To start, the project team removed a wall that ran through the house, adding a support beam to create an open-concept floor plan. They also joined two baths together for a larger primary en suite.

Then came the clever details.

“Sheila was specifically interested in midcentury modern style,” Dawdy says. “She loves vintage and wanted to incorporate all those aspects, like natural wood, curved corners, and sliding doors.”

Shockey handed over a collection of midcentury pieces she’d gathered, which Dawdy refurbished with soft-close functionality and topped with stone for modern use. Other features she built entirely from scratch.

By the front door, Dawdy crafted a custom walnut coat rack with handmade pegs that pull down as hangers. A sliding inset closet door—perfectly period-appropriate—opens to reveal a traditional hanging rod. Along the back side, a planned set of bookshelves was scrapped when Shockey decided the space was better suited for displaying art.

Near the kitchen, which remained in its original condition, Dawdy designed a striking walnut storage mass with recessed cubbies and a hidden push-to-open beverage cabinet. Inside, its curved profile echoes the shape of the basement stairwell, cleverly capturing what would have been wasted space to house a wine fridge and bottle storage.

“Oh, the math on that one…” Dawdy laughs.

Throughout the home, details nod to classic MCM design—circular inset pulls, curved trim, textured materials, and pops of turquoise, rust and orange that evoke the palette of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

Dawdy says of all of her interior projects over the years, “not one of them is the same,” a point an artist like Shockey truly appreciates. Between the three of them, vision and execution resulted in a most unique and livable home.   

“Collaboration is such an important part of the job—my favorite,” Velie says. “It’s rewarding to have a hand in bringing someone’s vision to life.”