Designing Home for an Elite NHL Player

This project is currently in its final stages. Professional photography to follow.

There’s a saying in hockey: playing a full NHL game is like running a series of sprints while people throw furniture at you.

So when one of the Carolina Hurricanes’ top performers purchased his first home in Raleigh, the objective wasn’t just about making it look good.

It was about creating a place where his body and mind could actually recover from that kind of demand. Night after night. Season after season.

The Challenge:

Nearly 6,000 square feet. Five bedrooms, six and a half baths. A modern, builder-grade foundation that was a big open space, very white blank canvas. And a client in his early 20s navigating one of the biggest investments of his life while managing an 82-game season, playoffs, and the relentless travel schedule that comes with professional hockey.

Open space floor plan — living, dining, bar, and kitchen.

His mom reached out on his behalf. From our first conversation, I knew this family understood something important: a home at this stage of his career isn’t just a milestone — it’s a tool to support his trajectory.

Understanding the Life:

I spent time learning not just about his style preferences, but about his actual life. The physical toll of the sport. The recovery protocols. The team culture. The fact that hockey players, despite playing one of the most brutal sports in the world, are known for how deeply they care about each other. The culture is built on a foundation of humility, toughness, and selflessness. And there is a team behind the team: spouses, parents, siblings, and childhood friends — they form an ecosystem that supports the players and mirrors their camaraderie.

I not only saw it first-hand, but I felt it. My client’s mother made countless trips to the U.S. to ensure her son’s home was safe and set up for his comfort. She became a part of my team, getting creative with me on how we create sentimental moments that serve as reminders of where he’s from in his new home in Raleigh. And I feel the love too — his mother has become a close friend. She even invited me over to exchange Christmas gifts at the new house just after her son moved in. It meant the world to me.

A very special painting from mother to son.

That sense of care and connection needed to be woven into every decision we made.

The Approach: Crawl, Walk, Run

Early on, there was natural hesitation to make any “permanent” decisions. A 6,000-square-foot home with white walls feels safe. Introducing color, custom elements, and more elevated finishes? That required trust.

So we started small. One room - the study. We painted the walls a rich chocolate brown called Black Fox, that looks like suede.

His reaction was immediate: “I love this.” And he saw that it would be even cozier if we also painted the ceiling. This room became his favorite spot in the home and even the space where he rested and recovered from an injury.

The second floor study is used as a chic room off of the “country club.” The pull out sofa creates additional sleeping area for guests.

That single decision unlocked everything. It gave us permission to bring warmth throughout the home. To upgrade builder-grade lighting. To introduce texture, depth, and personality in a way that felt right to him.

Good design builds momentum through proof, not pressure.

Designing for Performance:

The spaces that received the most attention weren’t necessarily the ones guests would see first. They were the ones that directly supported his performance.

The primary bedroom was designed like a luxury hotel suite — not for show, but for function. A mattress and pillow system chosen for recovery. Blackout shades were softened by Belgian linen drapes for sleep quality during pre-game naps. Weighted blankets for nervous system regulation. A rug that felt plush, grounding, and restorative the moment he walked in.

A huge plush navy velvet Cloud sectional — because between games, travel, training, and the mental load of performing at an elite level, he needed a place where his body could actually let go. His Mom and I joke that if he is ever missing from practice he can be found asleep on this couch.

Me at the RH showroom demonstrating the high potential for falling asleep on the Cloud!

Recovery spaces were integrated seamlessly into the home's design. Warm. Inviting. Nothing clinical. Because true rest happens in spaces that feel like home.

Designing for Who He Is:

Without revealing his identity let’s just say he’s a character — but also someone who appreciates tradition and heritage. Upstairs, we reimagined the recreation area with a design concept inspired by an old-school country club — we are even in the process of branding it with his nickname.

Mahogany tones. Deep greens. Leather details. Custom commissioned art from watercolors to graffiti method mixed with black & white photos of golf legends in their ascent like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods mixed with pop culture irreverence — Happy Gilmore, Caddyshack.

Commissioned art from refined graffiti artist KW (Kobe and Tiger), Canes-inspired abstract from Grace Martin Franklin and watercolor of Old Chatham Golf Club by Dave Baysden

Traditional meets playful. Timeless but personal. A space he can layer and evolve over time.

And filling the vast open floor plan not with the expected furniture. Instead of a breakfast table, we’re building a custom steel & glass display cabinet for his sneaker collection and sports memorabilia. Because luxury is about making room for what matters to him.

The Result:

This home is in its final stages now, and it feels like him. Warm, elevated, personal. Comfortable but sophisticated. A place that supports the intensity of his career and the life he’s building off the ice.

But what I’ll remember most isn’t the scope or the scale.

It’s how his mom trusted me to understand her son. How this family brought me into their world — a world I’d only known through my brother’s stories (of the NY Rangers) growing up, and now get to be part of through the Canes community.

I went from hearing about hockey my whole life to caring deeply about these players, their families, and how they show up for one another. And now I annoy my brother by talking about the Canes non-stop (sorry, NYC!).

That’s what made this project different. And that’s what I hope comes through in every detail.

Some kind words from my client’s Mom:

“Elissa took the time to truly understand my son — the realities of his life as a professional athlete, what inspires him, and how he lives. She guided the entire project with a level of clarity and organization that made the process feel effortless for our family. We trust her completely.”

— Client’s Mother​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​