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The Charlotte Jewish News- May 2026- Page 14
The Modern Balabusta: Worn with Intention
By Elizabeth Johnson
Walk into a well-designed home, and you feel it before you see it. The lighting is right. The scale makes sense. Nothing is trying too hard. It is not about perfection; it is about ease.
In Charlotte, where a growing Jewish community continues to shape how people gather, that sensibility feels especially resonant. Homes here are not just designed; they are lived in, often filled with the rhythms of Shabbat, holidays, and the steady pull of community.
A quiet confidence defines the work of Samantha Rachel Saltzman, founder of Samantha Rachel Interiors. Her approach begins with people: how they move through a space, how they host, how they mark time. She favors restraint over excess and feeling over formula, grounded in the belief that the homes we build often mirror the lives we are in fact, living.
This month, Saltzman reflects on what it means to create a home that holds both daily life and the moments that bring people together.
You were born and raised in Boca Raton, spent 10 years in Los Angeles, and now call Charlotte home. How have these diverse cities shaped your eye and your sense of style? Boca Raton tends to lean more traditional, Los Angeles embraces a modern, organic feel, and Charlotte sits somewhere in between – classic at its core with thoughtful moments of color. Having worked across these different markets, I’ ve been able to layer those influences into my own perspective. I would describe my design lens as modern transitional, but I’ m always looking to add depth and character. I love incorporating unique antique pieces – they bring a sense of history and individuality that newer spaces often lack.
You spent a decade designing model homes before starting your own firm, Samantha Rachel Interiors. What did that experience teach you about how people want to live? Model homes are unique in nature. What many people don’ t realize is that each one is designed with a specific family and lifestyle in mind. Every detail – from the color palette to the overall style – is carefully curated so the entire home feels cohesive and tells a clear, consistent story. While that approach is beautiful, it’ s not how people actually live.
In real life, our homes are layered. That’ s something I intentionally lean into with residential design. I believe the main living areas should feel cohesive and connected – there should be a natural flow as you move through the home.
But within that, I love creating moments that feel more personal and expressive. Spaces like powder rooms or the primary suite are opportunities to do something unexpected. They can be a little bolder, more intimate, and truly reflective of the people who live there.
You often say the smallest details make the biggest difference. What’ s one detail most people overlook that instantly elevates a space? There are countless ones: accessories, window treatments, and wallpaper, all of which make a significant difference. If I had to pick just one, it’ s lighting – specifically, layered lighting. A simple combination, like a soft overhead light on a dimmer, a table lamp for warmth, and a picture light or sconce to highlight something special, instantly makes a space feel more thoughtful and elevated. It’ s not a flashy detail, but it’ s one of those things where, once you experience it, you can’ t unsee the difference.
There is something deeply personal about how a home comes together. How do you balance your point of view as a designer with the life your clients are trying to build inside it? There’ s a balance, and it starts with the understanding that it’ s their home, not my showcase. I always come in with a clear point of view – that’ s what my clients are hiring me for.
But my role isn’ t to impose a vision; it’ s to refine and elevate theirs. A big part of the process is listening closely, reading between the lines, and understanding not just what they say they like, but how they live and what matters to them day to day.
From there, it becomes a collaboration. I’ ll guide them, push them when it’ s needed, and sometimes introduce ideas they wouldn’ t have considered – but it’ s always grounded in their lifestyle.
The goal is never to make a house feel designed, but to make it feel like home. I also think honesty is a big part of that balance. If something doesn’ t work – functionally or aesthetically – I’ ll say so. That trust allows us to create something stronger together.
At the end of the day, the best projects are the ones where my perspective and their story are so intertwined you can’ t separate them. That’ s when a home feels personal and truly lived in.
Your work is rooted in both beauty and function. What does a well-designed home feel like to you, beyond how it looks? A well-designed home feels effortless. To me, the best homes feel like a quiet dance between form and function. One isn’ t leading or following – they’ re moving together. The layout informs the design, and the design enhances how the space is used. When that balance is right, beauty doesn’ t feel added on – it feels inherent.
There’ s a sense of balance – nothing is competing too loudly, and everything has a purpose. You can exhale when you walk in. Beyond that, it feels personal. Not in an overly styled or curated way, but in a way that reflects the people who live there – their habits, their history, the little things that matter to them. Those are the spaces that have soul.
You grew up connected to a robust Jewish community, including summers at Camp Blue Star. How, if at all, does that sense of community and tradition show up in the way you design a home? It shows up less in a specific aesthetic and more in how I think about living in a space. Growing up surrounded by strong community and tradition, homes were always about gathering – holidays, dinners, people coming and going. That’ s something I naturally design around. I think about flow, flexible seating, and spaces that can expand to host and bring people together. I love creating spaces that can hold traditions over time. More than anything, it’ s about warmth – designing homes that feel inviting, livedin, and meant to be shared.
For someone standing in their own space thinking,“ Where do I even begin?” what’ s the first move you always recommend? Start with how you live, not how you want it to look. Before thinking about furniture or colors, take a step back and ask yourself: How do I use this space every day? Where do I naturally sit? What’ s not working? What do I wish were easier?
That clarity is what should drive every decision that follows. From there, focus on layout first. If the flow and function aren’ t right, no number of beautiful pieces will fix it. Once the foundation works, everything else – furniture, materials, styling – falls into place much more naturally. It’ s less about doing everything at once and more about making a thoughtful, grounded decision to build from.
And finally, the Bernstein Leadership Group( BLG) is designed to cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders in Charlotte. What has your experience been like within the cohort, and how has it shaped the way you think about your role in the community? My experience has been incredibly grounding and energizing at the same time. Being surrounded by a cohort of thoughtful, engaged individuals, each bringing different perspectives, backgrounds, and passions – has really expanded the way I think about leadership and community.
It’ s pushed me to be more intentional about how I show up, not just in my work but in my relationships and within the broader Charlotte Jewish community.
There’ s a strong sense that leadership isn’ t about having all the answers, but about listening, creating space for others, and contributing in a meaningful, authentic way.
Through this experience, I’ ve become especially interested in supporting parents as they navigate the public school system – helping it to feel more comfortable and confident sharing and celebrating the light of Judaism in the classroom.
I believe that love, openness, and education are some of the most powerful ways to combat hate, and that even small acts of visibility and connection can have a lasting impact.
The Modern Balabusta spotlights our very own masters of hospitality. From kitchens to grilling, local businesses, gardening, tablescapes, at-home entertainment, backyard gatherings, and beyond, we celebrate it all. If you or someone you know embodies this spirit, email elizabeth. johnson @ jewishcharlotte. org.
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Samantha Saltzman