Meet Our Designers

A family business since the beginning

In 2006 Sam and Lynn Leake opened Luxe Home Interiors with their daughter Elizabeth. The goal has always been to combine quality coastal design with customer service to create more than an ordinary furniture store. In 2014, they brought experience and creativity to Leland to reach all of Brunswick and New Hanover County. Elizabeth has taken the reigns and Luxe continues to thrive. Luxe delivers beautiful and comfortable furniture to clients who become friends. “Design to me is about making lasting relationships; between designers and clients and Luxe and the Community”.

When you work with a Luxe Home Interiors designer, you become part of the family too.

Meet the Luxe Home Interiors family

Lynn Leake

Owner and Interior Designer

Lynn’s eye for design is unlike any other. She brings the advantage of both experience and education to your dining room table—or whichever room she’s working on. She earned a master’s degree in Residential Design and Housing from the University of Central Oklahoma, later serving as adjunct faculty in the design department. Molding herself to fit the needs of each and every client, Lynn will help you create a dream space suited for your unique lifestyle. She can turn your ideas and inspirations into reality through creative thinking and effective planning. Over the years, she has watched styles evolve, shift, disappear, and come back with a vengeance. She sees each new project as a chance to share her knowledge and passion and to design a space that truly makes a difference in her clients’ lives.

Elizabeth Leake

Owner and Designer

When it comes to design, Elizabeth has a keen eye for even the smallest of details. One of her favorite parts of being a designer is all of the different people she gets to meet. Helping her clients make a home and seeing them excited for all of the possibilities that lie ahead makes her excited too. Elizabeth is an avid trend-watcher and finds inspiration from the world and other creatives around her, especially film and television. She loves how many genres, decades, and styles she can explore and bring into her designs. Recently, she’s found herself entranced with the sets and stylings of shows like Bridgerton, The Undoing, and The Queen’s Gambit. One thing that you can find in each of her designs is something whimsical. She believes that our homes should bring us joy every day. “I like to look around a space and see something that makes me smile.”

Julie Bray

Lead Interior Designer

Julie is the lead designer here at Luxe. With her years of experience, she is able to guide clients through the design process, turning their homes into dream homes. A native North Carolinian, Julie has a solid understanding of the coastal lifestyle and the designs that enhance it. As a part of her process, she creates digital floor plans and presentations to help clients visualize their projects. She always looks forward to installation day. Seeing everything come together and her clients’ reactions are priceless. In every room, Julie encourages a little bit of greenery. Plants, flowers, and trees add a sense of relaxation and tranquility to a space. If you don’t have a green thumb, Julie says a really good faux plant will always do the trick.

Credentials:

Associates of Arts degree in Interior Design from Cape Fear Community College.

Bethany Ecklund

Interior Designer

Bethany comes to Luxe Interiors and Wilmington from right outside of D.C. She enjoys the warmer weather and easy access to the beach that this area offers. She enjoys keeping up with current trends on social media sites such as Houzz and marrying them with timeless looks. With a background in studio art, Bethany looks to create harmony in each room with the styles, colors, and textures she chooses. She firmly believes that every room should have a stunning focal point, such as a painting or accent wall.

Credentials:

Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of Maryland (UMD)

Certificate of Interior Design from the New York Institute of Art and Design (NYIAD)

Kaitlyn Beelendorf

Interior Designer

Kaitlyn is a problem solver at heart. Here at Luxe, she helps clients put spaces together that are specifically tailored to their needs. She loves the challenge of fitting the right pieces together and planning for unique rooms. Through 3D renderings and vision boards, she enjoys helping clients easily conceptualize their beautifully appointed homes. Kaitlyn enjoys playing with textures and patterns creating spaces that are fun, fresh and timeless.

Credentials:

Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design from Appalachian State University (ASU)

Nick Moriarty

Senior Design Coordinator

Nick comes to Luxe with over ten years of retail management and customer service experience. He also has a passion for visual merchandising and keeps the store looking its best. His attention to detail and vibrant personality make clients feel at ease and confident in their choices. When Nick isn’t in the store ensuring Luxe looks its best, he’s active playing volleyball, tennis, and kickball with local leagues.

Demi-Lee Marchello

Design Coordinator

Demi, always seeking adventure, comes to Luxe Interiors all the way from New York. She could not resist the warmer weather and beautiful beaches that Wilmington has to offer! Her hobbies include traveling, working out, and pretty much anything outdoors. Her one true passion though, is the creative aspect of designing interiors and finding new and innovative ways to make a space both functional and beautiful. Demi is constantly inspired by the work of other designers, as well as by architecture, art, and nature. She loves helping people create spaces that reflect their own unique personalities and styles as well as the challenge of taking someone’s vision and making it a reality.

Credentials:

Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design in a CIDA accredited program at High
Point University. (HPU)

Richard Williams

Service Center and Delivery Manager

Richard has been our warehouse and delivery manager for over 14 years. Over the years he has gathered extensive knowledge about our vendors and products. He accompanies our design team to Market twice a year to become inspired and stay current on the latest trends. Richard is a vital part of our business and we couldn’t do what we do without him!

Jamel Williams

Service Center Associate

A valued warehouse assistant, Jamel helps provide courteous delivery service for our clients. One of his favorite parts of delivering for Luxe is getting to meet all of your four legged family members!