Condo is packed with personality

Gypsy and Andee, the rescue collie and the Parson Russell terrier that belong to Karie Seykora and Dan Coughlin, follow the sun's path each day in their condo. They go from window to window, soaking up as much light as possible.

"I call the windows their 'dog TV,'" Seykora said with a laugh.

Seykora, the art director for Dewey's Bakery, was avoiding anything "cookie-cutter" when she was shopping for a new home in 2009.

Realtor Clare Fader showed Seykora renovated textile mills in the southern part of downtown Winston-Salem. With Old Salem and restaurants within walking distance, Seykora knew she had found a unique address.

What she really loves, though, is that her sun-drenched corner unit has windows on all four walls.

The condo is tucked partially into an underground space, resulting in the loft master bedroom, located on the second floor, being at ground level. The condo is next to the development's common area, so the dogs get to see neighbors arriving home, fellow dogs being walked, friends visiting and barbecues.

Despite being only 1,450 square feet, every inch of the two-bedroom, two-bath home is packed with eclectic décor and smartly utilized space. While keeping upholstered furnishings white, Seykora and Coughlin have added color with whimsical pieces.

"I love the way Karie has decorated her place," Fader said. "She clearly has an eye for great pieces of art and antiques. Sometimes loft spaces can be cold or severe, but hers is anything but; an inviting, cosmopolitan mix of old and new."

The old Indera Mills textile factory was built in 1910 and then converted into livable space by developer Beau Dancy. Seykora looked at several units and marveled how differently each one was designed.

The original barn door in the upper right side of the family room adds to the condo's charm. The door probably once served as the entrance to a loading dock. Now, the barn door, visible both outside and in, is a backdrop for vintage letters.

The pair enjoys spending their weekends at auctions uncovering quirky pieces. Coughlin, a banker, has developed an affinity for collecting antique pool cues that unscrew and are kept in decorated cases in their small, monochromatic white guest room.

Old, rescued classroom chairs from Duke University sit under a window. An antique mantel doubles as a headboard. Old toy tractors are scattered on end tables as well as throughout the artsy condo. A pop of color comes from a woven, red-and-black coverlet, a treasure from North Carolina's textile heyday.

Coughlin's pottery, another eclectic assortment, is in the "little den." With a corner cupboard built in Forsyth County in the mid-1800s holding the pottery collection, a cozy chair and a television, the space is an ideal retreat.

One of Seykora's more interesting items is an old wooden pitchfork that leans in a corner. After buying it in Durham, it went with Seykora to jobs in the Triangle, New York, Boston and now Winston-Salem.

Outside, the bricked-in patio offers a small but great space for outdoor entertaining and enough room for a container garden. Inside, Seykora and Coughlin's open floor plan creates an easy space for entertaining. The black-granite island in the kitchen doubles as a dining area.

A stainless-steel backsplash adds a contemporary edge to the laminate cabinets, and a mirror over the sink creates "feng shui," according to Seykora.

"I love how they designed a nook under the stairs so that there is no 'dead space,'" she said.

The bookshelf under the open stairs is mirrored to reflect light in what could have been a dark alcove. Upstairs, the master bedroom has a small balcony overlooking the main floor. Green shutters, another great find, flank the bed. A chest and dresser, made by an Old Salem cabinetmaker in another century, add character to the room.

Every bit of the condo is packed with personality and smart design.

"I'm like a goldfish. I grow to the size of my space," Seykora said.