1820 Dilworth Road E, Charlotte, NC 28203

A young custom builder purchased the home in the early 1980s and undertook its first major restoration, adding the primary closet, shower, and vanity area — the start of a decades-long effort to adapt the 1927 home for modern living while preserving its character. The wall enclosing the backyard was built in 1988, helping define the private garden that remains central to the property today. The home's second major renovation, in the mid-1990s, added new crown moldings throughout, a new living room mantel, renovated kitchen cabinetry, the first renovation of the large bathroom, a new side entrance to the patio, and custom desk/bookcases in the third bedroom. The side entrance and third-bedroom built-ins share a special history: a close friend of the owner's — a well-known architect — sketched both ideas on a napkin over dinner at the house. The new entrance replaced the home's original butler's pantry. Around this time, the owner also brought English boxwood from his family's...