Story by Dathan Kazsuk | Photos courtesy of La Maison |
The idea is simple—and long overdue. Midtown, the magazine, is named after Midtown, the place; yet for years we’ve skimmed past the stories unfolding right outside our own front door. North Hills isn’t just an address or a development—it’s a living ecosystem of small businesses, creative risk-takers, and people who built something lasting while the city grew up around them.
I’ve watched North Hills change firsthand. When I moved to Raleigh in the early 2000s, this area was still finding its footing. Over time, cranes arrived, buildings rose, and the district became one of the city’s most recognizable destinations. Somewhere along the way, the spotlight shifted to what was newest and loudest—while many longstanding businesses quietly continued shaping the character of the place.
That’s the gap this story aims to fill.
La Maison sits slightly off the main drag in North Hills, and if you’ve ever stepped inside, you know immediately this isn’t a store you rush through. During the holiday season, I sat down with founder and owner Martha Schneider on a plush green sofa tucked into the showroom. Around us, shoppers drifted through carefully layered vignettes—antiques paired with modern lighting, sculptural furniture softened by textiles, and coffee table books.
La Maison opened in 2014, but the idea behind it had been forming for much longer. Schneider came from a background rooted in retail and fashion, working directly with customers and running stores long before interior design became a cultural obsession. After stepping away to raise her family, she eventually returned to creative work through interior design— first from her home, then through a growing client base in Raleigh.
“At the time, I couldn’t find a place that combined old antiques with relevant contemporary pieces,” Schneider says. “There was no store that really offered accessories, furniture, lighting—and tied it all into a full-service design business.”
Raleigh was changing. Clients were traveling more. Online inspiration replaced magazines. People wanted to take a more hands-on approach to their homes—but they also wanted better guidance. La Maison was created to meet that moment: a home furnishings gallery paired with a full-service interior design firm, all under one roof.
As North Hills expanded, La Maison grew alongside it—never flashy, never trend-chasing, but intentional and rooted. Even its slightly tuckedaway location reflects the brand’s philosophy.
“Design rewards people who slow down,” Schneider says. “It’s not about rushing through a space—it’s about living with it.”
The aesthetic she describes is transitional—old meeting new. Family heirlooms paired with contemporary pieces. French antiques layered with modern lighting. “It’s about creating a real story for people’s lives. Something that feels personal and timeless.”
That philosophy eventually led to another addition: a boutique flower shop inspired by the stem-by-stem florists found in Paris and New York. Not weddings. Not large-scale events. Just thoughtful arrangements, handtrimmed topiaries, and florals chosen with the same care as the furnishings surrounding them.
“We wanted to be that little Parisian flower shop,” Schneider says. “You come in, pick out stems, and leave with something special.”
Today, La Maison employs a team of roughly 14 across the design firm and retail space. Some clients arrive with photos and questions—looking for help styling a bookshelf or refreshing a room. Others hand over the keys to entire homes.
“There’s a fine line between what we do casually in the store and what becomes a full design project,” Schneider says. “Sometimes it’s, ‘Help me style this bookcase.’ Other times, it’s, ‘I want to redesign my entire home.’ We do both.”
Curation sits at the center of everything. Many pieces are sourced through Schneider’s travels, from antiques brought back from France to original art introduced to Raleigh audiences, as well as collaborations with local artists.
“What La Maison is really about is the story behind the design. Why something matters. Why it belongs in your home.”
As our conversation wrapped, Schneider summed it up simply: “Design isn’t about trends. It’s about creating a home that feels like the place you want to come back to every day.”
Which makes La Maison exactly the kind of place that defines North Hills—quietly, thoughtfully, and with lasting impact.
