Design Perspectives

Andrew Lieberman is an associate principal and design director at award-winning hospitality design firm AvroKO’s San Francisco studio. As a strategic leader, Andrew oversees the design teams responsible for creating and implementing the interior experience and architectural design of projects, while coordinating closely with the larger project team to meet all client needs and goals.

He’s worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. Stints in hotels and restaurants served as an initial interest in food and beverage and slowly grew into a solid basis for hospitality design. As a result, Andrew brings a keen sense of operational knowledge to all his projects and a thorough understanding of how guests relate to and use their environments.

Andrew started his design career in metal fabrication, installation, lighting design and development, and interiors work. He holds extensive knowledge of the building and fabrication trades—perfectly complementing his hands-on hospitality experience.

Andrew previously co-founded District Eight Design in Vietnam, a boutique furniture production company and design studio, and has spent many years overseas experiencing the diversity of hospitality across the globe. Having started his educational career with a historical perspective, he designs all projects with a solid narrative and research-driven foundation, resulting in unique, award-winning work.

He holds a Master's High Honors in interior design from the California College of the Arts and a B.A. in History from UC Santa Cruz.

The daughter of immigrants and entrepreneurs, Alex grew up traveling often throughout Europe and the Middle East, giving her exposure to unique aesthetics and experiences.  Born and raised in New York, her work is rooted in a traditional East Coast aesthetic.   After graduating from USC with a degree in finance and working at Merrill Lynch, she quickly learned the corporate life wasn't for her and started an event design company in early 2009, which grew to be one of the most highly regarded and sought after firms in Southern California, Blush Event Designers.

Lucy is known for her fearlessly bold & timeless interiors. Her work has been featured in House Beautiful, The Washington Post, The Hunt, and more including several national cover stories on her business process and design beliefs. She brings a diverse set of skills sets with her background in both medicine and fine arts. She brings both her right and left brain strengths to create a one of a kind project and process for clients. She currently leads her team outside of Philadelphia but manages projects across the nation. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University and lives in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania with her two children and husband. When she isn't busy running Tartan & Toile, you can find her at Hobbs, swimming, gardening or with her family.

A boutique design firm located in the Baltimore / Washington DC area, Laura Hodges Studio focuses on creating beautiful, tailored spaces while fully expressing every client’s individual style and taste. 

Principal Laura Hodges is known for an international aesthetic along with a love for unique and dynamic environments. Laura’s childhood home was located in a small, picturesque town in northern England and her love of design began in early childhood. Influenced by a Norwegian grandmother, British mother and Jamaican father, Laura developed an early appreciation for travel and diverse cultures, having traveled extensively to over thirty countries -- from Greece and Morocco to Thailand, Cuba and Peru. 

With degrees in both Business and Interior Design, from the New York School of Interior Design, as well as LEED accreditation for sustainable design, Laura was also mentored by and worked with distinguished New York based interior designers Jamie Drake and Thomas Jayne before launching her own design studio in 2016. 

Laura Hodges Studio’s signature aesthetic is modern, tailored, and eclectic, incorporating unique vintage and antique finds, curated art and natural elements.

Kevie Murphy is the founder and principal of k.a. murphy interiors, a full-service design firm focused on high-end residential interiors. In Kevie’s interiors, function dictates and informs, while beauty always transcends. Balancing both, in striking and elevated ways, is fundamental to her vision.

Design wasn’t Kevie’s first career. Growing up in Port Jefferson Station, New York, Kevie went to Boston University and then attended law school. This led to her working as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, after which she entered the private sector and became a partner at a New York City firm.

It was when Kevie and her husband purchased a Brooklyn Heights home that required extensive renovation, that she realized her passion for interior design and enrolled at the New York School of Interior Design.

Everything has brought Kevie to this moment: her passion, her enthusiasm, and her ability to connect with people, which she uses, today, to help make people’s lives better. This starts with her own life: 1 husband, 4 kids, and 3 houses. All of which Kevie sees as “ongoing, always changing, and forever works in progress.” They’re also the perfect examples of what Kevie means when she says, “Home is your memory maker.”

Olivia Westbrooks is an award-winning interior designer and the proud owner of Olivia Westbrooks Interiors, a boutique firm specializing in residential new construction and renovation. With nearly two decades of experience in the residential interior design and building industries, Olivia brings a unique blend of design expertise and construction knowledge to every project she undertakes.

