Home Design & Decor Magazine - Triangle Edition - Designers at Home Issue
HD D DESIGNERS AT HOME &
THE CENTERPIECE
FEATURES
42
Clear Vision
After years of envisioning her dream home, designer Anna Sheppard finds the perfect stage to bring it to life.
52
Enveloped
Color, pattern, and artwork abound in designer Rob MacNeill’s Raleigh condo.
64
Sightlines
Builder Mark Kirby’s design-on-axis Raleigh home creates thoughtful connections throughout.
ANNA ROUTH BARZIN
Designer Nichole Blough partnered with her husband to build and design their new home, infused with bold strokes of color and pattern.
Rooms We Love
An ethereal living room designed by Carrie Moore echoes the fairytale cottage exterior and gardens surrounding it.
Field Trip
A brand-new secluded boutique beach resort in Eleuthera, Bahamas, couples stunning coastal-inspired interior design with luxury travel.
Couture Knots owner Ali Nikrooz showcases his exclusive line of U.K. custom rugs in his beautifully designed Iron Station home.
t’s hard to be an everyday person working amid stunning interior design. The thousands of images we scan leave us with inspiration whiplash and occasionally desperate to find a way to bring even a modicum of that perfectly executed beauty into our imperfectly designed homes. Interior design is often viewed through the lens of perfection, but we must remember that the homes we showcase are still lived in . Beyond the stunning Schumacher wallpaper and Romo fabrics, you’ll find reading nooks that aren’t meticulously arranged, kitchens alive with laughter, and art hung haphazardly, because the quirky makes happy. These are homes that evolve, rooms that bear witness to daily life, and spaces infused with warmth, history, and personality, just like our own homes.
Our annual Designers at Home issue lets you peep the spaces where interior designers actually live. These aren’t just styled rooms for a photo shoot, they’re the places our favorite designers kick off their shoes, relax, spend time with their families, and are themselves. They remind us that if we see beauty where we live, everyone else will see it, too.
Blake Miller and Anne Marie Ashley Co-Editors-in-Chief
on the cover
Designer Rob MacNeill employed bold strokes of color and pattern in his Raleigh condo (page 52).
PORTRAIT:
HD D&
HOME DESIGN & DECOR
Publisher
Michael Kooiman
Associate Publisher
Oonagh Murray
S A L E S
Advertising and Marketing Consultant
Sue Mooney E D I T O R I A L
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Anne Marie Ashley
Blake Miller
Associate Editor
Karin Simoneau
D E S I G N
Art Director
Lindsay Richards
P R O D U C T I O N
Production Coordinator
Shelley Kemper
Ad Support
Stacy Long
Writers
Maria Masters
Brandy Woods Snow
Photography
Anna Routh Barzin
Michael Blevins
Chris Luker
Wanders Studio
Cat Wilborne
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COLOR ME PRETTY
Designer Nichole Blough infuses her Raleigh home with bold color and whimsical patterns.
Text by Maria Masters | Photography by Cat Wilborne
A large sectional couch anchors the space in the living room and provides the perfect backdrop for colorful throw pillows in fun, playful fabrics. Coffee table: Bernhardt Furniture. Chair upholstery: AFC Upholstery. Draperies: Red Fern Stripe by P/ Kaufmann Fabrics.
Blough coined this corner of her foyer her “grandma corner”—the cane-back chairs, chest, and mirror were heirlooms from her grandmother. “She had the best sense of style, her house was perfection, and she’s who I inherited my love of design from,” she says. Drapery and seat-cushion fabric: Schumacher.
Sconces: Crystorama with Mrs. Alice shades.
I
Blough chose white kitchen cabinets for a timeless feel, and the neutral palette allows the accenting floral and geometric prints in the kitchen to shine. Pendants: Visual Comfort. Barstool fabric: Quadrille Tashkent. Window fabric: Stout Textile.
Blough allowed her three boys to choose the colors of each of their bedrooms. Lucky for the color-loving designer, their choices were bold hues that Blough incorporated in playful doses throughout each space.
t was serendipity that led designer Nichole Blough to the plot of land in Raleigh where she and her husband would build their current home. Blough had been scouting the area for more than two years, with no luck, when she stumbled upon the parcel by accident while she was driving. “I was on a call with a client, and I needed to focus, so I pulled off on a road and saw the For Sale sign,” she recalls. “It was the right place, right time.”
Although she loves older homes, Blough knew she wanted to design a home from the ground up and wanted her husband, Brad, a contractor, to build it. During construction, the couple complemented each other well: he kept her on a budget while she pushed him to think bigger. “We had to meet in the middle,” says Blough.
Blough went bold in the dining room, with red velvet and monogrammed chairs paired with bird-themed wallpaper. “It’s nice to have a space that’s more formal,” she says. Side chairs: Universal Furniture. Host chairs: J. Wilkinson Chair Company. Wallpaper: Spoonflower. Drapery fabric: Scalamandré. Chandelier: Maxim Lighting.
The lime-green wallpaper in the bar complements the similar-hued fabric in the nearby kitchen chairs. The floating shelves provide the perfect display for Blough’s collection of colorful glassware. Wallpaper: Brunschwig & Fils. Cabinetry: Aristokraft Cabinetry. Shelving: Uttermost.
When her son requested a red room, Blough was happy to oblige. “Before this house was even a thought, I was always on the hunt for a ‘cool’ red fabric to one day design a bigger-boy room for him,” she says. “I picked this fabric up at a High Point warehouse sale.” Euro pillow fabric: Perennials. Headboard cording: Thibaut.
One thing they both agreed on, though, was the importance of an open floor plan. “Our house before had a lot of choppy rooms, so the main goal for this home was to make it feel very open,” she says. To that end, Blough designed the kitchen to open into the living room and extended the dining room into the foyer. She also saturated the rooms with plenty of color—a signature of her more-is-more style. In the dining room, the walls are clad in a bird-print wallpaper and offset with red velvet chairs; in her son’s bedroom, the trim and lacquered dresser are also painted a similar bright-red hue. “I love a well-collected home, with every square inch full,” she says. Now, it feels just that.
In her middle son’s room, orange takes center stage. Blough incorporated tennis, football, and basketball paraphernalia in his room to capture his love of sports. Bed: Jenny Lind. Dresser: Ave Home. Drapery fabric: Sunbrella. Roman shades and euro pillows fabric: Quadrille. Football lamp: Pigfish Lane.
In the home office, Blough finally has a place to store her fabric samples and design plans. A large table, in the center of the room, serves as a meeting space for Blough and her clients. Chandelier: Currey & Company. Chair. One Kings Lane.
In her youngest's room, inspiration struck when Blough found six vintage U.S. Open prints by Lee Wybranski at an antique store. She clad the walls in complementary yellow wallpaper, a nice change from traditional blue-and-white boys’ bedrooms. Sconces: Hinkley Lighting. Bed: Pottery Barn. Wallpaper: Spoonflower.
Blough used red, orange, and yellow in her boys’ bedrooms, so it was only fitting that she clad the bathroom in a playful, green-striped wallpaper. Shower curtain: The Company Store and applique monogram by Fine Line Embroidery. Wallpaper: York Wallcoverings.
