Photo: courtesy of Bobby Sisk/Nestlewood Realty & Silver Monkey Images
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Entrepreneur LaToya Evans recently closed on a castle-like $1.15 million home in south Charlotte.
“One of the most powerful things about me and my story is that I get to do things that are typically reserved for people who don’t look like me,” Evans tells Axios. “I’m always doing the thing people don’t expect, or that isn’t specifically for young, Black women.”
Who: The 36-year-old communications executive started the LEPR Agency in 2017 and took it full-time in 2019, just before the pandemic got underway. She’s grown it into a seven-figure business with a staff and an office in Uptown.
Photo: Brandon Grate, courtesy of LaToya Evans
How it started: Before starting her own PR agency, Evans served in various executive communications roles for companies like Cisco, Ally and Compass Group.
- Evans’ first client, before she took the LEPR Agency full time, was Mayor Vi Lyles, whose election campaign she worked on in 2017.
- From political campaigns to international brands like Urban Skin RX to local Charlotte restaurants, Evans’ list of past and present clients is stacked. She even consulted for the Biden-Harris 2020 presidential campaign for national African American media.
The house: At 3,912 square feet, this home has 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Some of the best features include a wine cellar, pool and hot tub, wet bar, the designer kitchen and the two-story grand entry.
- Evans’ especially loves the castle-like exterior and all of the entertaining space.
- Evans worked with realtor Nelvia Bullock to find the house.
Style: The house is currently very traditional, so Evans plans to make some changes. She prefers a more contemporary look, with a sleek black-and-white color scheme.
- She plans to renovate the foyer and living room. She’ll paint the built-in bookshelves to brighten them up and replace the stair banister with something more modern.
- Eventually, the bonus room will be transformed into a home theater and Evans wants to build an outdoor kitchen.
- Former client R & R Interior Design 365 is doing the renovation.
Decor: Some furniture from her current apartment in the Vue — designed by Ebony Staton of Vogue Room — will be coming to the new house. Evans shops from a range of places, from Z Gallerie to Homegoods. “I love getting lost in Homegoods,” she said.
Prized possession: Evans’ favorite part of her current home (that will also be in her new home) is a collection of black and white photos that feature cityscapes of all the places she’s lived in. It’s a way to honor where she’s been and where she’s headed.
Just like her business, her new home is symbolic of what she wants to build: legacy. She’s spent years forging a strong foundation and now that she has her dream home, she’s ready to expand her business, enjoy life more and grow her family.
- “It’s time to build,” Evans said.
Here’s a look around Evans’ new home:
Evans plans to make this grand entrance a little more modern by painting the bookshelves and replacing the banister.
I love how the dining space is attached to the kitchen; it’s the perfect layout for entertaining.
The house has a wine cellar and a wet bar area.
This bonus room upstairs could be an office, gym or even a home theater.
I’m jealous of all the parties Evans can host here. The outdoor space overlooking the pool is prime for al fresco entertaining.
Photos courtesy of Bobby Sisk/Nestlewood Realty & Silver Monkey Images
