Skip to main content
There is a difference between a house that is decorated and a home that is lived in. Most of us know the difference between a space filled with ready-made products with a turnkey feel and a home that the owner has taken the time to sense the soul of the space and what each corner needs in order to tell their unique story.
Marie Cox understands this rhythm deeply. Her home is a reflection of her lived experience as a Black woman whose journey is expressed intrinsically in her North Carolina home. From a wooden mask added each year to her evolving wall, to the dinner bell gifted after her aunt’s passing, the pieces she chooses are not just decorative pieces – they signal back to times that connect her to a past and ensure that it never feels too distant from the future she continues to build in her space.
In this conversation, Marie invites us into her process of shaping a home that feels calm, expansive, and unapologetically rooted in Black life.
Photography by Dante Jones
What does the ‘Rhythm of Home’ mean to you, and how does it show up in your space?
To me the rhythm of home really means how my home flows and creates structure. It shows up in the open space format of how my home is laid out as well as how all the pieces I’ve selected show up and have such a cohesive vibe from room to room.
Tell us about a piece of art, object, or heirloom in your home that carries a story.
Why does it matter to you?
I have a ton of art in my home, but an object that carries a story is actually my late aunt’s dinner table bell. When I was growing up as a kid I would play with this bell every time I was at my auntie’s house. When she ended up passing, my cousin gifted it to me since she knew I had an affinity towards it as a child.
“I always advise my friends to take their time. Make sure they really know how they want to use a room before they start to set it up. Give yourself some time to be in your home before you solidify the space.“
How has your cultural background, community, or lived experience shaped your sense of home?
Being a Black woman has definitely shaped my sense of home. For me, I want anyone that walks into my house to know, immediately, that Black people live here. Not only do they live here, but they thrive here. So, I have lots of Black art and Black artifacts. One of my favorite things in my home is my diaspora wall, which is made up of wooden African masks and baskets from all over the continent of Africa. This is a truly living wall because I’m not done with it yet and I add a piece or two every single year. My son told me he felt like it was finished, but I told him that the ancestors tell us when it’s done.
When you think about the space you’re creating, what feelings or energy do you want it to hold?
I feel like our homes should always be a safe place so I want my home to always feel like calm and safety. I feel like I design in such a way that my home feels lived in and comfortable and conveys all of those things I’m trying to convey to my visitors. My goal is to never make a room uptight or so formal that a guest will feel like they can’t relax and unwind.
What advice would you give to someone building a home that reflects who they are?
I always advise my friends to take their time. Make sure they really know how they want to use a room before they start to set it up. Give yourself some time to be in your home before you solidify the space. Let things grow with you so just like my diaspora wall. You don’t have to have anything complete at one time you can have a gallery wall that grows over time. When it comes to art, I always tell people that if they love it today, they’re going to love it tomorrow. I know people get nervous about buying art, especially when it’s expensive but truly if you love the piece, just buy it. I have had buyers remorse when it comes to pieces that I have passed on. If you take your time and you buy pieces that you love, your house will truly reflect you authentically.
Marie Cox lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her dog, Rocky. She is the proud mother of three wonderful children who are building lives of their own in different states, and one who is currently in college.
She serves as a Vice President at a financial firm, where she brings both leadership and insight to her work. An avid traveler, Marie believes that exploring the world broadens perspective and shapes us into better people. A lifelong learner, she founded a book club for Black women in Raleigh and enjoys discovering new coffee shops in her spare time.
Connect with Marie and learn more on Instagram | @phreckles
The Rhythm of Home Series
The Rhythm of Home Series was created to honor the everyday artists, collectors, curators, and cultural stewards who shape their spaces with intention and soul. Through intimate conversations and glimpses into real homes, this series explores how art, memory, and identity come together to create spaces that feel deeply personal and profoundly lived in. Each feature invites us to slow down, listen, and find connection in the rhythms that make a house a home.
Read more Rhythm of Home Series features here.
Featured Rhythm & Hues art | When I Close My Eyes by Mohamed Abdulrahman