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Raleigh home renovation gets a national spotlight
When Edward and Laura Pack called local designer Ayten Nadeau to renovate their home, they weren’t chasing a particular style—they were chasing a particular life. One that ultimately landed them on the cover of The Wall Street Journal.
Having met online and found a connection in 2020 after losing their respective spouses in the 2010s, the couple quickly bonded over a shared vision: to make this next chapter rich with experiences. “My husband said early on, ‘I want somebody to make new memories with,’” recalls Laura. Upon tying the knot in 2022, Laura sold her home and moved into Edward’s—only to realize they needed a fresh space for their fresh start.
Designing a home with this goal may seem like a broad task, but Nadeau was up to the challenge. After all, she knows a thing or two about new chapters. Born in Turkey, raised in Germany and now in the U.S., she’s spent most of her career as a flight attendant, giving her creative eye a certain je ne sais quoi that comes from a life well-traveled.
Based in Raleigh now for about a decade, she established her firm, I-TEN Designs, in 2017 for both commercial and residential design. She initially crossed paths with Laura, a designer herself, at interior design school at UNCG in the early 2010s—and when Laura reached out with the project, Nadeau was ready to dive in.
First, the couple, now in their 60s, opened up the space, gutting the downstairs to create a welcome flow. To amplify natural light, they painted the walls a crisp white and installed additional windows. Even the molding was pared back, allowing the walls to stretch higher and make the space feel more expansive.
The biggest challenge, however, was merging the duo’s lives. Edward brought over 90 pieces of art from his previous marriage, while Laura had her own cherished mementos. Along the walls, you’ll find a black-and-white portrait of Laura’s grandmother from 1925 juxtaposed with the golds and blues of Chris Roberts-Antieau’s “The Dance.”
Fueled by their love of hosting, the pair prioritized removing barriers by opening up the downstairs and redesigning the kitchen. Styled for seamless celebrations, the new island seats six—ideal for the amateur chef, whether he’s cooking with the grandkids or mixing cocktails for a crowd.
But the finished home didn’t just give them an excuse to host more fetes—it also snagged a cover feature in WSJ. Though not explicitly on their bucket list, the spotlight certainly aligned with the kind of new experiences the couple crave in this next chapter.
“We both just want to enjoy life and life together as long as we can,” muses Laura. So while you might spot subtle nods to art deco or midcentury-mod influences, nothing about this house is conventional. It’s a reflection of two lives woven together, piece by piece.
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