Healthy Living by Design: Inside the Proett Residence

Photography: Chelsea Lane Photography | Floor featured: Terrace

There’s a certain magic in the way a home can hold both history and possibility. For Carly Proett, Head of Brand Marketing at Branch Basics, the 1978 house she and her family discovered in the Blue Ridge mountains was just that—an invitation to imagine what could be. The lot itself felt like a dream: a rare flat yard with mountain views framed by wildflowers and endless sky. Inside, however, the years had left their mark. Rooms felt dark and heavy, the air carried the memory of mold, and the layout didn’t quite flow. Yet Carly, with her eye for both beauty and wellness, saw beyond what was there to the life her family could build within its walls.

Guided by her commitment to creating a healthy, nontoxic home, Carly approached the renovation with equal parts intention and creativity. Original hardwoods were lovingly preserved, their patina playing in harmony with newly laid Terrace floors and stairs that brought depth and warmth throughout the home. Personal touches tell the family’s story at every turn: handpainted Delft-style tiles in the kitchen featuring cowboy boots and a pup reminiscent of their beloved Arlo, a vintage thimble collection tucked in the powder bath, and carefully chosen antiques layered with modern comfort.

The result is a house that feels deeply lived-in, not because of its years, but because of the care woven into every choice. Nestled among the trees, Carly’s home is a space where family life, design, and wellness coexist seamlessly.

Finding Home in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Built in the late 1970s, the house had been left vacant for long stretches of time. The air carried traces of mold and must, and the layout felt cramped and dated. Still, Carly recalls, “I had a vision for it being a wonderful family home.” With that vision in mind, the couple set to work reimagining the space, guided by a commitment to creating a healthy, nontoxic environment for their family.

From the very beginning, Carly anchored every renovation decision in the health and wellbeing of her family. After nearly a decade at Branch Basics, she had absorbed invaluable knowledge from co-founder Marilee Nelson, whose expertise in nontoxic home building helped shape countless choices — including, most notably, the floors.

Design With Wellness in Mind

The home’s original hardwoods in the living and dining areas carried a timeless charm, but much of the remaining flooring told another story. “Very dated and cheap,” as Carly describes it. For her, replacing those surfaces wasn’t simply a matter of aesthetics. It was about creating an environment free from the toxic off-gassing so common in conventional engineered hardwoods.

That priority led her to Stuga. Guided by Marilee, who knew one of our Swedish suppliers' long-held reputation for solvent-free finishes, low formaldehyde emissions, and lack of toxic glues, Carly found a flooring partner aligned with her vision. After exploring samples and talking through design goals with our team, she landed on Terrace, a choice that felt both beautiful and safe. 

“When the floors were finally installed, I was over the moon,” Carly recalls. “It was the moment this house truly started to feel like home.”

Beauty Meets Everyday Life

With a toddler, a pup, and another baby on the way, Carly needed floors that could keep up with real family life. Terrace has proven to be just that. The color brings warmth and depth to bedrooms and the den, while the finish makes daily maintenance simple.

The stairs became a standout moment in the renovation, as well. Outfitted with our squared stair nosings, the transition feels seamless and elevated, turning a purely functional element into a design detail. Carly’s contractor praised how easy they were to install, while she loves the way they tie the home together floor by floor.

For Carly, it is this combination of beauty and function that makes Terrace feel so right. The floors honor the home’s history where the original hardwoods remain, while creating a healthier and more livable foundation in every other space.

Carly’s Perspective on Healthy Homes

For Carly, wellness is not only a professional passion, it's the way her family lives every day. To her, a healthy home means “a place where my family can rest and restore and feel truly at home.” That vision has guided everything from the renovation choices she made to the everyday products she brings through the door.

Her advice for other homeowners is simple: start small. “Removing toxic pesticides and cleaning products can make a huge impact on your indoor air quality in one afternoon,” she shares. Carly often points friends and followers to the Branch Basics Toss the Toxins course, a free resource that walks room by room through practical steps for reducing toxins. It is the same education that shaped her approach to design and wellness, and one she believes can transform the way families live and breathe in their spaces.

A Home That Holds It All

Carly’s Blue Ridge home is more than a renovation. It reflects her values, her attention to detail, and the belief that design and wellness can move in step. The preserved original hardwoods and new Terrace floors sit seamlessly together, creating continuity and warmth, while every choice she made was anchored in health and intention.

The result is a home that is practical for family life, considered in its design decisions, and built to last.