Marie Cox: A Modern Ranch House In Raleigh
Photographs by Michelle Dawn
As anyone who’s ever been there will tell you, North Carolina is a beautiful place. Rolling hills, fantastic beaches, and a sky that seems to go on forever are just the start of its charms. It’s also one of the nation’s largest banking hubs. That makes it a natural place to find someone like Marie Cox. An accomplished executive and one of the few female Vice Presidents in banking, her Raleigh home is the perfect blend of comfort and culture, all presented with Marie’s eye for beautiful details and a remarkable collection of art.
Six years ago, when Marie found this 1720 square foot ranch home, it wasn’t in the worst of shape, it just wasn’t in the best. “The previous owners had done some updating to sell the home,” she recalls, “but it really hadn’t been touched and it was a rental so all materials were subpar.” Despite that, her renovations have made the home into a true jewel, beginning with the living room. The jet black mantle stands out as the literal center of the room amid a sea of calm and soothing neutrals.
Marie’s living room is designed to do more than show off her fireplace. It’s also one of the home’s main showcases of her impressive collection of objets d’art. “I keep most walls white because I’m a huge art lover,” she says. “And I included art and found objects in my design to add interest.”
“My main living area is open concept,” Marie explains, “so I wanted everything to flow very well from one area to the next.” As the living room opens up to include Marie’s kitchen and dining room, creating a collective feel between the spaces was a simple matter of maintaining the wall color while letting the unique features in each space define them. The rustic cabinetry and stainless steel characterize the kitchen on the one hand, while the art and modern lighting make the dining room on the other.
Marie describes her home’s aesthetic as, “eclectic and modern with a layered, global feel.” This eye-catching bar area encapsulates all of that in one small space. Classic kitchen elements like the freestanding shelves and stainless steel range hood are paired with cute, modern features like the felt, pink bar stools. On the outer wall, one of Marie’s prized paintings adorns the wall, grounding the airy space in a sophisticated and soulful cultural perspective. “My heritage and my love for my people are what stands out the most in my home,” she says. “When you walk in this house you know that Black people live here.”
Art, and it’s ability to make direct and powerful cultural statement, is the centerpiece of this home. The highlight of Marie’s collection is the assortment of masks that make up the dining room gallery wall. “The masks on my diaspora wall are my favorite pieces in my home,” she explains. “Art doesn’t always have to be expensive, but you should surround yourself with the pieces you adore. This wall lets me feel connected to my roots and gives me peace.”
Marie first moved in to this home with her three kids and their dog. Today, with only one of the kids still at home, she’s put the extra space in the house to good use. The guest bedroom is the perfect moment of tranquility to offer to weary guests. The pink and white color palette, headlined by the colorful feature wall behind the bed, is at once energizing and relaxing. Adding wood slats to create pattern on the main wall was a brilliant DIY, giving unexpected texture and depth to the room while playing with the similar patterns of the rug.
This fully stocked fitness room is a must-have for anyone looking to stay healthy in the early 2020s and has quickly become one of the most frequented areas in Marie’s home. “My gym is my favorite room in my home,” she confesses. “It’s fun and functional at the same time.” With a stationary bike, weight bench, punching bag and plenty of room for working out, who needs membership fees?
Even though Marie concedes that most of the work was done within two years of her family moving into this home, for her, the renovation is still ongoing. One of the most recent additions is this Japanese-style soaking tub - a fantastic outdoor complement to her indoor fitness room. “I love that my house has such personality,” she reflects. “It’s super inviting and cozy.”
Great design has no boundaries, and in this home, design doesn’t stop at the door. Marie’s outdoor area is just as elegant as her living room. The large geometric rug and long benches offer a stylish place to enjoy the outdoors along with a collection of small tables. Best of all, culture remains at the forefront even in the outdoor space with a mud cloth throw blanket and amazing outdoor wall art. “I feel like there wasn’t really a hard area to design,” she considers. “The hardest thing was to work within my budget because everything I want is expensive,” she laughs.
