Today we’d like to introduce you to Raleigh Adams.
Hi Raleigh, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m an exterior designer, and I see outdoor spaces as just as important as the inside of a home. Whether it’s a quiet place to unwind or a space that makes a strong first impression, I design landscapes to feel lived in, welcoming, and intentional. People often think of hiring an interior designer for a room. My clients come to me for the same reason, just outdoors. I bring technical knowledge of plants, lighting, furnishings, and garden structures to help turn outdoor areas into real, usable living space.
If I had to describe my style, I’d say it’s aspirational but relaxed. I’m inspired by the timeless proportions of the Classical world, but I keep things grounded and approachable, much like the Appalachian Mountains themselves. I work with native materials that feel familiar and honest, materials that have been part of this region for generations. I was born and raised in Boone, North Carolina, and it’s still where I live and work today.
I think of myself as an artist because my work comes from a lifelong relationship with nature. Some of the hardwoods I use are gathered locally from the forest next to my childhood home. Other found elements make their way into my designs to reflect the same sense of place, history, and character that shaped me.
When I’m not in the woods or sourcing materials for a project, you’ll probably find me golfing, road biking, or sharing a meal outside with friends and family.
Welcome to my exterior design studio. I’d love to work with you to create an outdoor space that truly feels like yours.
I graduated from NC state
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Doing something different is rarely easy, but it is almost always rewarding. In the design world, there is a great deal of attention paid to interiors, while truly livable outdoor space is often overlooked. Porches, terraces, rooftops, and backyards are treated as secondary, rather than as rooms in their own right.
The greatest challenge is helping people envision what it really means to live outside, not just step outdoors, but to inhabit the space. It can be difficult to imagine that before the furnishings are in place, the lighting is thoughtfully layered, and the landscape has matured. Yet once those elements come together, the transformation is undeniable. Time and again, clients tell me their outdoor space has become their favorite room in the house.
The challenge lies in helping them see it before it exists, and the reward is watching that vision become an essential part of their daily life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work with materials native to North Carolina. Natural materials meant to evoke a sense of place and particular affinity for beauty outdoors.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Imagining modern ways of making traditional things. Always believing in myself enough to do things in a brand new way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://RALEIGHADAMS.com
- Instagram: @raleighsamuelaustinadams
- Facebook: @raleighsamuelaustinadams
