A Charlotte couple teams up with talented family members to lovingly update a historic Queens Road home.
by Catherine Ruth Kelly | photographs by Dustin and Susie Peck
In the heart of Myers Park, Queens Road provides a picturesque scene for walkers, cyclists and commuters with its leafy trees, grassy medians and beautiful homes. One particular house — a grand white Colonial Revival gem — piqued the curiosity of Jordan and Jake Horstman. They were newlyweds and living several blocks away when they dropped by during an open house in 2008.
“I could tell it was special and was drawn to its classic structure and historical soul,” Jordan says. “After that visit, I kept my eye on the house.”
The house didn’t sell in 2008, but when it went back on the market in 2010, the Horstmans seized the opportunity to seal the deal. They moved in with their young daughter, and another daughter on the way.
Left: A Robert Abbey chandelier and pendants line the ceiling of the back hallway, painted Light Blue by Farrow & Ball. Middle: A Visual Comfort chandelier hangs from the bar ceiling, which is painted a custom high-gloss gray. Jordan considers the ceiling a fifth wall, often adding paint or wallpaper to create a cohesive and dramatic look. Right: Jordan stores her treasured china collections in the scullery, which is painted Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball.
Situated on a prominent corner lot, the house was built by Adelaide and Hunter Marshall Jr. in 1919 — the same year the new suburb of Myers Park was incorporated as a village. Hunter Marshall was later elected the second mayor of Myers Park, and his family lived in the home for about 70 years. The Horstmans are the fourth family to inhabit the abode.
“We have met several of the family members who have lived here and love hearing old stories,” says Jordan. “Apparently when they built the house, the materials were carried by horse and buggy down what is now the median of Queens Road.”
The Horstmans have renovated the house twice: a smaller renovation in 2012 and a major renovation started in 2020 that took 2.5 years. Their goal was to maintain the integrity of the house and ensure the updates blended seamlessly with its early 20th-century origins.
Glass Paneling wallpaper by Schumacher lines the ceiling in the living room, where a Kathy Wochele portrait of one of the Horstmans’ daughters is on display. In the dining room, a Kathy Wochele portrait of one of the Horstmans’ daughters hangs above an antique buffet.
“Our architect and builder worked closely with us to make our vision a reality,” Jordan says. “The renovations feel very authentic and honor the original style and quality of the house.”
The Horstmans engaged local architect Ryan Windt, and they hired Jordan’s brother, Will Phipps of WK Phipps, as their builder. The siblings worked side by side throughout the project, creating molding configurations, selecting lighting and paint colors, drawing hardscape and driveway plans. Every decision was considered with exacting detail.
“Will is super creative and spends almost all of his time on the jobsite versus behind a desk,” says Jordan. “We had our sibling moments of yelling at each other, but we would be right back on task the next day. Definitely a different relationship than most people have with their builder!”
Left: Leigh Jones hand-painted the custom leopard mural in the entry hall. Jordan’s own photo vignettes of her daughters hang above a pair of Baker console tables. The grand piano belonged to her grandfather. Right: Sally, the Horstmans’ petite mini Goldendoodle, sits in front of a Schumacher chinoiserie panel in the upstairs hallway. Jordan sourced the chandelier from Le Chateau European Interiors in Atlanta.
Renovating an old house is not an easy feat and comes with many unexpected issues that complicate and prolong even the best-laid plans. But the Horstmans were undeterred.
“At every twist and turn, we were constantly having to come up with Plan B,” Jordan says. “A lot of heart went into it and a lot of blood, sweat and tears.”
Jordan oversaw the interior design, which has long been a passion. She was exposed to the decorative arts at an early age by her mother, Anita Phipps, an interior designer in Greensboro.
Open Spaces wallpaper by Thibaut creates a glamorous setting in the primary bathroom. The chandelier is from Le Chateau European Interiors in Atlanta. In the primary bedroom, the trim is painted Teresa’s Green by Farrow & Ball to accent the wallpaper, which is Palawan by Thibaut.
“My mom would drag me to clients’ homes, auction houses and antique stores all the time,” Jordan says. “I thought it was miserable as a child, but now I love it, and I consulted my mom for her opinion on every room in this house.”
The Horstmans initially planned to leave a space above the garage vacant for storage, but Will convinced them to finish the area since they were already under construction. Jordan and Will, with markers in hand, drew out a rough sketch for the area on the raw wood floor and proceeded with a plan to add a full bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette.
Left: For her younger daughter’s room, Jordan found the four-poster bed, which she had painted pink, at Mount Pleasant Mall in South Carolina. The fabric on the pillows, bench and chair is by local artist Laura Park.
Middle: Framed scarves by local artist Windy O’Connor make a bold statement on the walls in the daughters’ study.
Right: A canopy bed by French Market Collection is the centerpiece of a daughter’s room; walls are wrapped in a York Wallcoverings mural from Anthropologie.
The Horstmans had no idea what a blessing this would become. Just after they completed the renovation and moved in, Jake’s brother came to Charlotte for heart surgery, so his family moved into the garage apartment for two weeks. The proximity to Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center made frequent trips to and from the hospital convenient. Last summer, an Alabama teenager seriously injured from a shark bite was airlifted to Charlotte for surgery, and the Horstmans offered the living area to her family. Jordan’s own family rotated in and out of the space while her mother was undergoing medical treatments in Charlotte last winter.
“It really has become a ministry for us,” says Jordan. “It wasn’t planned, but it feels like such a God thing to happen, and it’s an easy way for us to help others.”
The exterior of the house; old postcards and photographs offer clues to the history of the home and its former inhabitants.
Extending this hospitality comes naturally for the Horstmans, who delight in regularly hosting family and friends. Jake enjoys cooking, while Jordan and their daughters arrange flowers and create artful tablescapes.
“Nothing makes us happier than gathering people around our dining room table to eat, pray, tell stories and spend quality time together,” Jordan says. “The best part of owning this house is sharing it with others.” SP
Featured image: Visual Comfort pendants illuminate the honed marble island in the kitchen, where a double sink by Bottega allows for double-duty cleanup. The island legs are accented with round fleurette medallions, exemplifying Jordan’s attention to detail.