Olivia's journey in interior design began at Louisiana State University, where she pursued her passion and earned a bachelor's degree in Interior Design in 2004. Her career took off when she secured a position with esteemed architect George Resse, known for his collaborations with Atlanta icon Herman Russell of HJ Russell & Co., on multiple multi-family developments. This valuable experience exposed Olivia to the intricacies of architectural design and further fueled her passion for creating captivating interior spaces.

As a Project Manager at a prestigious Atlanta interior design firm, Olivia honed her skills and worked with discerning residential clients both domestically and internationally. During her seven-year tenure, she played a pivotal role in executing high-end projects, leaving a lasting impression on her clients and earning her a reputation for delivering exceptional results.

Throughout her career, Olivia's work has received widespread recognition and numerous accolades, including the prestigious OBIE Award for Neighborhood of the Year and ASID Design Excellence Gold and Silver Awards. These achievements reflect her commitment to excellence and her ability to create stunning, functional, and awe-inspiring interiors.

In 2020, fueled by her entrepreneurial spirit and desire to create meaningful spaces for busy entrepreneurs and families, Olivia took a leap of faith and established Olivia Westbrooks Interiors. Her mission is to design beautiful, functional, and enduring spaces that perfectly suit her clients' lifestyles. Olivia's style can be described as tailored and timeless, infused with a touch of modern flair. However, her ultimate objective is to showcase her clients' unique personalities and breathe life into their living spaces.

When she's not immersed in designing captivating interiors, you can find Olivia enjoying quality time with her husband Mike and cherishing precious moments watching Disney movies on repeat with her daughters, Mya and Morgan. Her commitment to family and her innate understanding of the demands of a busy lifestyle make her uniquely empathetic to her clients' needs and allows her to create spaces that truly enrich their lives.

Patrick's passion for design began at a young age, springing from an education in Theatre Arts and blossoming into a nearly 20 year career in the Los Angeles interior design community.
 

Drawing inspiration from Southern California's iconic style and architecture, Patrick's work has become synonymous with livable sophistication, timeless beauty, and environmental consciousness, earning him a reputation as one of the top interior designers in Southern California.

Angelina Lippert is the Chief Curator and Director of Content of Poster House in New York City, the first museum in the United States dedicated to the art and history of the poster. She holds an MA in the art of the Russian Avant-Garde from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, and a BA in theology and art history from Smith College. She is the author of The Art Deco Poster, and has lectured at SVA, The Cooper Union, NYU, Pratt, The New York Times, the American Center Moscow, Columbia University, and The Sotheby's Institute of Art. She has written for The Muse by the Clio Awards and is currently a reviewer at the New York Journal of Books.  

Recent exhibitions include Alphonse Mucha: Art Nouveau/Nouvelle Femme, Designing Through The Wall: Cyan in the 1990s, Baptized by Beefcake: The Golden Age of Hand-Painted Movie Posters from Ghana, The Letterpress Posters of Amos Kennedy, The Swiss Grid, Vera List & The Posters of Lincoln Center, Julius Klinger: Posters for a Modern Age, The Push Pin Legacy, Ethel Reed: I Am My Own Property, and The Utopian Avant-Garde: Soviet Film Posters of the 1920s.  

Since founding her boutique, Washington, DC design firm, Shawna has been recognized for her clean and refined design approach.  Shawna Underwood Interior Design is faithful to providing clients with quality and functional design that create timeless, bespoke interiors with turnkey service.  

With professional experience designing and furnishing historic and nationally recognized buildings, Shawna decided to share her love for intricately crafted interiors and materials by opening her own design firm in 2010. Working with clients, mostly from referrals, emphasizes Shawna's ability to guide her clients through every step of the design process and capturing her clients needs and challenges with every detail handpicked and tailored for their space. As a LEED-Accredited Professional, Shawna also advocates designs that incorporate the technologies and strategies of sustainable design.

Shawna is an alumnus of Home & Design Magazine's Hot Talent recognition and has been featured in numerous shelter periodicals and online publications. A Pennsylvania native, Shawna obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Information Systems degree from North Carolina Central University and her Masters of Fine Arts and Interior Design from The George Washington University.

Erin holds a B.S. in Interior Design and is a NYS Certified Interior Designer, Professional member of the American Society of Interior Design, and a National Council of Interior Design Qualifications certificate holder. Before co-founding Curated Nest Interiors, Erin spent ten years running her namesake interior design studio, EMC2 Interiors, where she worked for a diverse range of clients including families, corporate CEOs, magazine editors, television shows, and celebrities.

