Carrie Moore is a North Carolina-based interior designer and co-founder of Carrie Moore Interior Design. Her firm specializes in both residential and commercial projects and her design ethos emphasizes sustainable, nature-inspired elements sourced from local makers whenever possible. Carries brings a warm, modern touch to her projects and loves to infuse bold, sculptural statement pieces. Before setting out on her own as a designer, Carrie owned a vintage furnishings company called Sequel, where she worked to preserve pieces that had good bones to revitalize them and keep them in use because she loves the idea that your old chair has a unique past. She holds a Master’s in Interior Architecture and Design and since her firm’s opening in 2017 has beautified homes in North Carolina and across the East Coast. Carrie’s interiors are featured in today’s Maker Monday.
This vibrant bathroom marries playful art and bold tilework. The combination of warm hues and eclectic details infuses the space with personality and charm.
Andrew Joseph: What inspired you to become a designer?
Carrie Moore: My path to interior design was circuitous. After working in other creative industries (advertising and publishing) in non-creative positions, I knew I wanted to be creative and do something hands-on. I first started a vintage furnishings business but eventually wanted to have a larger and more holistic impact on the design of a space, so I pursued interior design.
AJ: Can you describe your design philosophy in three words?
CM: Intentional. Warm. Modern.
AJ: Can you tell us about a design trend you are excited about?
CM: I’m enjoying all the colorful marbles I’m seeing used everywhere right now. We just installed dramatic blue-green marble vanities in our studio bathrooms, and it feels simultaneously very luxurious and very natural.
This living room boldly embraces the “Bloom” wallpaper by Hygge and West, creating a backdrop that enhances the warm, earthy tones of the furnishings.
AJ: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a designer?
CM: Early on I was advised by a friend — also a designer — to go back to school for it. I’m so glad that I did. To add to that, education should never really stop. I recently became NCIDQ certified, which was a multi-year effort. There are so many intricacies to design, and there’s always more to learn. There are always additional pathways to honing one’s craft.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
CM: I enjoy perusing the work of other designers, whether it’s new design books, magazines, YouTube channels, or Instagram. I also have an amazing team of designers that I work with that I can cross-pollinate ideas with, and we all help move each other and our designs forward.
Dark walls meet white ceilings, creating a contrast that accentuates this room’s architectural features. Flanked by lush plants, the wooden dining set is bathed in an abundance of natural light.
AJ: How do you incorporate sustainability into your designs?
CM: We like to support the community we’re in and locally source goods for projects whenever possible. We’re fortunate enough to live and work in an area flush with extremely talented makers and an enduring furniture industry. Our studio also prefers to use natural materials over man-made whenever possible. They just have a better feeling and quality about them. And they are generally biodegradable at the end of their lives versus man-made materials which are not typically. We also incorporate vintage elements when we can, keeping great pieces in use while also reducing the demand for new pieces and further usage of precious raw materials.
AJ: What is your favorite design element to incorporate into your projects?
CM: It’s a toss-up between custom millwork and beautiful drapery. Both of these elements have a major impact on the final result in both in terms of aesthetics and livability. Custom millwork adds an architectural element to a space. And beautiful drapery just feels like a beautiful gown… dreamy!
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