Small Updates Reaped Big Rewards in This Contemporary Home

Dramatic transformations aren’t just the stuff of gut renos. Designer and stylist Erin Wheeler and her husband, David, fixed up most of their 1989 Raleigh, North Carolina, home to suit their tastes with simple yet jaw-dropping cosmetic changes. They wiped out the place’s stuffy, traditional vibes (think dated fixtures and finishes, and lots of cream) with all sorts of mini tweaks, including fresh paint, contemporary cabinet hardware and new light fixtures. “Those updates kept us going, room by room, while we saved up for a master bathroom makeover,” says Erin. But the truth is, she’s not totally finished, and that’s the way she likes it. “The joy of small changes is that you can keep playing around,” says Erin. “It doesn’t cost much to swap stuff in and out — and you can keep having fun!”