Ana joined Creative Matters as a designer in 1999, enjoyed many years as Creative Director and became a Vice President and partner in 2017. She balances a combination of highly evolved technical expertise with insightful planning, creative designs and organized leadership. Ana manages a team of versatile professionals who contribute diverse skills, languages and cultural fluencies to each project they touch.

 With an extensive and international portfolio, Ana is no stranger to collaborating across multiple time zones, countries and cultures. She has designed for residences, boutiques, restaurants, hotels and retail spaces for prominent brands and commercial clients worldwide.

Clients respect her as a trusted advisor. As a result, Ana has had the good fortune to work with repeat clients on multiple projects. Ana speaks at trade shows in Canada, the U.S. Europe and Asia. She has travelled to Nepal, India, Thailand and the U.S. to work directly with our mill partners. She is proud to work with Label STEP – our fair trade partner – to ensure the best working conditions for the artisans who weave our handknotted rugs.

 Ana has built her expertise over the last 21 years on the philosophy of creating designs that are not only beautiful but have a deep understanding of the interior designer’s vision for the overall space.

 Her recent business passion is working with clients on hospitality projects that include both floor and wallcoverings. These capture many of the creative elements she loves along with an intense level of project management.

 Ana is a graduate of the Textile Studio at Sheridan College in Canada.

Ali joined Creative Matters in 2006 as a designer and steadily evolved into a people and project management role, becoming Vice President and partner in 2017. Consequently she brings a wealth of creative and project management expertise to hospitality, restaurant, retail and residential floorcovering design projects. Ali’s approach to all projects is to lead with knowledge and learning, making her experience openly available to clients, colleagues and peers. She has successfully managed projects in Canada, the U.S., South Asia and the Caribbean. Ali works with sustainable design principles, an emphasis on natural materials and a collaborative approach to problem solving.

Listening to and understanding our clients’ needs and developing team relationships are essential for Ali. She’s exceptional at communicating design direction to our designers and translating design concepts into stunning solutions.

Ali works with clients, mills and Creative Matters team members to create an inclusive environment where both people and projects can thrive. She has travelled to India, Thailand, China and the U.S. to work directly with our mills.

Recently Ali was the project lead for an award-winning hotel project in Detroit that required 277 rugs made in three different countries including Afghanistan where she helped organize a wonderful collaboration between The World Bank, Turquoise Mountain and our fair trade endorser Label STEP.

Ali is a graduate in fine art and geography from the University of Guelph in Canada.

Sara Gruber is a highly experienced Textile Designer and Collection Developer with over 20 years of experience in the Hospitality and Furniture industries. She's known for her skills in Trend Forecasting, Textiles, Painting, Weaves, and Yarn Development. Sara is exceptional at creating beautiful woven and printed fabrics, overseeing every step from the idea to the final product.

During her long career at Valley Forge Fabrics, Sara has played a crucial role in innovative design, strategic planning, and understanding textiles. What makes Sara stand out is her ability to manage the entire design process, from concept to stunning fabrics. She's also skilled at coordinating collections and budgets, and harmonizing colors and textures.

Sara collaborates with mills worldwide to bring new ideas to life, creating designs that leave a lasting impact. Her expertise includes unique digital designs, Mill R&D, Fabric Sourcing, and Trend Forecasting.

In addition to her professional excellence, Sara is a personable visionary who makes a lasting impression on every project she's involved in.

This is an episode that is from the heart. I receive a lot of phone calls, DM's & text messages asking me who do I use for...fill in the blank. In this episode I am sharing it ALL! I am NOT saying that I have all of the answers but where I can lend a hand, I will! There is enough for us ALL to win & be successful at what we do. In business, just like in life you must take ACTION! You can't just keep taking in information, you must DO! I hope this episode helps you where and/if you need.

Delia LaJeunesse is an art consultant for individuals and interior designers with a focus on helping folks who have never considered becoming art collectors navigate the art market to find art they truly love. By guiding clients through a personalized and unpretentious process to empower them as collectors, Delia meets clients exactly where they’re at offering education, arts appreciation practices and resources, while curating art for their homes. 

Prior to beginning this company, Delia worked in the arts for a decade in various roles— as the Executive Director of a nonprofit, an arts organizer, an educator, publisher and event host. This previous experience gave her intimate knowledge of the art world and its potential, and has enlivened a passion to turn our collective attention towards the arts.

