"The bones of any house can be altered, but the feeling you get from something that’s already great can’t always be replicated," muses designer Cary Ray. She seamlessly tied the old and new together in this North Carolina home by preserving all of the delightful original details—like fireplace surrounds and millwork—and changing the parts of the floor plan that wouldn't serve her clients. Speaking of clients, Ray's had one specific request: a haute hideaway in the attic complete with a hidden door. The discreet party pad isn’t the only unexpected feature, though—see more of the secrets this home holds at the link in bio.
🏠 @caryray
📸 @willreidinteriors
✏️ @eleni_gage
I remember sitting by the fireplace in my friend’s living room more than a decade ago, sifting through a collected stack of House Beautiful magazines with deep admiration. A huge dream realized being featured in the pages with my own work this month! An incredible honor to be included in such a beautiful issue with so many talented designers.
The biggest thank you to my incredible clients who were fully open handed to my creative process. They handed me their Georgian home without a doubt that I could create something that represents their family’s story, and help provide the backdrop to their daily lives. The experience in North Carolina has been a highlight of my growing career.
A heartfelt thank you to the amazing team @housebeautiful , @willreidinteriors photography, and the whole team who had a hand in making this home what it is.
Get your copy on newsstands this week!
Architect: John Parker Architecture
Builder/Contractor: @lackeybuilders
Photographer: @willreidinteriors
HB Writer: @eleni_gage
We got hired for this project in late 2018. The homeowners took a leap of faith on us and believed us capable of making this beautiful new build feel collected, warm, and well lived. This was the project that changed so much for me personally as a designer, challenging me to consider more details than I’d ever been allowed to at that point, work with fabrics I only got to stare at samples of, and work with the most amazing architect and homeowners. It takes one project to change the course, and this was it. What a privilege to have this charming home grace the cover and pages of @luxemagazine . Deeply grateful and super excited today! On newsstands now!
A very special thanks to @jilleditsluxe and @lara.hallock with @luxemagazine
Architecture: @blumearchitecture
Design partner: @em_mooney
Build: @tremontconstruction
Photography: @stephen_karlisch_photo
Stylist: @adamfortner
When a client tells you to surprise them with a speakeasy, you do your best not to disappoint. Featured in this month’s House Beautiful, but an angle of the room you don’t see in the magazine that I loved so much.
Before and After of this charming southern kitchen renovation. There were several things I appreciated about the before (hello brick herringbone), but ultimately changing the layout of this space to accommodate a family of six, a larger island, refrigerator, and workspace, took precedence. A new breath of fresh air and voila!
