Real People, Real Projects: Carson’s Carriage House

By Floor & Decor

In the bustling city of Atlanta, it takes vision and creativity to transform an old property into a charming and inviting historic home. That's exactly what real estate agent and property investor Carson Cowan achieved with his carriage house, tucked just a few blocks away from the popular Piedmont Park.

Together with his dog, Huckleberry, Carson set out to revive the investment property with a careful eye for historical detail and personalized charm. And to ensure that the home was both affordable and stylish, he turned to Floor & Decor to source the materials needed to complete the renovation.

Thanks to Carson's vision and practicality, the carriage house is now a welcoming retreat that captures the best of Atlanta's historic charm and modern comforts.

A Passion for Preservation

For Carson, this historic property was love at first sight. The carriage house was originally built as a horse shelter and hay loft 100 years ago. Located behind a 1920s bungalow duplex that he rents to tenants, the carriage house adds an undeniable air of elegance and nostalgia to the property.

He states, "I actually fell in love with the small space. It's a carriage house — 600 square feet. I saw the shell, and it just needed a little bit of love, a little bit of cosmetic work."

Staircase in Carriage House

Selecting Styles

When it came time to update his kitchen and bathroom, he put a lot of thought into choosing materials that would not only be cost-effective but also timeless and cohesive. White subway tile with dark contrasting grout was the perfect choice for the kitchen backsplash in keeping with the classics while still being practical and easy to clean. Carson continued this look in the bathroom, adding the same subway tile from floor to ceiling. For the floor, Carson wanted to evoke a sense of nostalgia, so he chose white penny round tile with tone-on-tone grout. Overall, Carson's thoughtful approach has led to a beautiful and enduring design throughout the space.

Kitchen with white subway tile

He says, "Another thing that I like about this house is that it's very efficient, so it was really important for me to select things that all worked well together. Because no matter where you are, you see every bit of it."

Carson's Picks:

[Festival Bright White Ice Subway Ceramic Wall Tile](https://www.flooranddecor.com/tile-decoratives/bright-white-ice-subway-ceramic-wall-tile-914100887.html#q=Festival+Bright+White+Ice+Subway+Ceramic+Wall+Tile&start=1)

[Festival Penny White III Porcelain Mosaic](https://www.flooranddecor.com/tile-decoratives/penny-white-iii-porcelain-mosaic-100157544.html)

White subway tile and penny mosaic bathroom

Easy Matching

Carson found himself facing a difficult challenge when it came to the lofted bedroom: matching the existing dark wood floors on the main level.

Fortunately, he was able to find what he needed at Floor & Decor. Carson says, "Walking into a Floor & Decor store here in Atlanta was a great experience. I walked in, and we were able to find the exact piece of floor, the exact product I was looking for, and the amount of square footage I needed. It was available in-store that day."

He chose upstairs flooring similar to [Espresso Brazilian Walnut Smooth Engineered Hardwood](https://www.flooranddecor.com/exotic-wood/espresso-brazilian-walnut-smooth-engineered-hardwood-100119452.html?rrec=true#q=mendochino&start=1). By choosing to install the planks horizontally, Carson was able to maximize the length of each plank for a clean and sophisticated look.

Living room with dark hardwood floors

Bringing Carson's Vision to Life

Now, the space seamlessly accommodates Carson's prized antiques and rugged yet refined touches, making it a true showcase for his unique style. Drawing inspiration from a road trip to Nantucket last year, much of the decor is styled with eclectic yet traditional design choices. This includes nods to Carson's style icon, Ralph Lauren, whose influence can be felt throughout the space.

Carson was able to create an unforgettable space without compromising on his budget or style. With his diligence and vision, plus Floor & Decor's help, his carriage house is now the perfect place to call home.

When it comes time to decide on styles for your project, the [Visualizer Tool](https://www.flooranddecor.com/s/floor-decor/visualizer-entry) is great for envisioning the look for your space. As always, design experts are here to help every day with [free Design Services](https://www.flooranddecor.com/contact-a-designer). Let’s maximize the potential of your project!

Man with dog on hardwood floors

Next up in Blogs

5 Easy Ways to Remodel Your Bathroom on a Budget

Bathroom remodels don't need to be expensive or time-consuming. Check out these five easy ways to remodel your bathroom on a budget.

Read More

How to Refresh Your Grout

A grout refresh gives new life to your tile floors or walls. With Mapei grout and these easy steps, you'll have a new look in no time.

Read More
Large format tile in a modern dining room

Large Format Tile Looks with Maximo®

Learn more about Maximo Large Format Tile to get the design of your dreams.

Read More
Dog Friendly Floors

Dog-Friendly Floors

Make sure your floors are fit for the whole family with this guide on choosing the best flooring for dogs.

Read More
Tile Transformations: Studio 818 Bathroom Remodels

Tile Transformations: Studio 818 Bathroom Remodels

Need some design ideas for your bathroom remodel? Check out this bathroom before and after for some tile transformation inspiration.

Read More
Top 5 Bathroom Trends

Top 5 Bathroom Trends

Stay up to date with the hottest looks with this list of bathroom trends. These styles may be trendy, but they have a look that's here to stay.

Read More
A kitchen with white brick walls, grey cabinets, and hardwood flooring.

5 Things to Do After Buying Your First Home

As a first-time home buyer, the act of buying and moving into the home can be stressful. To help you get started on the right foot, we’ve compiled a short list of must-dos for your new home.

Read More
A kitchen backsplash featuring gold accent tile behind a marble countertop

Get Inspired with Gold Accent Tile

Discover elegant ways to incorporate gold accent tiles in your home. Visit Floor & Decor for examples and other great design tips.

Read More

STARTING A NEW PROJECT?

Design Services

Schedule Now

Galleries

Get Inspired

Visualizer

Explore Now

Credit Services

Apply Now

Project Toolkit

Design Services

Get expert design help every day for any space, style and budget.

Link

Galleries

Floor & Decor galleries are your source of inspiration, providing beautiful ideas for any space or project.

Link

Visualizer

Upload a photo of your space and mix & match products to fit your style.

Link

Videos

View buying guides, customer projects, top trends and more.

Link