The mudroom was a nonnegotiable for Blough to keep her entryway neat and tidy with three young boys. “Each boy has their own shoe basket and then one sock basket for all of them,” she says. “It worked out perfectly.” Tile: Florida Tile. Wallpaper: Stroheim. Artwork: tacey.co. Pillow fabric: Brunschwig & Fils.
Storybook Chic
This cozy living room designed by Carrie Moore is elegant, natural, and perfectly surreal.
INSPIRED BY the storybook exterior of the home, this adorable living room packs a design punch in small doses while maintaining simple elegance. “Imagine a quaint 1940s cottage clad in Belgian block granite with lush green plantings surrounding it,” explains Carrie Moore of Carrie Moore Interior Design. “This room is right when you step in from the front door, and we wanted the dreamy cottage and garden vibes to carry over into the inside.”
The team remodeled the fireplace and created a simple stone surround that matches the charming exterior, making it feel as if it has always been there. The wallpapered ceiling, with its meandering botanical motif, gives “elevated fairy house” when paired with the green chenille Ferm Living chairs. Top it off with the fluffy wool rug and a fringe chandelier, and this room is perfectly fit for a princess.
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Originally built in the 1960s, The Potlatch Club was owned by East Coast socialites who hosted famous friends like Greta
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it is a
TREASURE FOUND
On twelve acres of secluded beach on the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas, a tropical paradise pays homage to its 1960s heyday with class and luxury.
Text by Blake Miller
Garbo and Paul McCartney, who wrote several Beatles songs,
“She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,”
Potlatch Club notepad. Today,
secluded, luxury boutique resort on the island of Eleuthera.
Bahamas-based designer Amanda Lindroth and Loshusan infused each guest cottage with bespoke furnishings in a coastal modern aesthetic of whitewashed walls and pops of pink coral and Caribbean blue. The romantic 1,200-square-foot, one-bedroom Pink Sands House, pictured, is one of eleven accommodations.
When Hans Febles and Bruce Loshusan first saw the property, it was overgrown with thickets of tropical foliage and brush. The original structures had fallen into disrepair and the ocean was barely visible through the dense overgrowth. But the potential was undeniable.
In 2016, the business partners purchased the clubhouse and dilapidated cottages on twelve acres and began the process of reviving the property to its iconic 1960s splendor. Previously owned by New York socialites, The Potlatch Club was a private playground for the rich and famous, including Elizabeth Taylor and Paul McCartney, who honeymooned here with first wife Linda. But in the 1980s, it deteriorated. Febles’s and Loshusan’s vision was as simple as the property’s pristine, secluded stretch of Eleuthera beach: lovingly restore The Potlatch Club to a luxurious boutique resort.
After seven years of renovating and rebuilding, The Potlatch Club reopened. And the resort is nothing short of amazing. While Febles focused on the architecture and landscape design, Loshusan worked in tandem with Nassaubased designer Amanda Lindroth to design a dreamy, timeless coastal aesthetic. Classic whitewashed arches, pink coral-stone floors, white shiplap ceilings, and cozy wooden porches with rattan daybeds and oversized Adirondack chairs give way to breathtaking tropical gardens and a turquoise ocean horizon. Accommodations are a mix of just ten suites and cottages (as well as a stunning refurbished four-bedroom midcentury-modern villa with pool), each featuring carefully curated eclectic yet elegant coastal-inspired furnishings by Bunny Williams, Serena & Lily, Mecox, and more.
The only restaurant on the property, The Fig Tree, boasts local farm-andsea-to-table cuisine. It also features breathtaking oversized custom crocheted nylon-and-cotton light fixtures hand-knitted by local artisans from Marrakesh-based brand Hamimi.
No detail is overlooked on the property, and it’s apparent from the interior and landscape design to the impeccable organic, local cuisine. After years of renovations, The Potlatch Club fulfilled Febles’s and Loshusan’s vision to bring the iconic Eleutheran property back to its luxurious origin.
The clubhouse is one of a few original structures on the property that the owners were able to refurbish. The building’s original circa-1919 black-and-white checkered floors remain intact and were the springboard for Loshusan’s and Lindroth’s interior design.
Magic Carpet
Couture Knots owner Ali Nikrooz showcases his exclusive line of U.K. designer rugs by styling them in his own gorgeous home.
Wendy Morrison is known the world-over for her fashion-turned-textiles transition and the resulting captivating designs. Here, Morrison designed the room to complement her special rugs. Rugs: A Mughal Painting by Wendy Morrison for Couture Knots. Lamps: Visual Comfort.
Text by Anne Marie Ashley
Photography by Michael Blevins
Designer
A rug by Tania Johnson gives the illusion of marble in the foyer, welcoming guests into the home. Lighting: Arteriors. Hardware: Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath.
In the owner’s suite, freshened up by designer Amanda Swaringen, Nikrooz layered Jan Kath and Knots Rugs as a way to add subtle color to a more neutral space. Chandelier: Visual Comfort. Fabrics: Romo.
ALayton Campbell took over the dining room, creating a tablescape fit for U.K. royalty. Flowers from City Stems adorn the table and artwork by Katherine Boxall was commissioned to complement the room. Place settings: Elizabeth Bruns. Rug: Wendy Morrison. Decor: Slate Interiors.
li Nikrooz has gotten where he is today— the exclusive dealer of some of the world’s most highly sought-after rugs—not because he is practiced in the art of the deal. Instead, the owner of rug showroom Couture Knots has built his name and his business on passion. He’s passionate about personal connection, storytelling, art, and gorgeous design. And none of this is more evident than in his personal home in Iron Station. When he and his wife, Susan, built the home in 2017, the wide-open spaces and solitude were appealing; with his business taking off, it was the perfect time to build a custom home on the outskirts of Charlotte and escape after busy days. “We admired Frank Smith’s architectural work in Charlotte, so I asked him to draw up the plans,” recalls Ali. “Then I hired Goodwin Classic Homes to execute the build and Kim Mauney to do the original interiors.”
Pulling in heavy hitters to work with him is second nature to Ali. “The Charlotte and Raleigh design communities are so talented, and there is so much business to go around,” he says, adding, “I take every opportunity I can to bring them together.”
So, when the idea sprouted to host his newest exclusive designers from the U.K. in Charlotte, he knew he had to get everyone involved. “I wanted to open my home up to these amazing rug designers to welcome them stateside,” he says, “and I thought, what better way to celebrate them than to showcase their rugs alongside local designers too.” Ali called on Layton Campbell of JLayton Interiors
to transform his dining room and Amanda Swaringen of Carolina Design Associates to morph his formal living spaces—all to coordinate with designer rugs on showcase.
Rugs from Scotland design house Wendy Morrison dot the home, alongside bespoke rugs from Tania Johnson and custom rugs from Knots Rugs, both from London. Romo fabrics and wallpaper were chosen to coordinate, and Ali even commissioned local artists to create pieces that conversed with the rug lines in various rooms.
“New artwork was installed by Sarah Helser, who did a custom commission of my dog for my living room,” says Ali, his beloved dog a fixture in Couture Knots marketing.
In the salon, designed by Amanda Swaringen, a commissioned piece by local artist Sarah Helser celebrates Nikrooz's beloved (and locally famous) pup, Dino. Rug: Tania Johnson. Furniture: A. Rudin. Fabrics: Romo.
