The midcentury modern architecture scene in Richmond, Virginia, is small but mighty—and when a retro house hits the market, fans of the era can’t help but notice. When Ron and Sarah Villacarillo discovered a listing for a house in Richmond’s Bon Air neighborhood designed by famed Virginia architect Alan McCullough, the couple had stars in their eyes.

Before: Exterior

The Villacarillos have a deep appreciation for the midcentury aesthetic, and they knew of McCullough’s work—although after touring the home, they could tell it needed a gut renovation in order to bring it back to life. Everything from the wiring to the plumbing and cabinetry was original to the 1950s.

After: Exterior

Before making an offer, the couple called a handful of local design-build companies to see what type of renovation was possible for the old house. They landed on RIC Design Build, a firm that understood the midcentury vernacular and had the architectural vision to take on the multifaceted project. The Villacarillos purchased the 2,700-square-foot home in February 2019, and that summer they kicked off a year-long renovation.

Before + After: Front Porch

Before: Foyer

“This was our first time doing a renovation. We knew we were getting into something pretty serious, but we loved the process,” says Ron, who is the creative director for the local advertising firm Yebo. Ron embraced his inner artist and used Photoshop to design the future look of the house, tearing down walls and changing finishes with a few clicks of his computer mouse.

After: Foyer

RIC Design Build spearheaded a total gut and the installation of fresh plumbing, electrical, insulation, and utilities—plus a new HVAC system and roof. They also made structural changes along the way, opening up the closed-off kitchen to the living and dining rooms to create a sprawling open-concept space.

Before: Living Room

“That was the first idea,” Ron says. “We needed to open up this entire space.” Now that the kitchen wall has been removed, a large exposed beam cuts across the vaulted ceiling to keep the living space structurally sound. For further support, the design team installed a large beam in the attic that runs the length of the entire home.

After: Living Room

RIC Design Build reconfigured the three bedrooms, along with the bathrooms, to function better for the couple, and they expanded the primary bedroom along with its closet. They also split an original full bath to create an en suite for the primary bedroom and a powder room off the hallway.

Before: Kitchen

The team refinished the oak flooring in the entryway and ripped up carpeting and asbestos tile throughout. Now, original polished concrete floors run throughout the open-concept kitchen/dining/living space.

After: Kitchen

Shop the Look

The Villacarillos sought to strike a balance between paying homage to the house and architect and making their new home relevant for today. The couple wanted to play up the midcentury vibe, but they had to cherry pick which details to keep.

“That was the decision all year long—do we keep this, or do we upgrade? And then, how do we meet halfway so we are paying homage?,” says Ron. “Would Alan say, ‘This is cool, this works?’”

Before: Dining

Dining: After

Before: Primary Bathroom

After: Primary Bathroom

The couple also drew design inspiration from their love for warm, sunny locales like Hawaii, Mexico, and Southern California, which can be seen in their wallpaper selections, wood finishes, and decorative touches throughout the home.

Before: Guest Bathroom

After: Guest Bathroom

Sarah, who works as an occupational therapist/certified hand therapist, and has a penchant for interior design, headed up the process of choosing finishes and decorative details.

New Powder Room

Sarah took aesthetic cues from the home’s midcentury bones, and she also considered the life span of design elements. She sought to make timeless material selections—so that in 10 years the house would still feel relevant and not dated—while making sure that each finish and material was a nod to the midcentury era.

Before: Exterior + Landscaping

After: Exterior + Landscaping

“It was that filter of choosing timeless finishes that were also an homage,” Ron says. “If we liked something new, we put it through the filter of, ‘Did they do this in the ’50s and ’60s?’ And, ‘what is the fresh take on this?’”

Related Reading:

50 Best Midcentury Home Renovations That Honor Their Roots

Journey by Design: Richmond, Virginia

Project Credits:

Builder/General Contractor: RIC Design Build / @ricdesignbuild

Structural Engineer: Konefal & Company, Inc.

Landscape Design: Evan Froelich with Fern Hill Landscaping & Nursery

Interior Design: Sarah Villacarillo

Sound Engineer: Livewire

Cabinetry Design/Installation: Michael Weidner with Radhaus Kabinett Co.