To avoid countertop clutter, they installed a tall appliance garage for coffee pots, a microwave, an air fryer and a blender that can be closed when not in use, and they created a pantry out of garage space.

The McCuskers met in Scotland when they worked at the same kitchen design firm. Joanna was completing a college internship and Richy, originally from Ireland, was at his first job after getting an interior architect degree.

Throughout the house, there are nods to Richy’s Irish heritage. A lighted sign in the sunroom asks, “What’s the craic?” “It’s a saying in Ireland that would be like people here saying, ‘What’s up? What’s going on? What’s the story? What’s the gossip?’” Joanna said.

Much of their artwork has Irish connections, too. A painting in the sunroom depicts “a session,” which Joanna said is where all the musicians come to sit at the pub and play music together. In the hallway, there’s a painting of the ocean at Dingle, Ireland, and one from Richy’s hometown by Frances McKenna.

“The Musicians” by Irish artist John B. Vallely hangs above one of the fireplaces. “We were in Ireland two years ago and saw his work and loved it,” Joanna said. “My husband grew up in the country in Ireland, and his grandfather played in what they call a ceílí band, which is a traditional Irish music band. They were very famous in the U.K. and Ireland. All the grandchildren know an instrument. Richy’s is the accordion; his brother plays the bodhran, the Irish drum; and his sister plays the tin whistle. They all play, so it’s very common to go into a pub in Ireland and have everyone take their musical instrument, and they just sit down and have a Guinness and play. Richy plays in an Irish band here in Fayetteville. They usually play at Crisis Brewing the first Sunday evening of the month.”

Joanna calls the style of the house “elevated traditional,” pointing to the rounded handrail, spindles, fluting on the cabinetwork and glass that are more traditional. She used natural products around the fireplace and white oak cabinetry. “We were trying to be authentic with our art and with our decorations too,” she said, “trying not to just go to Target and fill the shelves but putting things in that mean something and also trying to take out all the clutter so that, in 10 years, we don’t feel like the house is coming in on us.”

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​For the McCuskers, the remodel was smooth and easy — from the people who worked on the house to the choice of furnishings. Richy was key with furnishing and finishes because of his insight through his job at Sam’s Club, and Joanna is grateful for all the subs who applied their skills and talent to the house. “I felt lucky to have such great people here doing the work,” she said.