These special butterfly rugs by Wendy Morrison have been the highlight of her latest collection, and this one adds the perfect pop of color and whimsy for Nikrooz’s powder room. Wallpaper: Romo. Rug: Wendy Morrison. Fixture: Visual Comfort. Hardware: Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath.
“Katherine Boxall also created a massive piece for the dining room to complement Layton’s work and Wendy’s rug, and Brian Coleman celebrated his collaboration with Knots Rugs with his art and coordinating rug installed in my stairwell. It was a lot of work, but it was so fun, and all the elements felt so harmonious.”
Ali is nothing if not personable; his sincere warmth and love of craftsmanship ooze from every fiber of his being. “I came into the rug business with genuine curiosity and awe over the type of modern rugs my uncle was selling,” admits Ali. “And since then, I have slowly built this reputation for bringing some of the most exclusive lines in the world into the United States. For most of them, I am the sole distributor—right here in North Carolina.”
Thus, opening up his home and creating bespoke spaces for a few of his rug lines was a simple first thought. Pulling together design from all walks of life to celebrate these women-owned businesses and highlight their craft was the work of a moment in his mind. But it’s these massive undertakings that set Ali apart. He doesn’t just own a business, he practices what he preaches. He doesn’t just know the trade, he cultivates community.
Behind the bar designed by Frank Smith, Swaringen highlighted a Wendy Morrison runner and paired it with artwork by Ed Nash.
Martha Martha Midgette
Favorite Traditional but bold
Why This Color Timeless yet unexpected
Favorite Pick Schumacher Berry Grove fabric
Dark Horse
Designer Martha Midgette loves a dark horse, and no one saw mustard yellow coming.
WHILE BUTTER YELLOW may be enjoying its moment in interiors, I remain steadfast in my love of mustard. The richness and warmth elevate a space, and when paired with a long-standing Martha Midgette blue, it’s bold without being overwhelming. Mustard yellow brings depth, charm, quiet sophistication, while the blue offers calm and classic familiarity. When thoughtfully incorporated, this palette is dynamic but not loud. The color story becomes layered, intentional, and built to last; it feels curated and intentional, never trendy or generic. Together, the two hues strike the perfect balance of boldness and tradition.
1. Wallcovering in Juniper / to the trade / pennymorrison.com 2. Stout Grace Fabric in Amber / to the trade / estout.com 3. Hope Dining Table / to the trade / woodbridgefurniture.com 4. Holly Chandelier / $2,200 / reginaandrew.com 5. San Marcos Raindrop Carpet / contact for pricing / eatmanscarpetsandinteriors.com 6. King of Sting by Justin Lyons / SOLD / jlyonsart.com 7. Martina Buffet / to the trade / madegoods.com 8. Indian Stripe Lamp Shade / $178 / sorellaglenn.com 9. Sophie Dining Chair in Lizzie Navy / $3,914 / coleyhome.com 10. Berry Grove Fabric / to the trade / schumacher.com 11. Safavieh Lamp / $184 / bedbathandbeyond.com
Francis Speight & Sarah Blakeslee: Works from the Estate of Elisabeth Speight
GALLERY C | OCTOBER 3–NOVEMBER 15
Francis Speight and Sarah Blakeslee are considered North Carolina’s royal art couple of the twentieth century. Their daughter Elisabeth was also a painter and an art restorer. This collection not only features important paintings by Speight and Blakeslee, but also tells the story of the life of an entire family of artists. Included are two paintings by Speight’s sister Tulie, who was a graduate of Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. This group of works by the four artists affords a glimpse into the family life of the Speights throughout the 1900s. A full color catalogue accompanies the exhibition. galleryc.net
Yuko Nogami Taylor
5 POINTS GALLERY | SEPTEMBER 18–OCTOBER 11
In this contemplative exhibition, 5 Points Gallery featured artist Yuko Nogami Taylor turns her attention to the quiet presence of southern flora, using them as metaphors for resilience, humility, and grace. These paintings are rooted in the Japanese Nihonga tradition while reflecting Taylor’s deep connection to the American South. The works evoke a sense of stillness and introspection. Viewers are invited to consider the lives of ordinary people, those who pray for small joys and strive to live meaningfully, through the quiet strength of plants that grow steadily and without complaint. As if seen from the Moon, this quiet growth becomes a metaphor for resilience and the persistence of hope. Reception and meet the artist during Durham’s Third Friday Art Walk, September 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 5pointsgallery.com
The Intuitionist
21C MUSEUM HOTELS DURHAM | ONGOING
Our inner realms defy boundaries. In their emotional, spatial, and spiritual states, the dichotomies of our lived experiences dissolve and disintegrate as our identities become confronted with expectation. In this joint exhibition, Natia Lemay and Xavier Daniels turn inward, then outward, tracing the soft ruptures between the seen and the intuited. Rather than presenting identity as something static or easily understood, both artists engage with their practice of painting in a way that prompts a sustained inquiry into how the self is shaped by inherited structures, cultural perception, and the nonlinear nature of memory. 21cmuseumhotels.com
Chalet Cozy
North Carolina designer Laura Park has created a new collection inspired by time spent in her family’s former chalet retreat in Blowing Rock. The beauty of the quiet mountain town and the deep memories she created there come to life through her choices in painterly prints, inviting layers, and a palette grounded in the natural beauty of the mountains. A mix of soft chambrays, forest greens, and warm neutrals mix with signature Laura Park prints that nod to winding trails, fireside evenings, and crisp mountain air. Photographed in the original home that inspired the line, the collection of bedding, pillows, fabrics, and textiles brings a little mountain magic home. lauraparkdesigns.com.
Boho Scandi
Actress and fashion-turneddesign-maven Sarah Jessica Parker has teamed up with Wallshoppe to create Mysa—a new line of papers inspired by the tranquility of Sweden. The collection oozes Scandinavian comfort and style, featuring soft botanicals and delicate patterns synonymous with the peaceful landscape and minimalist design approach that marks the Nordic lifestyle. Parker’s additions of punchy colors and pattern repeats bring a modern edge to a bold new line. wallshoppe.com
At HOME with Design
The latest releases, collabs, and stories that make living with design the most joyful pursuit.
Produced by Anne Marie Ashley
At Home
Celebrated textile design house Stout Textiles, in partnership with its UK affiliate Ashley Wilde, has released a stunning new collection for William Morris at Home. Inspired by the natural landscapes the late artist admired in rural gardens, the Flora & Foliage collection and the Forager collection feature nature-inspired wovens and cut velvets that draw inspiration from iconic prints in the gallery’s archive. Reinterpreted patterns in fresh colorways offer a new way of pairing Morris’s designs alongside vibrant combinations and introductions for a playful but timeless design story. stouttextiles.com
Current Resident
On September 1, The Carolina Inn, a historic mainstay on the UNC campus of Chapel Hill, is debuting their artist-inresidency program with UNC alum and local artist Meghan Rosenthal. Known for her bright and colorful artwork, Rosenthal created a new Carolina-themed collection featuring classic blue-and-white canvases named after beloved UNC songs like "Hark the Sound" and "Carolina in My Mind." The artwork will be on display and available for purchase through the holidays, with an opening cocktail reception on September 25. Owning a piece of The Carolina Inn history has never been easier or more beautiful. meghanrosenthalart.com.
