ICAA Book Club: Finding Home With Ken Pursley

What Makes a Beautiful Home: A Case Study

On April 27th, 2022, the ICAA was honored to host Ken Pursley, principal and partner at Pursley Dixon Architecture, in the most recent installment of the "Book Club" series, during which he provided insights into the new book, Finding Home. In this book Ken Pursley and the team at Pursley Dixon explore 15 breathtaking homes in three distinct styles: rustic mountain escapes, dreamy retreats by the water, and elegant houses in town.

The homes explored in the book all have their own thoughtful visual narratives, but all are connected on an innate and authentic level by their sense of proportion, attention to detail, and a marvelous affinity with nature. That connection to nature is evident in the soothing neutral palettes, oversize windows that bring the outdoors in, and natural materials such as roughhewn stone and unfinished wood. Little touches of humanity await discovery, such as a sleeping nook perched right out into the highest branches of a tree. These touches add to the distinctly Southern sense of warmth and refuge these homes provide; homes whose open interiors and majestic porches easily accommodate family and gatherings. Featuring their own interior design work as well as that of acclaimed decorators including Suzanne Kasler, Phoebe Howard, and Circa Interiors, Finding Home is about creating houses of inherent beauty that will spark an emotional connection to last a lifetime.

Ken Pursley is a principal and partner at Pursley Dixon Architecture, an architecture and interior design firm based out of Charlotte, North Carolina that specializes in boutique residential work. While attending architecture school at Auburn University, Ken developed a passion for residential and historical preservation that cultivated upon graduation under the tutelage of his mentor Bobby McAlpine. In 2005, Ken founded Pursley Architecture and in 2012 partnered with his fellow Auburn alumnus Craig Dixon, forming Pursley Dixon Architecture. The fifteen-person firm has received numerous accolades including the Philip Trammell Shutze Award for Residential Architecture, Veranda/ADAC Architecture Firm of the Year and Southern Living Home of the Year and their work is regularly featured in publications including Veranda, Traditional Home, House Beautiful, and Milieu. Ken serves on the board of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission and is a founding member of the ICAA’s North Carolina Chapter.

Sponsors

ICAA Book Club Presenting Sponsor: Foster Reeve Architectural & Ornamental Plaster

Lead Annual Public Programs Sponsor: RINCK

Seasonal Public Programs Sponsor: Dell Mitchell Architects

Seasonal Public Programs Sponsor: Hyde Park Mouldings

Tags: world of classicism, icaa book club