When most people think of luxury, they imagine marble-clad interiors, five-star amenities, and a sense of grandeur that borders on opulence. But for designer Kate Haynes of Noble Studio, true luxury—the kind that transcends trends, time, and place—hinges on creating a home that effortlessly changes the way its owners move through an ordinary day.
When a young family left Texas for Raleigh following the sale of their business, they weren’t chasing a grander house; they were seeking a different pace of life. The move marked what Haynes describes as “a pause to redefine and optimize the daily grind,” and an opportunity to ask themselves a simple question: What if home could make everyday life feel more restorative than a vacation?
“For them, this home was about normalizing a daily experience of luxury and having time to pursue what brings meaning and joy to their days,” the designer adds. “I wanted to create a place where natural light supports the family’s rhythms, washing through expansive, curated rooms that feel grand and also somehow intimate.”
This home was about normalizing a daily experience of luxury and having time to pursue what brings meaning and joy.
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That singular philosophy shaped every inch of the nearly 10,000-square-foot residence, filled with enviable amenities like a gym, sauna, cold plunge, pool, and pickleball court. Yet, despite the scale and indulgent add-ons, the home is surprisingly grounded. It’s a place where life’s ordinary moments—cookie baking in the kitchen, impromptu gatherings with friends, pajamas-clad movie nights on the sofa—color every corner.
Throughout, Haynes toed a careful balance between refinement and warmth. Expansive rooms are softened through layered textures, natural stone, and carefully calibrated proportions that feel grand without becoming imposing. A row of French doors floods the living room with light, while custom details—from checkerboard marble floors and a painstakingly restored stone mantle to a pair of hardworking kitchen islands—reward a closer look.
In the media room, a curved plaster cove ceiling finished in glossy lacquer creates architectural drama overhead, while smoky mirrors and saturated green walls transform the bar into exactly what the homeowners envisioned: a place that “felt like going to a vibey bar” without ever leaving home. It’s fitting, then, that Haynes describes the project as “the kind of home that you can’t wait to get back to after vacation.” Though with a property like this, every day feels like one.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Kate Haynes, Noble Studio Interiors
Architect: Frazier Home Design
Builder: Loyd Builders
Stylist: Ashley Hotham Cox
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
The Space: A four-bedroom, seven-bathroom home across almost 10,000 square feet.
LIVING ROOM
Detailed ceilings bring elegance and interest.
Abigail Jackson
Couch: Highland House. Coffee table: Woven. Rug: Ernesta.Abigail Jackson
Paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore. Chairs: Highland House, in Schumacher fabric. Planters: Accent Decor.
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One of the biggest snafus in the design process happened when the living room mantle, made from solid stone, arrived in pieces. “It arrived in a broken crate from Mexico, in pretty rough shape, cracked and missing chunks,” explains Haynes. “We had an amazing teammate in Carolina Custom Kitchen and Bath who were wizards with the repair and made it look like it never happened.”
OFFICE
An arched nook acts as a dedicated workspace.
Abigail Jackson
Drapery: custom, in Kravet fabric. Chairs: Highland House. Mirror: Crate and Barrel.Abigail Jackson
Couch: Maiden Home. Sconces: Visual Comfort & Co. Chess table: Joon Loloi.
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An entrepreneur, the husband needed an inviting and aesthetic workspace. “The room offers a backdrop for many of his social media appearances and a desk for real work, but also soft places that his family can come join him,” says Haynes.
FAMILY ROOM
A larger projector takes the place of a traditional television.
Abigail Jackson
Meant as the primary family-friendly hangout, the media and family room often sees piles of kids on the sofa clad in pajamas, awaiting a movie night. Still, for all its comfort, the room boasts enviable design-forward touches. “The lacquer ceiling, with a curved cove detail shaped in plaster, is one of the favorite moments here, along with a custom-length sofa fit for a family,” says Haynes.
KITCHEN
A pair of islands ups the functionality of the cookspace.
Abigail Jackson
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“We know a large kitchen can actually be somewhat cumbersome to use, so we made sure to keep the work areas in good working proximity to each other,” Haynes says of the oversized space, which features a perimeter of cabinetry framing dueling islands.
“We also wanted the wife to have a fully functional pantry space that felt beautiful, so we gave her plenty of closed storage in the scullery that hides all of the snacks and dry goods in a super organized, centralized way,” she adds.Abigail Jackson
Cabinet and wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore. Cabinet hardware: Modern Matter.Abigail Jackson
Island stain: Dark Roast, Minwax.
