Shade House
Shade House
Design Team
Noble Studio
Architect
Joseph Trojanowski
Builder
Richard Tilley
Cabinetry & millwork
Eidolon Designs
Photographer
Abigail Jackson
Raleigh, NC
Our clients for The Shade House were a very busy, very chic family looking for help in solidifying the construction details and palette of their California-inspired pool house as drawn by Joe Trojanowski. Our team took on the task of selecting exterior materials, specifying interior finishes, drawing cabinetry and millwork details, and styling the space once complete. We collaborated with our friends at Eidolon Designs to create the white oak paneling that clads the only truly solid wall in the compact footprint—otherwise defined by glass sliders that open fully to the outdoors.
To anchor that wall and reinforce the architectural intent of directing views toward the pool, we designed a seamless band of organic warmth that flows directly into the custom cabinetry. The clients needed little more than the essentials for entertaining, so we worked in a panel-front fridge, sink, dishwasher, and pantry—concealed in a way that feels more like built-in furniture than a kitchenette.
The pool bath carries its own quiet character: reflective, imperfect surfaces of handmade zellige tile in alternating shades of soft white and glazed earth, paired with a charcoal concrete sink suspended from a shiplapped wall—lending a breezy coolness that a typical vanity couldn’t provide. To keep function in balance with play, a white oak storage cabinet tucks away cleaning supplies and dozens of towels.
Designing a space meant purely for leisure, for a family who values style and ease, felt like an invitation to create something lighthearted yet refined. Every element—the oak paneling, the concealed kitchenette, the handmade tile—works quietly in the background, allowing the family to step in and simply enjoy. The Shade House isn’t just about utility; it’s about framing long summer afternoons, lively weekends with friends, and the kind of effortless gatherings that become core family memories.
