Just one week before having their first baby, Heather and Mark Johnson reached out to interior designer Liz Goldberg of CAROLYNLEONA for help designing their new home in Raleigh. Transplanting from Chicago, the Johnsons purchased a spec home built by Sundance Builders and needed help personalizing the space. High-quality finishes and beautiful details like ceiling beams in the living room and gas lanterns at the front door made purchasing the home an easy decision. But it was up to Goldberg to make it feel like home.
Having grown up in Chicago herself, Goldberg had a unique understanding of their tastes and vision. “Heather and I hit it off instantly, having so much in common - both moving to Raleigh via Chicago, first-timers at the mom thing, the ever-elusive balance of being a working mom – and we are both huge lovers of design.”
Through many conversations, site visits, and storyboarding over the course of six months, Goldberg and the Johnsons developed a vision and executed it to a tee. “Our client wanted to keep her new home open and bright, giving it an elegant yet rustic feel,” Goldberg says. “We knew we wanted to infuse an art vibe because of the expansive wall space, bringing personality and depth to the home.” Goldberg got to work choosing furnishings, rugs, pillows, and accessories that have a classic and timeless feel but were not fussy or overdone. “It was important to create comfortable spaces because our clients work long days and travel for business,” Goldberg explains. “We wanted to create an environment our clients can retreat to when they come home, but we also wanted to give them a sophisticated, well-designed space that is perfect for entertaining.”
Oversized windows pour light into rooms, bringing to life the vision for an open and bright home. From there, Goldberg layered the rooms in dynamic and interesting ways. “CAROLYNLEONA focuses on mixing styles, eras, and textiles while embracing clean lines that keep our spaces bright, fresh, and livable,” Goldberg says. In the foyer, Goldberg focused on using the right mix of color, pattern, and texture by layering pillows and staying true to the color story of the home; shades of ocean blues, cream, and soft grays mixed with reclaimed wood. “We made sure to deliver a clean, sophisticated aesthetic while using family-friendly materials – which is a must when working with families and small children,” Goldberg explains. Under the kitchen table, she used a Chilewich rug that can be wiped with a sponge, providing durability throughout the toddler years while still being beautiful. The French-inspired bar stools were covered in a custom Crypton fabric, also giving them needed durability as the family lives day-to-day.
Complementing the architecture, Goldberg incorporated different shapes, textures, and materials; a beautiful mix of reclaimed-wood furniture details, luxe linen upholstery, and a few greenery accents, because, as Goldberg says, every room needs something from the outdoors.
In the end, Goldberg says she adores the way the home turned out, but her favorite space is the foyer. “I love how the grand foyer opens up to the living room with so much natural light, and the color palette of so many shades of blue keeps your eye moving.”