The arts can help us be better citizens, community members, partners, parents, and coworkers. It can be instrumental in our individual journeys of stepping into our potential and purpose, and collecting should not only be accessible, but a fun and fulfilling venture. 

Since launching BHDM Design in 2012, Dan has encouraged his growing team to create evocative spaces that people want to be in, stay in, celebrate in, and live in. In tandem with a vast portfolio of residential projects across the US, Dan has worked with a number of renowned brands and beloved clientele including the Harvard Club of New York, Google, Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, and Calvin Klein, among others. He has also helped visually define successful startups including Casper, Tend, and Real. Notably, earlier this year, Dan launched ARCHIVE by Dan Mazzarini, which is an e-commerce “blogazine” featuring a series of shoppable trend roundups, home tours, curated design inspiration and more - inspired by a mix of his favorite go-to products and trends, as well as those that he admires and appeal to a wide range of aesthetic preferences. 

For nearly 20 years, we at Annie Elliott Design have listened to our clients, earned their trust, and created gorgeous homes that feature our hallmark mix of modern furnishings, antiques, and art.

Once we understand your needs and preferences – and, importantly, how you live – we design comfortable spaces that withstand the rigors of family living and shine when you entertain.

We invigorate your home with the finest furniture, enliven it by juxtaposing pattern with solid textures, and pull everything together with color. With access to the best resources and long-standing relationships with top tradespeople, we insist on the highest quality in both furnishings and workmanship.

The greatest compliment we receive from our clients is, “You made my home look like me – but I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Founder, creative director, and award-winning interior designer Ami Mckay holds the esteemed distinction of being recognized as one of "Canada's Top Five Interior Designers" by Chatelaine Magazine and is further acknowledged as one of the "Top 5 Designers to Watch" by Rue Magazine.

As a sustainable and forward thinker for her company PURE Design Inc, Ami has brought forth recognition in prominent publications such as Architectural Digest, Time Magazine, Martha Stewart, House & Home, and more. Her innovative methodology, emphasizing that every space she designs should evoke joy and harmony for her clients above all, has empowered her to explore design styles that distinctly foster harmony within each environment. In 2022, Ami secured the prestigious North American award for small traditional kitchen design, from the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association), while also being chosen for House & Home’s esteemed list of top designers in Canada.  

Ami is on a mission to infuse every space she designs for her clients with joy and harmony. She takes the time to truly listen to her clients, understanding their vision, purpose, and what brings them happiness. By doing so, she creates beautiful and welcoming surroundings that reflect their unique desires and preferences. Ami's ultimate purpose is fulfilled when she witnesses the transformative impact her work has on her clients' lives and the broader world. 

KES Studio is a boutique atelier that offers innovative and smart interior design and lifestyle services for design-forward residential clients and one-of-a-kind hospitality environments.

Whether it’s from travel, art and even her clients, Kara is always drawing inspiration and looking to expand her knowledge, push her imagination and challenge norms to stay at the cutting edge of design and lifestyle trends.

Nicole Gibbons is an interior designer and entrepreneur best known for her fresh use of color and fashion-forward point of view on decorating. Her work and expertise has been sought by top media outlets like HGTV, OWN - Oprah Winfrey Network, TLC, Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Better Homes & Gardens and more. Before pursuing interior design, Nicole spent nearly a decade managing PR for one of the world’s largest retail brands. Not only has her experience given her first-hand knowledge of what it takes to build a world-class brand, but also deep and unique insights into what customers really want when it comes to designing their homes. Nicole’s work in the design world enabled her to identify that the paint industry was one ripe for disruption. With a broken shopping experience and no legacy paint brand focusing on convenience and simplicity, or marketing to a creative, digitally-driven generation, she saw an opportunity to improve the process from start to finish. Nicole founded Clare to help people create spaces they love — and actually enjoy the process along the way. 

Susan Hayward is an award-winning interior designer, member of the American Society of Interior Designers and International and Furnishings Design Association, and CAPS certified by the National Association of Home Builders. Before entering the interior design industry, Susan worked in the public relations and development field for many years after graduating from Boston University. After her son was born, Susan left her public relations position and she and her husband, Everett, started a photography business in the basement of their home. When Hayward Photography was well on its way to success, Susan decided it was time for her to pursue her true passion: interior design. She went back to school, where she studied rehabilitation counseling. She focused her initial interior design work on downsizing, and the principles of form following function that she gained from her work at the time has become a mainstay of her business today. In 2006, started her own design firm, Susan Hayward Interiors.

