THE ESSENTIALIST

Raleigh, north carolina

Rooted in the memory of a childhood home in Portugal, this project draws on the quiet power of elemental materials to evoke a deep sense of place.

Layered throughout are pieces collected over time, objects with history, form, and quiet presence. Vintage furniture, handmade ceramics, and timeworn textiles are placed with intention, each adding to the lived-in rhythm of the space. Together, they tell a story that’s personal and evolving, where every object holds weight and every corner feels considered.

Living room with large windows showing green trees outside, beige sofa with white throw blanket, black coffee table with books, eclectic chairs, table lamp with large vase, and wall art.

Location
Raleigh, North Carolina

Collaborators

Photography & Video | Jenn Hall Sweatte

Publication:

HD&D Magazine Designers at Home Issue

“Close Connections”

A wooden table with a stack of books, a decorative bowl, and a brass table lamp with a dark shade. In the background, there is a mirror and a window with blinds.
Interior view of a dining room with a wooden sideboard, framed black-and-white photograph, brass table lamp, decorative bottles, and dining chairs made of wicker and wood, beige curtains hanging from an angled ceiling, and a small wall sculpture of a human face.
Sunlit living room corner with a beige armchair, a blanket draped over it, a wooden table, and open books on the floor, large windows showing green trees outside.

In the kitchen, hand-troweled concrete and the gentle play of light across textured walls create a space that feels both grounded and timeless. Everyday objects find their place naturally, softening the room’s utilitarian nature and allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the rhythm of the home.

A modern kitchen with a white countertop island, bar stools, a large framed map on the wall, a brass table lamp, books, and wooden cabinets.
A kitchen countertop with a silver espresso machine, wooden coffee scoops, and a tray of cups. Behind it, a large framed nautical chart and a brass wall sconce with a candle.
A brass oval-shaped wall sconce with a white candle inside, mounted on a textured white wall.
A large, rustic clay vase filled with dried beige and brown floral arrangement with leaves and flowers. The vase is placed on a white shelf next to books, a small brass candlestick, and a gold pig-shaped object.

In the bedroom, limewash carries the weight of history while creating a quiet sanctuary for rest. Its subtle movement lends depth to the walls, softening light as it shifts throughout the day. Paired with a crisp white linen bed and soft tonal bedding, the space feels timeless and grounded, an intentional pause within the home’s larger rhythm.

A picture of a bedroom highlighting the textured painted wall with a wood side table and brass lamp hanging beside the bed.
A frontal view of the master bedroom with a linen bedspread and quilt on the bed. The walls are textured painted limewash and the wall metal lamp is turned on.
A close up view of a metal brass wall lamp that is turned on, focusing its light on the white linen head rest of the bed. In view is a dried flower arrangement.
An image of a bedroom with a textured wall and linen bedspread and headrest. Soft light pours in over the bed and the metal wall lamp is turned on.

The bathroom is a quiet retreat, where concrete walls and light filtering from above evoke the feeling of an outdoor shower, raw, elemental, and serene. The materials are left honest, their texture recalling childhood memories of rinsing off after long days in the sun. There’s a deliberate simplicity here: a space that invites stillness, where water, light, and stone meet in a quiet dialogue that feels both intimate and open to the sky.

A modern bathroom with a white bathtub, a wooden vanity, and dried branches in a vase hanging over the bathtub.
A ceramic vase with a dual-tone finish, holding a arrangement of bare, thin, branch-like twigs, set against a neutral, minimal background.
A bathroom with a white bathtub, brass faucet handles on the wall, a framed black and white artwork, and a frosted window with textured glass, seen through an open door.
A corner of a room with beige curtains, a wicker chair with a white lace pillow, a white wall with framed black and white abstract art.