Among the projects most closely associated with Debby Gomulka is the restoration of a 12,000-square-foot mansion built in the 1840s. According to a 2025 CEOWORLD profile, the building was converted into eight apartments, and it is described as a signature project for her firm.
The scale of the job illustrates what historic restoration demands. Converting a large nineteenth-century home into multiple residences requires respect for original character alongside practical, modern living needs. That balance is central to her stated approach, which applies history and culture to modern day living.
The profile describes the mansion project as a signature piece of her practice, and it sits within a longer history of work in historic preservation. She has served on the boards of the Bellamy Mansion Museum and Preservation North Carolina, organizations devoted to protecting historic places.
Her firm, Provenance Lee Interiors, lists historic property restoration among its core services, together with renovation and new construction. Its website also highlights projects such as Fontenay Place and the Julian Price Estate, giving prospective clients a view of the historic preservation work on offer.
Her firm’s website describes her as a historic preservationist, philanthropist, and award-winning designer with about 25 years of experience.
Projects like this also show how preservation can serve current needs. Turning one grand house into eight apartments keeps the structure standing and in use, which many preservationists consider one of the strongest arguments for restoring historic buildings instead of replacing them. The project remains a useful example of how patient restoration work can protect a landmark while giving it a practical second life for new residents.
For owners of older properties, the lesson is straightforward. A well-planned restoration can preserve a building’s story while giving it new purpose. On her personal website, she describes historic renovations as a core part of her practice, and her LinkedIn profile provides additional background.