In Season
If you’ve been dreaming of a magazine-worthy front porch filled with all the autumn beauty fit for welcoming guests, Picture Perfect Porches (PPP) can turn ordinary doorsteps into stunning seasonal showcases. Available for just three magical weeks each year, the design service uses locally sourced pumpkins, gourds, mums, and hay bales to create festive, envy-inducing displays that capture the spirit of the season. The PPP team designs, delivers, and cleans up, leaving you free to sip cider and enjoy the whole season without a second thought. pictureperfectporches.com
French Flair
Modern Matter is partnering with French lifestyle brand Ajiri Aki to release a new collection this September, inspired by the refined elegance and decorative styles of nineteenthcentury Haussmann-era apartments and the Second Empire and Louis XVI periods. Cabinet and door hardware, along with tabletop pieces, blend elegance with intention, resulting in a line as evocative as it is enduring. Each piece of cabinet hardware integrates architectural motifs such as pine cones, swans, and lion heads, which are historically linked to hospitality, grace, strength, and abundance. These features are presented as sculptural, tactile details intended for functional use in daily life. Coupled with Aki’s design ethos of meaningful beauty, this collaboration brings a soulful, heirloom-worthy line into everyday modernity. rjacobsfph.com
INTERIORS
The dining room was originally an unair-conditioned porch, but designer Anna Sheppard and David Myrick of Heritage Construction transformed the space into a sun-filled dining room. While the rest of home was gutted to the studs, Sheppard kept the original brick wall, which inspired the room’s design. Chandelier: BR Home. Wallpaper: Tempaper & Co. Chair fabric: Fabricut.
A
gut renovation gives designer Anna Sheppard the blank canvas to create her dream home.
TEXT BY BLAKE MILLER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAT WILBORNE AND WANDERS STUDIO
Materials were a crucial springboard for Sheppard’s designs. Choosing flooring such as these Dias specialty brick floor tiles—which mimic tumbled brick and are durable for a room where plants are watered daily—was an important piece to her design puzzle. Artwork:
The Curtis Wilson Cost Gallery. Sconces: Visual Comfort. Plant pots: Olive Ateliers.
AAnna Sheppard of Anna Elizabeth Interiors had been dreaming about her home for quite some time. Having lived in California for ten years, the designer’s penchant for a laidback, modern, West Coast aesthetic blossomed. “I mostly lean European-modern-meets-California-relaxed with earthy organic and vintage elements,” she says. “But I never had a space that was my own to pull it all together. I’d been visualizing it for what feels like years. I knew all the pieces and the parts I wanted in my home—I just needed to find it.”
When Sheppard moved to Raleigh in January of 2021, she began a painstaking home search during the postpandemic market boom, and eventually found the one. “It had everything I wanted,” she says. “I love an open floor plan, but I still wanted individual rooms, and for each room to have its own moment and personality.”
Built in 2000, the home was chock-full of opportunity, with great bones and nearly 1,000 square feet of unfinished attic that took up most of the second floor. “Anna has a tendency to see things that the average person can’t envision,” says David Myrick, president of Heritage Construction, who worked on the project with Sheppard. Imagining a more open floor plan with intimate spaces throughout coupled with loads of natural light, the designer sketched out her plans and set the wheels in motion.
The plans included gutting the home down to the studs, save for the original brick wall in what is now the dining room—“it’s one of my favorite details,” says Sheppard— as well as stripping the exterior. Even the existing landscaping was removed so that a more streamlined look could be achieved from the outside in.
The design was completed in three stages, and began with renovating a small bedroom and bathroom space
above the garage so Sheppard could live on the property while the main house updates were in progress. Another several months were devoted to phase two, which consisted of adding a new kitchen, converting the dining room into a home office, and transforming an un-air-conditioned sunroom into the dining room.
Once construction commenced on the third phase— completing the upstairs attic space into a casual lounge— Sheppard dug into her collections of antiques and vintage pieces as well as materials she’d been saving for just the right moment. “I love using natural materials the earth gave us, like copper gutters and copper flashing, natural quartzite, marble, and soapstone. Tumbled brick or white oak on the floors. Materials were easily the most crucial pieces to each room’s design,” says the designer. Tongue-and-groove ceilings complemented by white-oak wood beams define the family room, which is layered with vintage art Sheppard has collected over the years, including pieces by her mom.
One of the most important additions for Sheppard was the plant room. “I’m a massive plant girl, and I wanted to create a wall with shelving for plants and add grow lights that can’t be seen. This planning took some deep thinking, but David figured it out, and it’s by far one of my favorite spaces in the house.” Drenched with natural light from the skylights above during the day, at night, the wall of live plants glows with a moodiness that’s relaxing and alluring at once. “Every design I dreamed up, David figured out how to execute it perfectly,” she says.
When the opportunity arose to finally enact the vision she’d had for her home, it was difficult for the designer to pump the brakes. “My creativity is vast,” says Sheppard. “I have lots of ideas and wanted to create. Trying to limit those was hard, narrowing down and not going overboard.” But in the end, Sheppard struck the ideal balance of simple but layered, earthy and organic, timeless and collected. “This was a chance for me to be really creative, and I think I achieved that.”
ABOVE: The landscape design was as important to Sheppard as the interiors, so she overhauled the entire backyard and enlisted landscape designer Irvin Designs to help install a cleaner, more streamlined garden. “On the weekends, you will either find me in my plant room or in my gardens,” says Sheppard. Landscape design: Irvin Designs.
LEFT: Sheppard worked in tandem with David Myrick of Heritage Construction on renovating the home. “Every design I dreamed up, David figured out how to execute it perfectly,” she says.
LEFT: “The powder room is the one place you should have fun with design, to show as much personality as possible,” says Sheppard. In lieu of wallpaper or paint, she limewashed the walls and complemented with a chunky black soapstone vanity with a marble vessel. Sink: Olive Ateliers. Faucet: Newport Brass.
ABOVE: Sheppard removed the wall between the kitchen and the living room to open up the space but “still made sure each room had its moment,” she says. The commissioned artwork by artist Jordan Vainright Proctor titled Coastal Fog sets the tone for the space. Sofa: Sixpenny. Chairs: Ambella.
RIGHT: “Guest bedrooms tend to be the forgotten rooms. They house all the items that people don’t want in the main house or hand-me-downs that don’t give the space any charm or character,” says Sheppard. “I wanted to make sure I had two guest rooms that were fun but relaxing.” An upholstered headboard that spans the entire wall anchors the room while scalloped lights hung from hooks create more nightstand space. Pendants: Amazon. Bedding: Parachute.
The plant room, as Sheppard affectionately coined it, was a high priority for the designer when she renovated the home.
“I love greenery in a home, so I knew I wanted a room where I could have as many potted plants as possible,” she says. Myrick helped bring the vision to fruition with grow lights, which give off a moody glow in the evening. Coffee table: RH.
Chairs: Sixpenny.
ABOVE: “When I’m not in selection meetings, I’m in my office working and designing, so I knew this needed to be an incredibly functional but design-forward space,” says Sheppard. “I designed the built-in wall with lower cabinets to house all my samples.” Desk: Shoppe Amber Interiors. Lighting: Made Goods.
