A Wesley Heights Duplex Becomes Two Airbnb Units

In 2021, the new owners of a Wesley Heights duplex hired designer Laura Roach to transform the home into two Airbnb units: the King’s Quarters and Queen’s Quarters. The 4,128-square-foot home, built in 1937, was a designer’s playground; Roach could incorporate bold elements better suited to short-term stays than full-time living. Throughout, she took cues from the home’s history while meeting the demands of modern guests, from families to corporate groups. “They want to be comfortable,” she says. “They don’t want to sleep in a creaky old bed George Washington whittled.” 

Living Room

“The living room sets the tone of the whole house,” Roach says. “There are so many funky things going on.” The rug, which features beetles and butterflies, is washable—important for a dog-friendly rental with high turnover. One of the first pieces guests see has a personal touch; Roach hand-glued 445 chess pieces in the acrylic shadow boxes that hang on the wall. She found a historic metal rocking horse to tie the room into the hunting theme that runs through the King’s Quarters. “I can’t say I have a favorite room,” Roach says. “There are special little treasures in each room that are my favorite.”

Wall Color Sherwin-Williams’ Aloe
Cabinet and Trim Color Sherwin-Williams’ Jadite
Rug Ruggable
Cast Iron Horse, Bronzed Bell, Cat Magnifying Glass Main Street Antiques
Chandelier Ballard Design
Drapes Ballard Design
Coffee Table Wayfair

Hound-Themed Bathroom 

The owners’ love of dogs dovetails with royal hunting traditions in the King’s Quarters’ hound-themed bathroom. Towels hang from dog-tail hooks, and Roach commissioned a portrait of the owners’ dog, Mashed Potato, in Old English garb. She sourced the shower’s unique concrete dog tile from New Jersey-based LiLi Tile. “I definitely wanted to incorporate that amazing tile because they don’t sell that at Lowe’s,” she says. “I had to seek that out.” If she had her way, she’d have tiled the entire shower in it, but because it was expensive and concrete is more porous than the traditional porcelain, she opted to combine it with a garnet tile—this one from Lowe’s. Roach strived to pair premium design elements with approachable options and vintage finds that gave the home a unique feel without blowing the budget. The bold garnet tile was almost too unique; the owner panicked at first. Roach laughs and says, “He apologized 100 times after it was finished.”

Hound Tile LiLi Tile
Garnet Tile Lowe’s
Dog Hooks Amazon
Dog Portrait Custom
Wall Color Sherwin-Williams’ Cold Foam
Trim Color Sherwin-Williams’ Teakwood

Jungle Bedroom 

In the Queen’s Quarters, Roach designed a kids’ room that’s fun for visits but pushes the limits of what a homeowner may want. “I don’t know if a parent would allow their child to have like a jungle in their home,” she says. “I wanted kids to fight to get into that room.” The twin beds’ striped bedding contrasts with a pink jungle-animal wallpaper; the big-cat stuffed animals, wall hanging, and rug make the room a playful, exotic escape—and not just for kids. Bachelorette parties and corporate groups rent the home as often as families, so Roach elevated the room with swank touches that reminded her of country clubs and glasses of bourbon. The “happy medium” is as suitable for kids as for bridesmaids and “Bob from accounting.”

Tiger Rug The Cleveland Furniture Co.
Wallpaper Wayfair
Nightstand Wayfair

Green Kitchen 

Airbnb guests, Roach says, want a “fun, happy wow factor that they don’t get in a normal home.” The King’s Quarters kitchen fits the bill. Roach landed on a two-tone variation of the popular color-drenching trend after carrying around the Sherwin-Williams color book for days. “I wanted to work really hard to find the right hue,” she says, “and make sure it wasn’t obnoxious.” A self-described sucker for paint names, Roach chose Jadite, a shade popular in the early 20th century, in homage to the home’s heyday. The retro mint-green appliances, from Lowe’s, honor the home’s history without sacrificing functionality or affordability. “We probably could have put a historic fridge or stove in there, but people aren’t going to want to use it,” Roach says. “There’s a reason those things are extinct.” The star tile, from Floor & Decor, had been discontinued, so Roach and the owner traipsed to all the Charlotte-area locations to snap up the last of it. Roach made the unconventional choice to use the same tile for the floor and backsplash. The tiler called the owners and said, “I think your decorator is a little crazy.” They told him to go ahead with it. By then, they’d learned to trust her.

Paint Sherwin-Williams’ Jadite 
Tile Floor & Decor
Mint Green Refrigerator Lowe’s
Mint Green Range Lowe’s
Mint Green Dishwasher Lowe’s