Nearly two decades later, Susan remains motivated and excited by the opportunity to create beautiful spaces for her clients. She thinks of interior design as a giant puzzle, where all the pieces need to fit together to form the perfect space. Whether designing for commercial or residential, her process is all about great communication, working together, and creating something beautiful.

A native of Toronto, Canada, Hema was a practicing attorney for several years before following her heart and pursuing a career in fashion. In 2014, she moved to Los Angeles to chase her goal, and spent the following 7 years dressing A-list celebrities, styling ad campaigns and editorials, and working with some of the top fashion talent in the world.
Completely self-taught, Hema's interior design career began in 2021 when one of her styling clients asked for help decorating their home. Because of her eye for design and ability to execute her creative vision, that first project snowballed into several more. Hema now designs residential and commercial spaces around the country. As the business continued to grow rapidly, it became clear that it needed its own identity apart from Hema. In 2022 Sagrada Studio was born out of her belief that there is no more sacred (“sagrada”) space on earth than where we live and create. The Sagrada Studio mission is to honor these sacred spaces by helping clients find their own version of timeless, always with an eye towards culture, luxury, and comfort.

Karen and Brian Larson, Co-Founders of Soake® Pools, created the company from the ground up in 2014, deeming them the first company to offer precast plunge pools for the home in North America. Soake® Pools are revolutionary, space-saving pools that combine the best of a pool and a hot tub, and provide year-round enjoyment. Each Soake® Pools plunge pool is made in New England using state-of-the-art materials, customizable, and delivered pre-built and ready to install.Today, the Soake Pools team is constantly revolutionizing the industry, offering a steady stream of new dimensions, unparalleled luxury finishes, and a litany of safety, aesthetic, and user-friendly functionalities. Soake Pools are designed to be enjoyed year-round, equipped with the adjustability for a hot dip in the winter and a cold, refreshing plunge in the summer. The plunge pools can even provide athletic training with their  resistance systems. Some additional benefits include accessibility in both size and pricing, sustainability in terms of the saltwater contents, lower water usage, and variable speed pumps. Soake Pools offer countless physical and mental wellness benefits year-round, and undoubtedly increase home value.  

Gillies Interiors is a full-service residential design firm based in Toronto with a mission to make the world healthier, happier and more pleasant to be in, one home at a time. Originally from Edinburgh, Founder and Principal Gillian Gillies' tastes, likes and desires grew from being immersed in the neoclassical and Georgian architecture that the city is founded on. Her designs are centered around a timeless aesthetic grounded in natural materials and paired with a smattering of heritage and vintage finds. She strives to immerse her clients in an invitingly eclectic and European experience of frictionless living, designing for the person in the space and not just for the space itself.

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, Purple Cherry Architects has created luxurious residences across the United States. Whether a residence is traditional or contemporary, a multi-generational estate or a weekend getaway, the firm is guided by a desire to conceive exceptional homes. Each commission—composed with intelligence, sensitivity, and experience—becomes the backdrop for indelible family memories.

Founding principal Cathy Purple Cherry and her company are devoted to their clients, guiding them through every step of the design process. Passionate about their work, the team considers not only physical forms but the emotional connections clients will have with their homes and the spaces within them. Active listening fuels the firm’s creative talent to achieve environments that are transcendently beautiful, comfortable, and serene. Purple Cherry’s personal approach is matched with comprehensive architectural and interior design services that result in striking and unique homes. 

Born and raised in New York City, I always found myself surrounded by cutting edge art and stunning architecture.

My passion for art was one that developed early in life and always stuck with me. While studying Graphic Arts & Architecture at the City University of New York, I discovered photography through my coursework and began diving into the medium as a hobby. That hobby soon flourished into a professional career as I discovered a way to combine my excitement for photography & architecture.

I spent the first 15 years of my professional career as a Photographer, Art Director and Creative Director for marketing organizations across New Jersey and New York City. Today, as an independent photographer, I am able to combine 15 years of client-facing services, along with my vision as an artist to bring a best in class customer experience to my clients.

Halden Interiors has earned a name for itself as one of New York’s stand-out, full-service design firms.

Every detail curated at Halden begins from a place of deep exploration. The ability to interpret our clients’ needs and expectations is the cornerstone of our interior design philosophy.