RIGHT: Sheppard wanted the owner’s bathroom to feel like a spa-like escape, so she looked to natural elements like limestone pavers and weathered white zellige tile. Lighting: Visual Comfort. Tile: Clé.
Floor tile: Exquisite Surfaces. Tub filler: Newport Brass.
The Arabescato Vagli marble backsplash with shelf was “a must design for me,” says Sheppard. A custom hood designed by Sheppard and fabricated by Heritage Construction boasts a finish from Portola Paints to create a plaster-like look. Pendants: Visual Comfort. Appliances: Garner Appliance & Mattress.
ENVELOPED
Once the owner’s bedroom, the living room now soars with floor-to-ceiling books, beautiful natural light, and interesting objects in every corner. Chandelier: Hudson Valley Lighting. Sofa: Lee Industries. Coffee table: Bradley USA.
BEING AT HOME WITH DESIGNER ROB MACNEILL MEANS BEING IMMERSED
Text by Anne Marie Ashley
Photography by Anna Routh Barzin
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a
or
RIGHT: Renovated in 2023 with Chad Metzger of Provision Building Company, the kitchen is contemporary but highly functional in a smaller loft space, perfect for entertaining and nightly cooking. Fixtures: Rohl. Cabinet veneers: Abet Laminati Italy.
WHEN ROB MACNEILL , ONE HALF OF THE ROUX MACNEILL INTERIOR DESIGN TEAM, AND HIS HUSBAND PAUL INGRAM WERE LOOKING FOR A HOME CLOSER TO MACNEILL’S DESIGN STUDIO, THEY WANTED TO DOUBLE THEIR SPACE WHILE STILL ENJOYING THE PERKS OF CITY LIVING.
But their pie-in-the-sky wish list only started there. The couple wanted tons of natural light, indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces, an open floor plan, and preferably a historic element or at least a “sense of place.”
Lucky for them, Caraleigh Mills was built in 1892 as a cotton mill and had been converted into lofts and condos in the early 2000s. And even luckier, their real estate agent owned the perfect unit for them. Once the renter’s lease was up, the couple snatched it up. “We were hooked by the building’s huge windows, brick facades, and fourteen acres of land,” says MacNeill. “It
LEFT:
small corner under the stairs serves as
quiet space to meditate
read. Chair: Vintage Adrian Pearsall, upholstered in Romo fabric. Plaster sculpture: by Rob MacNeill. Art: Green to Gold by Todd Gray.
has a pool, gym, community garden, and a beautiful courtyard right outside our loft, and yet it’s only five minutes from downtown Raleigh.”
Being on the National Register of Historic Places meant that each unit retained a lot of the unique character, like original maple floors and expansive floorto-ceiling windows. These elements, paired with the couple’s existing extensive art collection, became the backbone to the design of the space.
“We wanted an open, artful, and collected space with layers of lighting, bold colors, and interesting textures,” explains MacNeill. The result is a comfortable city-living home with various textures, shapes, and colors reflected in art, objects, and furniture. “Bold colors are a signature part of our designs at Roux MacNeill Studio, and my own home is no exception. I love how color can add energy and interest to a space, calling your attention to different things. Although there is a diverse array of colors in our home, there are common threads that connect rooms and different spaces. The white walls serve as a backdrop for the color everywhere else.”
Before they moved in, the couple renovated in broad strokes, taking down walls, adding floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, creating a white backdrop with SherwinWilliams Snowbound, and converting the owner’s bedroom of the two-bedroom loft into more living space instead.
“Moving the primary bedroom from the front to the back under the loft was a big undertaking,” says MacNeill. “But the trade-off for a smaller bedroom is an amazing kitchen and living space where we spend all our time.”
Taking up about one-third of the loft square-footage, the living room boasts a wide-open feel but with cozy seating and plenty of warm personality. Books, artwork, sculptures—such as MacNeill’s favorite artwork by Álvaro Urbano—and defined corners with specifically selected lighting and plants create an enveloping world that offers interest and comfort at once.
“As a repurposed cotton mill, Caraleigh Mills proves there is nothing better than an old building where honesty of materials and functionality of the architecture is the rule,” says MacNeill. “Almost nothing about the original building was made in an intentionally decorative way. I consider it a playground where I can experiment with design but not find myself bound by a specific style.”
The guest bedroom upstairs is what makes the unit a true loft. Small but mighty, MacNeill packed the space with personality, starting with a vintage shag rug the couple found in Marrakesh. Side tables: Olivya Stone. Lamps: Pablo Pardo. Bed: Blu Dot. Photographs: Andrew Edmund.
The music nook offers a great space to listen to music and admire the gallery wall housing the couple’s long-amassed art collection, including pieces by Michael Murphy, Jason Pickelman, Darrell Roberts, and Bernard Williams. Chair: Thayer Coggin. Stool: Thomas O’Brien for Century Furniture. OPPOSITE: The kitchen was remodeled in 2023 to bring it up to date, using cool gray cabinet veneers by Abet Laminati and a serene blue backsplash from Fireclay Tiles. Artwork: Anne Imhof. Countertops: Caesarstone. Appliances: Wolf/SubZero.
Being that the loft is mostly all one space, the dining area needed a little definition.
MacNeill used the vintage mid-century buffet to help distinguish it. It also doubles as their bar. Lamp: Visual Comfort with custom painted shade by Michael Murphy. Artwork: Doron Langberg, Paul Sepuya, Tom Burr, and Jon Rollins.
“BOLD COLORS ARE A SIGNATURE PART OF OUR DESIGNS AT ROUX MACNEILL STUDIO, AND MY OWN HOME IS NO EXCEPTION. I LOVE HOW COLOR CAN ADD ENERGY AND INTEREST TO A SPACE, CALLING YOUR ATTENTION TO DIFFERENT THINGS."
ABOVE: The owner's suite, which used to sit in the front of the loft by the expansive windows, was moved to the back, under the stairs, for more coziness and privacy. Artwork: Zoe Strauss. Metal sculpture: Fanny Gicquel. Bed: District Eight. OPPOSITE: An extension of the living space, the lounge is cozy and refined, showcasing more of the couple's art collection, including the featured blue artwork by Igor Hosnedi alongside others by Ashlynn Browing and Trisha Baga. Rob's mother even painted a collage that hangs in the gallery. Love seats: Lee Industries. Sideboard: Nuevo. Side tables: Custom by Roux MacNeill Studio.
A Spanish Colonial, Mark Kirby’s design aimed to draw upon the low-slung, easygoing houses of
where he and his wife vacationed shortly after marrying. Architecture: Dixon/Kirby.
Montecito, California,
SIGHTLINES
A Raleigh home’s designon-axis creates thoughtful sightlines and intentional connection.
TEXT BY Brandy Woods Snow PHOTOGRAPHY BY Chris Luker
Upper wall cabinetry was nixed in favor of drawers in order to provide easier access to kitchen essentials and allow for more windows. Pendant lights: Visual Comfort. Stools: Essentials for Living.
When builder Mark Kirby first laid eyes on a heavily wooded five-acre property just inside Raleigh’s I-540 in 2020, he saw potential.
