And I’m going to figure it out,” Thrift said
The changes Thrift wanted for her home went beyond a fresh coat of paint. For the more complicated aspects, she enlisted friends, a husband and wife leading their own companies: interior designer Heather Gardner of Omo Pre-Construction Services and architect Jeremy Gardner of Gardner Studio.
“It was really important to me to keep the design period appropriate, but just elevate it, update it, make it more cohesive,” said Thrift.
“What we wanted to do was have a timeless approach, in terms of the materiality and the detailing, so that it fit, but still felt like a refresh,” Jeremy Gardner added.
The kitchen required extensive reconfiguration and new cabinetry. Heather Gardner strategically planned the cabinets for the best storage and usage, accommodating how Thrift would move throughout the space. The large center island has barstools on two sides, making it better for gatherings and good conversation. Such attention to detail—with key areas aligning with Thrift’s lifestyle—was applied throughout the home.
This kitchen was the starting point of the collaborative project; additional needs and ideas grew from there. In the hallway, another hidden door was fabricated to connect the hall and primary bathroom—a clever way to gain more space for the primary suite. Additionally, large wooden panels were added to warm up the living room area and complement the room’s stunning original marble fireplace. Rift sawn white oak millwork throughout, with matching grain patterns meticulously coordinated by Jeremy Gardner, makes the home’s design feel intentional and cohesive.
“Rift sawn is more linear,” he explained. “The house is linear, so even subtly, it reinforces that mid-century linear quality.”
In the end, Thrift brought in designer Sunshine Gadbary “to get that last little 10% done,” she said. Gadbary coordinated custom drapes in the living room to function on the original tracks. She also introduced more textures throughout the interiors with special touches like custom pillows and sheepskin rugs.
The final result: a unique and beautiful home, brimming with art and character. Thrift credits her talented team, especially the Gardners, for bringing her ideas to fruition.
“This was a fantastic project. I mean, it’s ultimately my biggest and best yet, and I certainly could not have done it without them,” she said. “I came into it very informed with a pretty clear idea of what I wanted, but they just helped make it that much more informed.”
“There’s a tenacity that Britta brought to the process—and conviction—that was fun to play off of,” Jeremy Gardner said.
“It’s really about who you work with and how you work together,” Heather Gardner added. “I think given all of our relationships previous to this project, it just made it that much more fun.”