At Halden we achieve design excellence because we care about individualism, that’s why our design process only begins when we understand who you are. At HI we are unapologetically client-centric. We begin by listening — and keep listening. 

In the hands of Creative Director, Kesha Franklin, residential and hospitality spaces are transformed into stylish and well-appointed environments. Each space is expertly refined and functional.

Our aim is to design luxury interiors with personality—stimulate the senses, evoke energy, inspiration and a feeling of total well-being.

Every step we take with you, through the design-research process, from curating the design concept and architectural detailing to furniture and art selections, is about visually articulating shared ideas and creating a stimulating living environment that you love being in and can retreat to.  

Past commissions include, luxury residences, pied-à-terres and design build properties.

Designer Linda Hayslett has a strong fashion and entertainment background. A lot of her inspirations comes from her experience working at companies such as VH1, Allure, W, Details & InStyle Magazine.

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She lived and worked in New York City for many years soaking up the electric vibe of the city. After working in fashion on the east coast, in 2003 she made a decision to move west and become an Angeleno. Linda planted roots in Los Angeles and started to absorb the west coast atmosphere. She worked with a well known celebrity stylist and assisted in styling celebrities such as Hillary Swank, Sandra Oh, Charlize Theron, Heather Graham and more.

Her passion in creativity led her to go back to school and get a degree for Interior Design at FIDM. After graduating Summa Cum Laude in Interior Design, Linda became interested in construction and planning. While Co-Designing on projects with other designers, Linda created LH.Designs. 

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From her connections and experience in the industry, she adds an arsenal of skills along with her talents. With her knowledge, she has infused a warm touch that is often missed when clients hire only a contractor or architect for their project. She realized that offering services that tailor and integrate the designer with construction at each level of building, from concept to completion, was the best way a person would truly get the lifestyle experience that they are looking for. By infusing a construction team with design, LH.Designs can uniquely make a client's project not only aesthetically pleasing but can raise the property's value higher than expected.

Lisa Haude serves as the Senior Vice President and Director of Interior Design at LK Architecture, where she is responsible for overseeing the interior design studio, LK Interiors, and works closely with the hospitality and healthcare studios, in addition to LK’s executive team. Her focus remains centered around the continued growth and expansion of the studio to further enhance LK’s already nationally recognized interior design practice. 

Prior to joining the esteemed global firm, Lisa was the Founder and Principal Interior Designer of Paradigm Design Group and PDG Studios, LLC, located in Houston, Texas. She successfully ran her company for 20 years as an award-winning firm that specialized in boutique and lifestyle-driven hospitality projects throughout the United States. Her award-winning work has been featured in a variety of hospitality, lifestyle, and shelter publications, including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, Boutique Design, Coastal Living, Modern Luxury, Boston Common, LODGING, Hospitality Design, The Wall Street Journal, The HuffPost and more.

I’m a worker.  When I take anything on, I obsess about it, and stay up nights thinking about it until it comes to fruition in a special way. It’s not about a need for control or perfection. Be it a birthday party, a friend’s engagement, or an event at my kid’s school: I’m all in. I’m in with all the bells and whistles. When it comes to decorating, I either get an idea in my head and immediately realize my vision for a space, or I spend weeks thinking about what that piece of greatness will be, and then it hits me and I’m running.

The most time I spend on projects is the planning phase. I pore over pictures of furniture pieces. I lay them up into mood boards on my computer.  I cut them into squares and move them around.  I pile fabric samples on top each other and the pictures to determine the palette and the combinations. I continue to ask if this is what my client will love: will they see it as I do, is it right, is it them?  When the foundation is there, it’s time to layer on top of it. More thinking…

I always turn to books for inspiration.  Whether it be my piles of coffee table design books, or my hotel books, or most often I look at wallpaper books.  They give me the most inspiration for someone’s home. If ever I feel stuck, a wallpaper sample pile gets me going, and spawns something; even if I don’t use the paper. My family sees the things happening in my head all the time.

 My team is also precious to me. Each person who works with our clients is special and brings a unique perspective. With so many moving parts, having a flexible, very patient, smart team who can make turns on a dime is crucial to keeping projects moving in the right direction. Everyone sits right on top of one another because we’re all so dependent on each other. We tried sitting apart, and it just didn’t work.

It’s part the client and their likes, it’s part us and our influences, and it’s part everything else around that just moves us. 

