Ariene Bethea’s Modern Vintage Home in North Carolina
Photographs by Andrew Sherman. This is an update of an article written by Bryan Mason in 2020.
Ariene Bethea is the creative force behind Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio, a design firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. While she uses her shop to meet clients and showcase her vintage finds, her home is a design lab. For thirteen years, Ariene has perfected her style in the space that she shares with her husband Daren and their dog Mini.
Ariene describes what was then a newly built, 3,100-square-foot, 4-bedroom home as “craftsman-ish”, blending modern and classic elements. The home welcomes guests with an entryway that is a clear statement of what matters to the people who live here. A beautiful collection of objects occupies and sits atop the Chinese-style cabinet, which is flanked on both sides by images of iconic African American musicians. The walls and welcome mat promise more color and pattern to come.
The living room is a visual treat, but there are some very functional decisions at the core of this fashionable layout. “I knew I wanted to be able to see the TV from the kitchen,” Ariene remembers, “which meant there would be two focal points in the room - the TV and the fireplace.” To make it work she designed the room around two sofas, with each facing a separate focal point. “This also created a natural walkway and room for custom cabinets,” she says.
Ariene’s love of material culture is present in every part of her home. Every wall is decorated with photos and paintings; every flat surface features stacks of books and statues - sometimes on top of each other. All the while Ariene’s refined sense of balance and layering - a style she describes as “sophisticated bohemian” - keeps the space from feeling overwhelming.
One of Ariene’s tricks for creating balance within her multi-layered design aesthetic is to create subtle connections between those layers. The pattern of the leopard statue is echoed in several of the photos that hang above it. The same can be said for the pieces to either side of it. Small connections like these help the eye to move smoothly from one piece to another, allowing visitors to take it all in as a single coherent moment rather than as a collection of disparate parts.
Ariene continues to demonstrate her fearless dedication to pattern with a complete set of leopard-print chairs around the dining table. As always she blends them seamlessly into the overall decor of the home by creating connections all throughout the open plan living-dining room space. Color connections can be seen as far away as the brass-framed artwork on the living room wall, and as far up as the chandelier over the living area. Thematically, the chairs are echoed by the leopard-themed vase that sits on the dining room table.
Originally the home’s dining room, Ariene’s office is a place for her to work, reflect and create. But getting the space into its current shape wasn’t easy. “The hardest part of designing my home was turning my dining room into a home office without it looking like an office,” she remembers. Earlier iterations of the room included yellow walls, followed by white stripes before becoming completely white. “The layouts changed as my business grew. It’s more of a workspace now, since I’ve opened my shop, and now I have a dedicated office there.”
When asked about her favorite space in the home, Ariene was quick to answer: “Right now it’s my powder room.” And it’s all because of the color. “I’ve been dying to use this color for a project and decided to use it myself,” she confesses. Taking a cue from the painting she wanted to have in the space and a weekend to do the project herself, Ariene created this stunning powder room full of art, energy and fun.
At the top of the stairs, twin doors open on a small parlor space dominated by large paintings and beautiful velvet furniture. The furniture belonged to Ariene’s mother, and remains in the same perfect condition that it was when purchased in the 1960s. “I get my love of design from my mom,” Ariene reflects. “She taught me to buy once and buy well.”
Guest rooms are often catchalls for things that don’t quite go with the rest of the house. However, Ariene has succeeded in designing her guest suite to be a full-on retreat for anyone staying with her. The blue walls, sand-colored carpet and wood furnishings create an island feel that’s supported by the palm leaf art and canopy bed. Colorful textiles throughout the space keep the color palette lively and add to the tropical aesthetic.
The second guest bedroom offers a restful aesthetic of a different sort. The pastel walls and bright orange floral curtains give the space a whimsical feel. It’s a calmer side of the home’s decor, evoking a seaside cottage rather than a beachside resort. For Ariene, creating different looks is part of the fun. The constant search for the perfect piece is what keeps her on the move. “I own a vintage shop so I’m always traveling and picking up things,” she says.
The main bedroom though is the boldest of the bedroom suites. Like the rest of the home, it has been designed to reflect Ariene’s eclectic tastes while inviting guests on a unique visual journey. “I love that our home reflects our love of culture and family,” she says. “I’ve used art, masks, objects and coffee table books to tell the story of who we are and what’s important to us.”
Ariene Bethea’s home really is a vivid expression of her sophisticated bohemian style and deep appreciation for art, culture, and storytelling. Each room reflects her thoughtful approach to layering color, pattern, and meaningful objects, creating spaces that feel both visually rich and deeply personal. From bold design statements to subtle, connective details, the home functions as both a creative laboratory and a welcoming retreat. Ultimately, it stands as a testament to Ariene’s belief that great design is about living with intention, history, and joy.
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