“It felt like a national park,” he recalls. “Rolling hills, a mix of hardwoods and pines, deer, and yet minutes from downtown.” The original plan was to renovate the 1980s-era existing house, but the more Kirby, a seasoned designer and builder, spent time on the land, the more he fell in love with the idea that it could be the site of his family’s forever home. He eventually pitched a bold proposal to his wife, Christin: let me draw something for us.
With no metaphorical fences and proverbial carte blanche, Kirby sketched four different plans before settling on a Spanish Colonial design inspired by the easygoing Montecito-style homes the couple loved and had seen on a few California getaways. “We didn’t want sharp angles or pointy roofs,” he explains. “This house needed to feel relaxed, approachable, and stylistically interesting—something that reflected our lifestyle.”
The initial phases of design and construction weren’t without obstacles. The property, in the heart of the Falls Lake Watershed, had specific restrictions on development, and getting approvals was a lengthy and costly process, but in the end, the light-filled U-shaped house came together in a unique way. Kirby meticulously designed the home on a series of axes, with sightlines drawing the eye to desired views. Every room is single-depth, with windows on two or three sides, flooding the interior with natural light and unobstructed views of nature.
The landscaping, curated by their longtime gardener from Southern California, echoes the home’s laid-back aesthetic. Rather than rigid walkways, guests wander through soft, blooming greenery that favors low-water plants over manicured hedges. “It feels organic and inviting, enticing visitors to stop and take in the nature that surrounds the home,” Kirby says.
Inside, the family of six wanted comfort and flow. “It’s nothing for us to host a hundred people here,” Kirby says. “We wanted a big house that didn’t feel formal or intimidating.”
The open kitchen features no upper cabinets (everything is stored in drawers for accessibility) and boasts a disappearing wall of folding glass doors that invite guests straight onto the porch and pool area. The aesthetic is rife with natural materials, including stone walls, unfinished cedar ceilings, and oak cabinetry, each material adding layers of warmth. From the central dining room, where family and friends linger long past dinner, to the music room filled with heirloom instruments provided by both grandfathers’ legacies, the home is laced with personal history. A framed WWII poem written by Kirby’s grandfather hangs as a quiet tribute, reminding visitors that this house was designed for connection and longevity. Throughout, Kirby embraces timeworn elegance, seeking to honor his love of history, architecture, and family tradition. “I love drawing from history,” he says, “without being shackled by it.”
This home, shaped by sightlines and sunlight, is more than a place to live for the Kirbys. It’s a legacy in motion—crafted for connection, grounded in intention, and built to last.
“In an age when dining rooms are often on the chopping block, I still believe they are one of the most valuable spaces in the house for comfortable, lengthy conversations and connection,” Kirby says.
Chairs: Four Hands.
Table: RH.
ABOVE: Framed by a beautiful archway, this feature wall beckons guests to their own private wing of the home.
Vintage.
TOP RIGHT: The porch was the jumping-off point for the entire design, and Kirby intentionally placed the posts due South to gather a full blast of sunlight to keep the space warm and cozy, even in the winter. Chairs: Steven Shell Living. Turkish pots: Vintage.
RIGHT: The home’s most cozy space, this sitting room was designed to be the same size as the one in the Kirbys' previous home. “It’s like carrying something we love forward with us,” Kirby says. Stool: Vintage. Chairs: Verellen.
Artwork:
Lamp: RH. Coffee table: RH.
RIGHT: Mark Dixon and wife Christin wanted their home to feel comfortable and inviting, whether it was for everyday living for their family of six or for entertaining more than a hundred guests.
BELOW: Both grandfathers’ legacies are represented in the family’s music room—the guitars from Christin’s father and the piano purchased with an earmarked inheritance from Mark’s dad. Sofa:
Rowe. Chairs: RH.
The fireplace is taller than it is wide, a nod to traditional historical fireplace styles, and lies on a direct axis with the bedroom door, imparting instant coziness in the couple’s bedroom. Chair: McGee & Co. Lamp: Visual Comfort. Rug: RH.
RESOURCES
A Museum of Stone
Sunny Surana Contributor SET IN STONE
Text by Sunny Surana, Owner of CRS Marble & Granite
WHEN YOU WALK into our Raleigh showroom, you won’t find stacks of dusty slabs in a warehouse—you’ll step into a curated gallery of natural art. If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen or bathroom, you don’t need a passport to find something extraordinary. At CRS Marble & Granite, we’ve spent the last twenty years transforming how Triangle homeowners experience stone.
My journey with stone began thirty years ago, and I still travel to quarries in Brazil, Italy, India, and beyond to handselect striking and rare materials. From book-matched quartzites to richly veined marbles, we bring pieces of the world’s most beautiful places into your home.
We’re proud to be a locally owned and family-operated business, built right here in the Triangle. Our 60,000square foot warehouse houses the Triangle’s most extensive stone selection, and our design consultants work closely with each homeowner to help them discover their perfect stone. Over the years, our team has helped thousands of homeowners elevate their spaces with surfaces that last a lifetime—and we’re just getting started.
“We bring pieces of the world's most beautiful places into your home.”
My passion lies in delivering the highest-value materials to homeowners. Whether you’re after the timeless look of marble or the durability of quartz, I believe your surfaces should inspire joy every day. Our design consultants don’t just help you select stone—they help you discover the perfect piece to bring your vision to life.
That ’s why we ’ve partnered with three incredible quartz lines. We carry Vadara, the second largest producer of handmade quartz in the world, known for their uniquely distinctive designs. We also feature LG Quartz, proudly made here in the U.S. Finally, we ’ ve created our own in-house line, CRS Quartz, which offers the highest quality at an achievable price point. All three lines are housed in our beautifully lit, all-indoor showroom, where you can truly see your stone ’s beauty.
As we celebrate twenty years, I invite you to visit CRS—not just to shop, but to explore. Touch, compare, imagine. Whether you’re remodeling or just dreaming, your journey starts here.
Welcome to the museum. Let’s find your perfect stone.
Sunny Surana in Brazil, 2005
Gretchen Coley
Contributor
Instant Impact
Text by Gretchen Coley, Founding Principal of The Coley Group
FIRST IMPRESSIONS aren’t just important, they’re everything.
At The Coley Group, we’ve built our reputation on understanding how to craft that powerful first moment when a buyer walks through the door (or scrolls through a listing) and instantly connects. It’s that emotional spark that leads to faster sales, stronger offers, and better results for our sellers.
Creating that spark starts with intentional design and thoughtful staging. But, more importantly, it starts with knowing exactly who we’re marketing to.
We call it strategic positioning. We dig deep with our clients to uncover who the likely buyer is, and then we tailor everything to speak directly to them. Sellers often know their neighborhood better than anyone, so we listen closely. What drew them in? What makes the area special? That insight helps us frame the home in a way that resonates with the next owner.
From here, we thoroughly evaluate the house with our designers to make it palatable to buyers—and especially to the target buyer. For instance, is the ideal buyer one with young children? Then we need to alter the teen suite.
LUXURY LIVING
Is the ideal buyer a couple of empty nesters? We need to adjust accordingly, helping potential homebuyers envision themselves living there. This can involve everything from proper paint and light fixtures to refinishing floors to pressure washing and enhanced landscaping.