This is how we build great spaces.

Founded by NKBA certified kitchen designer Tanya Smith-Shiflett, Unique Kitchens & Baths designs bespoke kitchens and baths nationwide having built a radical following of over 90,000 Instagram followers in just 5 years. All cabinetry is customized with lifetime warranty and approximately 10 week lead times (other brands are typically 18-21 weeks!) and proudly manufactured here in the U.S by expert millworkers along with a team of in-house designers and Tanya's COO husband/master craftsman David. In just 5 years, they have designed over 5,000 kitchens and collaborated with esteemed industry-leading interior designers such as Lauren Liess, Zoe Feldman, Light and Dwell and Storie Collective. Today, UK&B offers design under their own direction and are opening new showrooms in New York City, Nashville and Austin, Texas with existing showrooms in Great Falls VA, Washington DC, and Halethorpe MD. 

Amy’s career in interior design began over 20 years ago. She has worked for several interior design firms, both residential and commercial. With a strong background as an accomplished artist, Amy fused her creative abilities along with her business and design experience to launch Amy Youngblood Interiors in 2009. Both her artwork and design commissions have been featured over the years in the local and national media. Amy’s appreciation of all styles has made her known for her clean lined, yet comfortable, sophisticated look. Their spaces tend to flow; are elegant with often a hint of eclecticism. Amy and her team appreciate each client’s individuality and by listening to their clients tastes and needs, they lead them in the direction of a beautiful yet functional home.

  Amy Youngblood Interiors is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier.

Since Debbie grew up in the world of haute couture accompanying her family on business trips to Italy to purchase men’s luxury fashion, she always had an innate sense of style and a keen eye for color. Her early career in the fashion industry led to the discovery of her passion for design and eye for detail in interior design. From then on, her keen sense of style began to grow and turned into a successful career and now there are interior design by Debbie which are too much impressive.

Debbie currently lives in both New York City and Miami, Florida with her husband Michael and their three children. When she is not in the Decoration & Design Building (DDB) finding beautiful fabrics for custom furniture, etc she likes to travel, go running in the park or join an early morning yoga class.

Amy Flurry operates a boutique communications and brand development firm in Athens, Georgia. Along with her team and advisor, they partner with companies in the home furnishings industry to develop and and implement focused communication plans, expand marketing strategies to connect to the interior design trade and apply trend direction to product development.

Amy has two decades of editorial experience, producing features and writing for top print and online publications. In 2011 Amy authored Recipe for Press (Pitch Your Story and Create a Buzz,) and is a nationally recognized speaker on the subject of DIY PR. Recipe for Press (Designer Edition) is her newest book with the tools interior designers need to take advantage of the press opportunities available to creative professionals. The book took shape after two years as creative director of the first-of-its kind project management app for interior design professionals.

Amy is co-founder of Paper-Cut-Project, a company that conceives highly crafted installations for fashion houses including Hermes, Kate Spade, Valentino, Christies and the Victoria & Albert Museum. She is also principal in aloka, a home accessories company with an emphasis on limited-supply vintage pillows and throws thoughtfully styled for today’s living.

Brooke Lang graduated from the University of Illinois with a Masters of Architecture degree. Her design career began in 2006 while working for some of Chicago’s top architecture firms including Brazley, Epstein Global and Harding Partners. Brooke studied overseas at the Sede di Roma facilities in Rome and won the Donald E. Bergeson Sustainable Design Award for the “Office of the Future” design concept.  

What is it going to take to allow children to feel safe in school again? The real reason why 2 of the Tennessee 3 was expelled.

Darcy Guttwein is a season world traveler with a passion for lifestyle improvement. She has spent over two decades designing at-home luxury lifestyle experiences that exemplify “Hotels to Home” living.

What if you could live the luxury hotel experience at home, every day? Hotels to Home answers that question by creating a new lifestyle template that bridges the gap between your fondest hotel memories and everyday living.
Imagine stepping into your entryway with the eager anticipation as when entering your favorite hotel lobby, defining your family's hotel brand as a lifestyle strategy, finely orchestrating room service for your household, or celebrating the end of each day with personalized turndown service. Taking what might have once been considered ordinary homelife and making your address a highly coveted destination.
Less memoir, more guidebook. Peek into the author's travel essays and enjoy prompts to excavate your own vacation preferences that reveal a holiday lifestyle at home. Welcome to the Hotels to Home lifestyle!