An award-winning studio in Lansdowne with midcentury design
by Cathy Martin
At Aaron Pinkston and Katie Overcash’s split-level Lansdowne home, an orange garage door — in a hue the couple playfully refer to as “creamy habanero” — peeks out from one side.
But what appears to be an ordinary garage conceals something more: Discreetly tucked behind it is an attached 420-square-foot “casita” — with an award-winning midcentury design — that’s currently used as a midterm rental.
When they bought the 1967 split-level home in 2020, the couple knew they’d eventually want to add a garage.
“Then in talking about the garage, we were like, what if we just added some more feet at the end?” says Aaron, who was familiar with the construction process from renovating and flipping another property. “And then we were like, how much to get it plumbed?” They thought the extra space could be used for an office or workout room.
Aaron and Katie slowly began to realize that the costs of pouring just a little more concrete and framing out walls just a little bit bigger were marginal.
During a 2020 renovation of the main home, they had eliminated a fourth bedroom to create a large walk-in closet for the primary suite. Adding a studio apartment would provide another guest bedroom or in-law suite if they ever needed it.
Once they were all-in on building the addition, Aaron and Katie were very intentional about the design, from the roof lines to the materials used. They wanted to ensure the quality of the studio was the same as the main home, which boasts a sophisticated mid-mod aesthetic.
Aaron sketched out a design for the casita, then worked closely with architect Ray Sheedy of Sheedy Watts Design, who helped with technical details and window and door placement. The architect also suggested a small bump back to create a semi-private patio in front of the picture window by the casita’s entrance. The entire project took about five months to complete.
For the furnishings and finishes, they took a bolder, more whimsical approach than the main home: an accent wall papered in black-and-white geometric pattern, a light teal patio set, an orange retro Frigidaire that pops against the terrazzo backsplash and sleek black cabinets of the kitchenette.
“People are in love with the fridge,” Aaron says.
Having previously participated in the Charlotte Museum of History’s Mad About Modern home tours, the couple was encouraged to nominate their design for the museum’s Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards. The annual awards honor local restoration and building projects that “exemplify the best of historic preservation.” The casita received a 2025 Charlotte Gem award in the Neighborhood Infill category.
“The owners worked with their designer to create continuity with the main house and the surrounding neighborhood through features such as site placement, paint choices, roof slope and historically accurate siding,” notes a museum announcement. “The casita is so well integrated into the historic property, many neighbors don’t know it exists.”
The casita stays booked with interns and others needing a shorter stay than a typical lease provides. Between tenants, the couple was able to rent the space to visitors during the PGA Championship in May.
At first, Katie was concerned about privacy with a rental unit. “We hardly see the people coming and going,” she adds.
Thoughtful renovations like Aaron and Katie’s are crucial to maintaining the character of older neighborhoods like Lansdowne. This summer, there were six teardown projects on their street alone. But for this couple, renovating and preserving their home — and staying true to a midcentury-modern aesthetic — was always the plan.
“I grew up in a split-level, and I have just always loved split-levels,” says Katie, a Charlotte native.
While the major work is now complete, the partners are constantly finding new, smaller projects to improve their home.
“I think that’s what keeps a house from being a teardown, especially in a neighborhood like this,” Katie says, “if you keep it up to the times.” SP
Photographs courtesy Amelia Winchester Photography