In terms of staging, we partner with a professional company that makes the process an effortless one. They introduce carefully curated items (furniture, art, and accessories) and determine what needs to be removed to make the space feel larger and more appealing to the target buyer. Our staging company is one of the few to offer occupied staging in the Triangle, which is not only convenient but helps entice the target buyer by showcasing how they could live in the space.
Of course, great design only goes so far without exceptional marketing. We utilize what the target
buyer is looking for to craft a written description of the home, which we augment with high-quality videos and photography. All these mediums produce critical first impressions, which are distributed via many different channels, from social media to YouTube to kiosks and more. Digital tracking is a key factor as well, as The Coley Group promotes your home through a collection of search options and can then utilize how people are engaging with them to build even more momentum.
At the end of the day, it’s about making a connection. Because when a home speaks directly to the right buyer, it doesn’t just sell, it inspires. That’s the power of smart design, strategic staging, and a team that knows how to position your home for maximum impact. After all, there’s no second chance to make a first impression. We’re here to make yours unforgettable.
Learn more at thecoleygroup.com, or call 984-254-3930.
“When a home speaks directly to the right buyer, it doesn’t just sell, it inspires.”
Botanical Noir
IF YOU'RE PLANNING a room makeover—or even just daydreaming about your ideal space—a mood board might be your most powerful design tool. More than just a collage of pretty images, a mood board is a visual road map that helps clarify the vision of your home. By gathering colors, textures, and inspiration in one place, you can see how individual elements work together before committing to purchases.
Text by Julianne Hughes, Interior Designer at Furnish
INNER SANCTUARY
Julianne Hughes Contributor
Take, for example, a mood board I recently created called Botanical Noir. The concept was to combine disparate hues that don’t typically appear together— vivid and dark blues, terra cotta, and fresh green—and weave them into a harmonious palette. A dramatic statement wallpaper incorporates all of the tones and ensures the individual color elements work well together. As the lead actor, the wallpaper anchors the entire room, allowing each supporting element— whether it’s an upholstered headboard or a zebra rug—to play well together. By echoing the wallpaper’s colors across furnishings and accessories, the space feels deliberate and unified.
What makes the Botanical Noir theme especially captivating is its sophisticated jungle aesthetic, brought to life through bold botanicals, exotic animal prints, and grounding black accents. The wallpaper sets the tone, and thoughtfully selected accessories like pillows, rugs, and bedding repeat its key colors and motifs. This
“If you're planning a room makeover, a mood board might be your most powerful design tool.”
repetition creates a rich visual rhythm that balances energy for a cohesive yet adventurous result.
At Furnish, a trained interior designer works with homeowners to develop detailed renderings and mood boards of their spaces—an entirely complimentary service. Want to try a different rug or switch up the color scheme? Furnish’s intuitive software makes it easy to experiment and visualize the options before making any final decisions. It’s an empowering way to explore style and avoid costly missteps. When the mood board is approved, Furnish can provide each element in the design for a one-stop shopping experience.
In the end, a mood board is more than just a design exercise; it’s a step toward creating a space that truly reflects your personality. It helps streamline decisions and saves time and money. And by having a trained designer on your side, the feeling of overwhelm is eliminated. Whether embracing bold colors or sticking to serene neutrals, a mood board like Botanical Noir is a guide on the journey toward a personalized home.
OUTDOOR OASIS
Green Surprises
Text by David Payne, Owner of Home & Garden Landscapes
David Payne Contributor
LANDSCAPING CAN add beauty, value, and functionality to your property—when done right. Too often, homeowners are left grappling with expensive and frustrating problems that could have been avoided with just a bit more planning and professional insight.
One of the biggest blunders homeowners (and some inexperienced landscapers) make is planting shrubs, trees, or perennials too closely together. While densely packed plantings may initially give a lush, full appearance, over time they can turn into a disaster. When plants compete for limited resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients, they often struggle to survive. Crowded planting beds reduce air flow around each plant, making it easier for pests and diseases to take hold. What started as a tidy landscape can quickly devolve into an unsightly, tangled mess, potentially encroaching on your home’s structure and damaging siding, foundations, or drainage systems. Not only does this diminish curb appeal, but it becomes a costly maintenance issue.
Equally problematic is planting species that simply don’t belong where they’re placed. This is especially common in new housing developments, where the landscaping is chosen to sell homes quickly and not to support long-term growth. I saw an example recently of Southern magnolias used as foundation plants. These majestic trees can reach up to eighty feet tall, making them completely inappropriate for tight spots near a home. Similarly, Thuja Green Giants, though popular for privacy
screening due to their evergreen nature and fast growth, can grow sixty feet tall and spread up to twenty feet wide; they are far too large to be planted close to houses, fences, or property lines.
Unfortunately, it can take homeowners three to five years before the consequences of poor plant placement become apparent—at which point they face the time and expense of removing established (and often enormous) plants and starting over.
The good news is that these problems are 100percent avoidable. The key is hiring a qualified, licensed landscape professional. In North Carolina, homeowners should look for landscape contractors who are legally registered with the North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board. A vetted professional understands plant biology, spacing requirements, and site-specific conditions. They’ll know how to design a landscape that looks beautiful now and will thrive in the years to come.
“Landscaping can add beauty, value, and functionality to your property— when done right.”
Contributor
Carved Beauty
Text by Evan Bost, Director of Sales and Marketing, Bost Custom Homes
IN THE HANDS of a thoughtful fabricator, slabs of stone transform from a two-dimensional surface to a medium of structural art. In the recently completed Emberstone Estate project, nearly every room is grounded by a purposeful stone application, artfully brought to life in partnership with Absolute Stone Corporation. In the kitchen, Crystos quartzite takes
center stage. Polished to a high sheen, it wraps the island with thick 2.5-inch mitered waterfall legs and continues up the wall as a full-height backsplash, anchoring the space with its moody and heavily veined material.
The powder room exemplifies custom home detailing thanks to a custom fabricated floating Paramount quartzite vanity with an integrated
Evan Bost
Interior design by Design Works Studio / Catlin Darner; stone fabrication by Absolute Stone Corporation.
sink. Mirroring the vanity, the floor is also made of this translucent quartzite, and all of it is backlit with hundreds of tiny LEDs, filling the compact space with moody light. Meanwhile, in the pool house, Mont Blanc Marble makes a striking appearance at the bar, with thick mitered edges, a full-height backsplash, and a clever drink rail around the perimeter of the space. Walnut floating shelves bring warmth to the otherwise crisp composition, striking the perfect balance between cozy and contemporary.
Upstairs in the rec room, the wet bar is anchored by Dekton Kahlo—a deeply veined and complex material that covers the counter and beams to the ceiling. Integrated Dekton shelving with downlighting adds to the sophistication, doubling as functional art. And in the owner’s bath, a luxuriously private shower experience is created using bookmatched Francini-Forte Eternal Gold Porcelain on all four sides of the shower partition wall. The polished slabs stretch across the shower walls like mirrored artwork, and on the flipside provide a gorgeous backdrop for the free-standing tub.
Even the floors of this home are canvases for stone artistry—most notably in the foyer, where Dekton Helena sits flush with surrounding hardwoods in a painstakingly custom circular inlay. Soft veining and pale tones create a beautiful contrast to the dark oak hardwoods, echoing the home’s commitment to refined, timeless materials. Each application of stone is deliberate, layered, and unforgettable, giving Emberstone Estate the name is deserves and serving as an example of exceptional craftsmanship for decades to come.
