Designing a Raleigh Home to Bring in Serenity

We’re walking you through one of our favorite recent projects, a serene Raleigh home where the goal was to bring light, texture, and a coastal calm into two very different bedrooms. Beginning in December 2023, this six-month project grew from a shared inspiration board into something that genuinely belonged to our clients, room by room.

The Vision

Our goal was to bring that vision to life by elevating a few of their spaces by adding texture and original art to their existing furniture.

Where we started

For the primary bedroom, our client had great anchor pieces that she had purchased on her own. However, was having a hard time pulling the space together and bringing the feeling she wanted to evoke. For the guest bedroom, we had a blank slate. And with wanting two completely different visions for those two rooms, one light and airy while the other dark and moody, we had our work cut out for us.

How We Brought the Vision to Life

Our process almost always begins with texture. We like to build a design around one strong pattern anchor, a rug or a wallpaper, and let the rest of the room follow from there. For the primary bedroom, we brought Coastal Carolina to Raleigh, designing the entire space around our clients’ existing pieces, their blue dresser and upholstered creme headboard. Being a full-service firm with experienced interior designers, we are trained to read between the lines, and this room delivered exactly what our clients were hoping for: light, airy, welcoming, cozy, and comfortable.

The primary bedroom, located poolside, inspired much of the creative direction here. Knowing our client had lived by the beach, we wanted the space to carry that same unhurried ease, coastal and calm.

The incorporation of the abstract blue wallpaper was a big YES for designer and client when emphasizing their tall ceilings; not only portraying the movement of the ocean but adding dimension to the room.

We also sourced a commissioned, original art piece by Venezuelan artist Ana Maria Mariana, based in Miami, who uniquely wraps birch wood with yarn. This addition further elevated the space by introducing another layer of texture. The neutral tones of the piece play seamlessly into the feeling of beach sand underfoot.

When two rooms in the same home are pulling in completely opposite directions aesthetically, the work is in trusting your training and letting each space find its own identity.

When designing two rooms with opposite aesthetics, this mentality was key.

The Guest Bedroom

Contrary to the soft, light feel of the Coastal Carolina primary bedroom, the guest room gave us all the dark and moody energy we wanted as we entered “Emerald Island.” Similarly, we wove in texture here too. The design of this room centered on the neutral and warm tones that anchor the space throughout.

Similarly, to the primary bedroom we added a bit of texture. However, the design of this room was focused around the neutral and warm tones seen throughout the space. 

How did the vision come together?

If it’s not a rug tying the finishing look together, it’s our go-to shade of walnut, which never fails. You can see it here in the way the dresser blends with the wood from the pendant ceiling light, grounding the room without competing with the moodier elements around it.

Not to mention, the made to order pendant light effortlessly added to the moody aesthetic, creating that extra pizzazz us designers love.

Don’t you furret

When designing for pet owners, we build performance from the start, not as an afterthought.

This primary bedroom includes washable, dry clean friendly custom bedding that is durable to pet wear and tear, in addition to a hand-knotted rug, best for avoiding snags in material made by pet claws.

TEW DESIGN STUDIO

Do you have a vision for your home you need help designing? Let your aura shine through with our designs!