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INTERIOR DESIGN
The Naturalist
A sprawling home by a pond in Winston-Salem, North Carolina was a dream for Brad and Tracey
Client
Egloff Family
Location
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Scope
Interior + Furnishings Design
PART ONE
Discover
The site reveals its story slowly over time, holding its secrets close and unveiling them in layers. A hidden gem among an unassuming neighborhood, the house is nestled at the end of a cup-de-sac. A shift in the facade signals entry and from this moment you realize something special is hidden within. This is revealed as an uninterrupted perspective of the lake beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living space. A visceral connection to nature is understood from every perspective and from every room.
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When I met the client she was dreaming of a cozy room where she could retreat to connect to her inner self. A library space in her home became the catalyst for our relationship and from there the project grew to include the entire home. The feeling of being heard and understood connected the client to Shed’s intentional design approach and together we embarked on a multi-year journey to transform her home on a lake to one truly informed by the natural world.
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At the heart of project is a deep rooted value system centered around a connection to the natural world and it’s healing properties.
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The home and site are centered around a lake whose surface reflects the light into every room. A home built by a local builder with care and love, the client intended to maintain the character of the house while infusing it with a wabi-sabi spirit.
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The scope includes the entire home and yard. With such a massive undertaking, we worked together to phase the project ensuring that each phase aligns with budget and timeline.
1.3 INITIAL CONNECTIONS TO SITE
PHASE TWO
Ideate
The exploration began with a question, “How can our home heal us?”
We discovered that a connection to materials that are as close to their natural state have the power to connect us to ourselves and have a calming affect on our lives.
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It is through the vehicle of storytelling that design begins. This story unique in place and time but connected to a greater story of materiality, honesty and truth.
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A deep dive into how materials are treated and finished revealed a desire to stay as close to origin as possible so that everything is given permission to age and change with the passage of time.
2.1 NATURAL AS HEALER
2.2 THE CLIENT
2.3 RESEARCH ROOTED IN NATURE
Nature is the catalyst for healing and connection. Filling the home with unaltered materials that remind us of our own essence is a start on the journey of living a more thoughtful, wholistic life.
2.4 PROJECT MOODBOARD
2.5 SKETCH EXPLORATIONS
PHASE THREE
Develop
Taking the idea of nature as healer into reality defined the develop phase. Objects embedded with natures essence formed the foundation for design, followed by layers of texture all with a natural, neutral palette.
3.1 TESTING
Layout, palette, selections; there are infinite possibilities. The aim is to respect the work of the previous phases while delighting in the revelation of what was previously unknowable.
3.2 COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Key collaborators bring bespoke elements to the project rooting it in intentionality. Vintage Mediterranean pots for a welcoming front stoop, a reinterpreted Windsor Bench for the foyer signals to a visitor that they are welcome to stay a while, and hand crafted chairs made from tactile linen in the sitting room remind you that the natural world is just outside.
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Specialty materials were needed in order to achieve the connection to nature critical the expression of this concept. Our partners at Pioneer have access to quality wood products that meet our high aesthetic and functional requirements.
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Dimyr, the owner and curator at Nomadic Trading Company travels the world in search of unique objects that carry with them the story of time and place. His extensive knowledge of each item helps to relay the story to the client and into the home. Vintage Mediterranean pots were sourced to bring history and patina to the interiors.
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A Belgian furniture designer and maker crafting intentional pieces in the heart of North Carolina brings a modern sensibility to tradition. Exquisite, sustainable fabrics each stitch applied by hand to individually designed frames is why a partnership felt right for this project. A pair of chairs sourced for the sitting room bring a sculptural modernity to the space.
3.4 THE DESIGN PRESENTATION
The materials, furniture, lighting, accessories and art are selected to bring the design to life. Everything considered and presented in preparation for the implementation phase to come.
PART FOUR
Implement
4.3 INSTALLATION