“Slabs of stone transform from a two-dimensional surface to a medium of structural art.”
INTERIOR DESIGNERS of the Carolinas
From the mountains to the coast, the Carolinas shine with world-class interior design talent. The visionary designers on the following pages masterfully balance tradition and innovation, transforming homes into stunning reflections of their clients’ lives. Creating serene retreats, chic lofts, and timeless hideaways, their work radiates warmth, comfort, and effortless sophistication— capturing true Southern hospitality while setting new standards for inspired living.
DEMI RYAN/ CATHERINE NGUYEN PHOTOGRAPHY
INTERIOR DESIGNERS of the Carolinas
DEMI RYAN
Demi Ryan Interiors
demiryan.com | @demiryanhome 855.354.3364
Demi Ryan Interiors is a high-end, full-service interior design firm based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, serving discerning clients locally and across the country. Known for creating bold, sophisticated, and deeply personalized spaces, the firm blends timeless elegance with modern innovation to craft interiors that are as functional as they are stunning.
From home renovations to new builds, Demi Ryan Interiors manages every detail—from concept and space planning to custom furniture design, lighting, and art curation—ensuring a seamless experience for clients. The team of designers is led by Michelle Palmer Murphy, who has a passion for pushing boundaries. The team’s approach is rooted in collaboration,
listening closely to understand each client’s lifestyle, aspirations, and aesthetic, then translating that vision into an environment that feels elevated, layered, and uniquely theirs.
Working on projects nationwide, including personal homes, vacation homes, and boutique commercial spaces, the firm sources the finest materials, engages top craftsmen, and integrates cutting-edge design solutions. Sustainability and biophilic principles are increasingly woven into their work, creating interiors that nurture well-being and connect clients to nature.
With a reputation for meticulous detail, bold use of color, and an unwavering commitment to quality, Demi Ryan Interiors transforms spaces into unforgettable experiences that reflect the art of living beautifully.
INTERIOR DESIGNERS of the Carolinas
INTERIOR DESIGNERS of the Carolinas
Home Interiors
Kefi Home Interiors is recognized for designing residential spaces that stem from a love of midcentury architecture. Striking a balance between vintage and current, Kefi Home has carved a niche space in the industry, emphasizing art, lighting, and textiles. Owner Lauren Branch is known for creating interiors that are grounded in neutrals yet rich in color, boasting warm, layered elements. Recognized in both regional and national publications, Kefi Home closely collaborates with clients to thoughtfully design editorial yet approachable and inviting spaces with special, handselected pieces built to stand the test of time. With each completed space, Branch leaves behind the heart of Kefi, a Greek word meaning joyfulness, amusement, mirth, and cheer.
INTERIOR DESIGNERS of the Carolinas
Tula Summerford of Design by Tula is known for her ability to design a varied mix of styles, combining classic and contemporary furnishings with family heirlooms, curated pieces, and layers of textures and patterns that result in spaces that surpass expectations and establish traditions. The team at Design by Tula is passionate about color, but loves to create serene neutral spaces as well. “It's all about finding the balance and letting the space speak to the personality of the family,” says Summerford. “We strive to defy expectations and reinvent traditions.” Design
INTERIOR DESIGNERS of the Carolinas
CATHERINE NGUYEN
Thoughtfully Curated Design
At Bardi,
CATHERINE NGUYEN
La Maison Atelier
Martha Schneider, founder of La Maison Interiors, leads a full-service interior design studio known for creating richly layered, artfully curated spaces that reflect each client’s unique style, and she manages a storefront filled with furnishings and eclectic finds to match. The design team had the pleasure of working with a client who wanted her North Carolina home to reflect the joyful, colorful spirit she embraced while living in California. Schneider and her team leaned into this West Coast sensibility, layering vibrant patterns, artful details, and curated textures to create a space full of personality and charm. Patterned wallpapers were carefully selected to echo the client’s art collection, creating a seamless visual rhythm throughout the home. The result is a warm, welcoming retreat that feels both fresh and expressive, an inspired blend of East Coast comfort and California cool.
INTERIOR DESIGNERS of the Carolinas
Lauren Burns Interiors
laurenburnsinteriors.com | @laurenburnsinteriors
1330 Sunday Drive, Suite 101 Raleigh, NC 27607 | 919.717.5599
Design should be personal, layered, and just a little unexpected. At Lauren Burns Interiors, I create spaces that feel elevated but never overdone. Every detail has a purpose, and every room tells a story. My style blends timeless elements with a modern edge, always grounded in warmth, texture, and livability.
This 2024 Parade of Homes Gold Award winner, built by Loyd Builders, was a true collaboration. They brought the structure, and I brought the soul. From finish selections and
lighting plans to every piece of furniture, art, and styling, I designed the home to feel curated, collected, and completely custom to the wonderful family who lives there.
Whether it’s new construction or a whole-home refresh, my favorite projects are when beauty and function meet, and when the result feels effortlessly like home. Each project begins with a fresh perspective, clear intention, and a deep respect for how my clients live—because great design isn't just about how it looks, it’s about how it feels when you walk through the door.
INTERIOR DESIGNERS of the Carolinas
END NOTE
1. Virginia Sin's Shado Sconces
“I love that these ceramic sconces have texture and a beautiful shape but can also act as a neutral element in your home.”
2. West Elm's Zuri Shag Wool Rug
“I love the mix of vintage and boho in this colorful rug! This is my dream color palette.”
3. Lulu and Georgia's Carson Sectional Sofa
“This chunky light-blue couch is on all my client boards right now. I love this color for your living room because it is fun and impactful, but not too risky. It also works wonderfully well with so many other colors, prints, and design motifs.”
4. Jones Road's Lippie Stick
“This tinted lip balm is incredible! The colors are beautiful, and it is so creamy. They make them with spearmint and lavender extract.”
Thea Bloch-Neal
AFTER SPENDING nineteen years living in Brooklyn, New York, moving back to her native Durham felt like a homecoming for designer Thea Bloch-Neal.
“The return was both grounding and inspiring,” says the mom of one. “I could see how much this place had grown—how the homes, the people, and the design landscape were all evolving.” While she spends the majority of her time working with clients on designing the interiors of their homes, she recently expanded into home staging. “Home staging has been an exciting way to bring our design perspective into helping homes sell,” she says. “Whether it’s staging or full-service design, it all comes back to creating spaces that feel good to be in—warm, welcoming, and uniquely yours.” Here, Bloch-Neal lets us in on her favorite items for fall.
"I just discovered this brand at a store in Carrboro, and I’m so impressed by the fabrics, the cuts, and the colors! This dress is such a perfect wardrobe staple, even through the fall.”
6. Barefeet in the Kitchen's The BEST Ramen Noodle Salad
"This salad has been my favorite all summer long; it’s so pleasing with its tangy and sweet flavors, and the crunchy textures. I love all the fresh herbs too!”
7. Ouai's Hair Oil
"This hair oil is my absolute favorite. It won’t leave your hair greasy, and the smell is addictive. I have really curly and frizzy hair, so summers in the South make it hard to tame it—this is my go-to!”
