Designer Spotlight: CAROLYNLEONA
Liz Goldberg of CAROLYNLEONA designs sophisticated and welcoming interiors by mixing old with new, incorporating pops of rich color, and adding charm around every corner. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, CAROLYNLEONA has designed homes all over North Carolina and the nation. We sat down with Liz to learn more about the local design scene and her design process.
Liz always knew she would pursue a creative path. With “creative, cool, and eclectic parents,” Liz was encouraged to be artistic and became obsessed with design. After majoring in art and business in college, she went back to school for an interior design degree. Liz established CAROLYNLEONA in 2014, named for her grandmothers who inspire her greatly. CAROLYNLEONA’s goal is to “elevate your everyday,” bringing their customer’s vision to life with their attention to detail and fresh perspective.
Raleigh, North Carolina, is a rapidly growing city, nestled in between mountains in the west and beautiful beaches east. Liz explained, “each home we work on has its own story and the home’s bones usually set the tone for our design direction. We get inspired by unique spaces, incredible views, and small details to play off of.” Liz loves to bring the outdoors into her spaces by “pulling from our client’s views, whether with upholstery, paint, or artwork.” CAROLYNLEONA provides a unique design perspective within the region, setting themselves apart from their market which mixes clean lines and modern organic styles. Liz considers herself lucky to be in such close proximity to many “very talented, local, custom workrooms” in addition to High Point Market, which “sets the scene for new and innovative global design with its bi-annual market right in our backyard!”
Working to create the most livable and useful spaces for their clients, CAROLYNLEONA listens to the family’s goals for the house and how they intend to spend time in each space. Without forgoing style or function, they strive to make “their rooms work best daily and still be beautiful” with their elevated yet practical approach. Liz gave us a few tips to elevate your everyday: “Use your good dishes when it’s not a holiday, set the table with pretty napkins even when you order takeout, or buy artwork that speaks to you and place it where it makes you happy.” Most of all, she believes, “Your home should reflect your personal style so have fun with it!”
Liz often opts for a gallery wall in her projects. For the perfect gallery wall, she recommends “mixing original artwork and personal pieces with unique finds that all work together to create an overall style.” Seeking out unique art, Liz loves “the handmade quality and Japanese paper” we use at VC and emphasized how our “pieces feel custom and special, adding unique texture with the most beautiful colors to select from.” As pictured in her projects, Liz is a big fan of our Mini Screen Prints. “They are so fun to stand alone on a small wall or group together for a pop!”
