Designers Yvette Navarro and Aimee Flynn transformed a forgotten church into a refined event venue
By Morgan Cartier Weston | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Designers Yvette Navarro and Aimee Flynn’s partnership was written in the stars. Yvette, who hails from Florida, and Aimee, originally from Long Island, New York, met as colleagues at the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham in 2008. They shared a passion for design in all its forms, including branding, interiors and preservation. The pair hit it off immediately, becoming fast friends, and soon began talking about a shared business venture.
Joe Berton, Aimee’s husband, was driving down Manns Chapel Road one day in 2014 and noticed an old church on a hill that looked in need of some love. Originally built in 1887 as a Methodist chapel, the building had fallen into disrepair due to changing demographics and lack of attendance. Despite efforts to preserve it, the chapel closed its doors in the 1980s, leaving behind a legacy of memories for locals.
Joe got home and showed Aimee the listing on his phone. “It had been vacant for so long,” Aimee says. “It was really in a state of disrepair at that point, but I just knew we could do something with it.” She called the listing agent that night and invited Yvette and her husband, Ernesto Navarro, to see it the next day.
“Here was this beautiful piece of architecture in such a state of neglect,” Yvette says. She and Aimee, who live in Pittsboro and Chapel Hill, respectively, saw the potential to restore not just a building but also its role as a gathering place. “We felt like the community deserved to feel inspired every time they drove by, and we got really excited about that.” She and Aimee embarked on a journey to breathe new life into the vacant space and reinvigorate a landmark, transforming it into The Parlour at Manns Chapel.
The duo’s keen eye for detail enabled them to preserve the chapel’s architectural integrity while infusing it with modern amenities and design elements. The renovation process was not without its challenges, but held many positive surprises: the foundation, walls and windows were all in great shape, and they uncovered the original existing wide-plank heart pine floors. “We got lucky,” Aimee says. “Of course, the essentials, like plumbing, electrical and quite a few other things needed to be brought up to code, but we were surprised how solid the foundation was.”
The space seamlessly blends the charm of yesteryear with the comforts of a present-day venue. Soft paint choices embrace the textured walls, which were typical of the period, and enable the swirls of the blue-green stained-glass windows to shine. The original steeple had to be carefully replaced but is now on display in the foyer as a testament to the building’s past. The original pews were upcycled into glossy countertops; interior doors were transformed into cabinet doors and wood found under the foundation became shelving. Boulders that were uncovered during excavation for the garden were repurposed into a decorative wall, and plaques bearing the names of patrons from the past century remain secured to the windowsills.
The team also decided to leave the dual entry – a relic of the Methodist practice of separate doors and seating for men and women – intact. “It’s part of the story,” Aimee says.
The first year of renovations unfolded, and with it came early signs Aimee and Yvette were on the right track. “We noticed people started to drive by a little slower,” Yvette says. “Soon, they would come in and point to their family’s plaque on the windowsill, or say, ‘I learned to walk on these floors.’ We get goose bumps every time.”
The vision for The Parlour initially was to create an events venue. “Think chef dinners, arts events, floral design workshops,” Aimee says. These took place for a while, but soon the same couples attending these events began to inquire about holding their wedding there. “Things really took off for us as a wedding venue in 2016.”
“We were not from the wedding industry, but I think that is what makes us unique,” Yvette says. “We have a fresh perspective on what a wedding can be. Tradition is nice, but it’s also good to be authentic to the couple.” The space continues to evolve, offering several locations throughout the grounds ideal for intimate ceremonies, elopements and receptions; there is even a thoughtfully restored Argosy Airstream. “We love that people are writing chapters of their stories here.”
As Aimee and Yvette celebrate 10 years with their passion project, they also reflect on how integral their families have been to realizing this dream. Ernesto has provided unwavering support, and Joe, who owns Farmhouse Lawn + Landscape, was responsible for the installation of everything on the chapel grounds, including the stone patios and gardens, and continues to maintain them. Joe and Aimee’s daughter, Maeve, who also turns 10 this year, literally grew up in the chapel. “I remember carrying chairs with one arm and her on my other hip,” Aimee says. “It is so special to me that my daughter gets to see us running a women-owned business and that is normal for her. She thinks I’m cool, and she thinks she can do it, too.”
The team has also doubled in size with the addition of two more powerful women: venue director Kristen Roberts and venue assistant Kit Kirk, who have enabled Yvette and Aimee to continue dreaming of what’s next. “They care deeply for their clients and truly make this place special,” Aimee says.
Kristen and Kit are also just as committed to the building’s preservation as The Parlour’s founders. “I keep thinking, ‘if these walls could talk,’ you know?” Kit says. “Thinking about all the things that have happened here, and to just keep that going, is wonderful. We’re not just having parties; we are making stories that people will remember.”
Looking ahead, The Parlour team plans to get back to their community event roots. “We are working on expanding our offerings to further integrate into the fabric of Chatham County,” Aimee says. They envision a space that continues to evolve and adapt to the needs of the community, from in-house planning services to curated events and partnerships. “There have been so many challenges for so many people over the past few years,” Aimee adds. “We feel it is more important than ever to celebrate those small moments and foster connections with one another.”
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