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“The plaster hood was a visually important presence to establish in the room, balanced by a deep arch that leads into the adjacent scullery,” says Haynes. Cabinets painted in the same color as the walls keep the space feeling bright.
SCULLERY
Checkered floors nod to traditional English interiors.
Abigail Jackson
“This room ended up being a favorite,” says Haynes. “It’s a little bit European, which felt right for this house, but most importantly, it’s highly functional. The giant workstation sink, concealed secondary fridge/freezer, drawers for produce, and large pantries are the stars of the space.”
BAR
A gold leaf ceiling brings a touch of glamour and shine.
Abigail Jackson
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The bar is what Haynes calls “the most intentional space in the home,” with plenty of room for the homeowners to indulge in a nightcap or entertain friends. “The gold leaf ceiling, smoky mirror, and glass shelves lend reflective shine to an otherwise purposefully dim room,” adds Haynes.
MUDROOM
Elements of this space harken back to other rooms of the house, tying the whole scheme together.
Abigail Jackson
With a busy family life, there needed to be a place that helped all members of the household stay organized. Haynes designed custom cabinetry with a lattice-inspired detail in the doors that reminded her of trelliage garden rooms. “There’s tons of storage packed in here, along with a hidden dog space tucked into the right side by the door,” she adds.
POWDER ROOM
A smoked mirror brings patina to the snug space.
Abigail Jackson
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To create a “moody shift,” Haynes turned to an atmospheric sepia-toned wallpaper from Deus Ex Gardenia for the powder room, pairing it with a brass sconce and smoked mirrors for a jewelbox-like effect.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
A soft palette creates a serene atmosphere.
Abigail Jackson
Wallpaper: Schumacher. Ceiling paint: Accessible Beige, Sherwin-Williams. Rug: Nordic Knots. Bed curtains: custom, in Kravet fabric. Stools: Century Furniture. Chandelier: Visual Comfort & Co.Abigail Jackson
Chaise lounges: Lee Industries. Table: Bernhardt.
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Haynes aptly describes this retreat as the homeowner’s “cocoon of soft, elevated luxury,” pointing to the layers of neutral textiles and natural fibers that combine to create a cozy and serene escape. “The shape and scale of the vaulted ceiling were finely tuned to create an impressive space that isn’t too lofty to be comfortable, and clad in soft painted millwork to give it warmth,” she adds.
PRIMARY BATH
Luxurious marble covers nearly every surface.
Abigail Jackson
Wall paint: Accessible Beige, Sherwin-Williams. Chandelier: Visual Comfort & Co. Tub: Hydrosystems, painted in Mountain Pass by Sherwin-Williams. Tub fixtures: California Faucets.Abigail Jackson
Shower fixtures: California Faucets.
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“The primary bath was designed to feel luxurious and elevated, clean-lined but warm,” says Haynes. “A generously sized steam shower is a daily opportunity to indulge, and a custom colored bathtub lends a gentle nudge of personality.
BUNK ROOM
Custom beds boast storage for weekend guests at the base.
Abigail Jackson
Paint color: Sea Salt, Sherwin-Williams. Wallpaper: Nile & York. Sconces: Shades of Light. Chair: Highland HouseAbigail Jackson
Rug: Ernesta.
A place for cousins and friends to stay when they visit, the bunk room also doubles as a spot for solo relaxation for the kiddos. Integrated desks act as homework or craft stations.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Tile-clad walls are a functional decorative addition.
Abigail Jackson
With walls clad completely in handmade zellige tile, large expanses of marble, a whimsical papier-mache light fixture, and a wallpapered ceiling, the laundry room makes everyday chores actually enjoyable. “We wanted this space to feel thoughtful and thoroughly ‘done’ to the level of finish that a kitchen would normally receive,” adds Haynes. “Glass doors connect it to the hallway, so we wanted it to shine.”
About the Designer
Founded originally in 2018 as Kate Haynes Interiors and reborn in 2023 as Noble Studio, Kate Haynes has been honing a fascination with spaces, architecture, and art since childhood. Her company has always been about beautiful spaces (naturally), but the rebirth as Noble Studio comes with a sense of mature intentionality to create quiet luxury for clients. Kate brings to her team a relentless commitment to the intangible result of joy present in the aesthetics and flow of a place, no matter what style it wears.