This Artist Has Mastered the Art of Bohemian Lounge Spaces

Name: Dawn Sweitzer of Notre Monde
Location: High Point, North Carolina
Years working in: 5 years, owned

Dawn Sweitzer is the artist behind Notre Monde, a brand known for textiles, furniture, and accessories like trays, art, mirrors, and more. Her designs are distinct, as well as modern, minimal, and a little bohemian, too. The large industrial warehouse that she does her varied design work in—located in the furniture hub of High Point, North Carolina—is a beautiful canvas of past creative successes and alluring works in progress. It’s not a living space, but it is a space full of life… and the perfect place for Dawn to create in.

Dawn describes her dreamy studio space in her own words: “When I enter my studio space, for me anything is possible. It is truly the one place on the planet that I feel completely free to create whatever I want and lose myself in an idea. Whether it is working on a new collection for Notre Monde or a series of paintings. This is where I feel completely at ease.

Everyday is different. Some days I will be working on ink drawings and patterns and new designs for the Notre Monde brand, other days I could be silk screening and working on paintings or doing research for my next collection. It is constantly changing and evolving on a daily basis. That is what I love about the creative process.

The studio is a 20,000-square-foot warehouse space that was an old mattress factory for 90 years in High Point, North Carolina. It has 16-foot ceilings and large industrial windows that allow the natural light to stream in. The size of the space is inspirational to me.

I find the mornings most peaceful. The imperfections of the building add to the charm and character of the space. It allows me to work on large-scale art projects whilst simultaneously focusing on drawing, printing, and designs for trays, surface finishes, and textile collections. I have recently set up a dye kitchen as well. Here I work with weavers to create new textile collections. It is an absolute dream come true.”

My Style: Classic with a bohemian twist. Organized chaos! One day I will layer as many colors or patterns that you could stack, mixing modern images with flea market vintage colors and textures. I like unexpected layers and patterns. I have always admired different cultures and what each culture and their differences bring to my Midwestern sensibilities. This has always been a major source of inspiration to my sense of style.

Inspiration: Nature and humans and the way they live and celebrate their lives from the austere to the over the top. I love it all. I find myself trying to create a balance in between the two. I am literally inspired by everything around me.

Favorite Element: My favorite element of the studio is the lighting, high ceilings, and size of the space. The building itself still has all of the original architecture and large glass-block windows. Lighting is such an important factor in art and the creative process. As I work on large-scale projects, the space and lighting really allow me to do that without feeling restricted or confined.

Biggest Challenge: My biggest challenge with the studio is keeping different areas compartmentalized. I have a different space for office work, weaving, painting, meetings, and we are currently building out a reference library. I work on many projects at once, several of them being large-scale projects, and I like to work with things spread out. It can be challenging to keep all of the spaces separate and not take over one another.

Proudest DIY: My studio is filled with my own creations that I’m most proud of. From paintings to Notre Monde collections to textiles, I like to keep pieces in my studio that inspire me.

Biggest Indulgence: For me, it’s not about an object or a product. My biggest indulgence is when I walk into the space every morning and disappear into my own world. The feeling of freedom and being in your own space allows me to get lost in creativity. It’s a wonderful feeling that I’ve never had before and have never experienced anywhere else.

Best Advice: Surround yourself with anything and everything that inspires you. Paintings, books, everyday objects, a relaxing space—whatever inspires you.

THROUGHOUT THE STUDIO
Vintage Lighting — Schwung Home
Glass Accessories — Schwung Home
Vintage Moroccan Rugs — Amadi Carpets
Paintings — Dawn Sweitzer Studio
Textiles — Dawn Sweitzer Studio

BLUE & PURPLE SEATING AREA
Vincent Ottomans – Verellen
Oak N2 Lounge Chairs – Ethnicraft
Cobalt Mist Organic Side Table Set – Notre Monde
Bullseye Side Table – Notre Monde
Round Tray Table Set Low – Notre Monde, with Indigo Organic Tray – Notre Monde, and Bronze Slice Tray – Notre Monde

PINK SEATING AREA
Pink sofa — Julian Chichester
Nesting Coffee Table Set/2 – Notre Monde
Nesting Side Table Set/3 – Notre Monde
Surface Coffee Tables – Notre Monde
Raspberry Abstract Tray – Notre Monde
Raspberry Landscape Tray – Notre Monde
Turquoise Abstract Tray – Notre Monde
Raspberry Composition Tray – Notre Monde
Abstract Study Tray – Notre Monde
Abstract Vista Tray – Notre Monde

BOHEMIAN CORNER
Coffee Table —Vintage repurposed printing light table
Teak Benches — Verellen
Bullseye Side Tables – Notre Monde
Round Small Tray Table – Notre Monde, with Blossom Tray – Notre Monde
Chevron Trays – Notre Monde

DINING TABLE
Dining table — Verellen
Raspberry Abstract Tray – Notre Monde
Raspberry Landscape Tray – Notre Monde
Raspberry Composition Tray – Notre Monde
Abstract Vista Tray – Notre Monde
Gold Leaf Mini Trays – Notre Monde

WEAVING & PAINTING SPACE
Weaving loom
Mood Boards — Various objects, trinkets, and textiles found through flea markets and travels

⇒ House Tour & House Call Submission Form

See More:
⇒ Recent House Tours
⇒ House Tours on Pinterest