After 20 years in the design and construction industry, I’ve seen trends come and go, but the fundamental "rules of the game" remain the same. Whether we are managing a ground-up construction in New Jersey or a renovation project in Austin, Texas, the success of a build depends on three pillars. If you are planning a project, here is how to protect your investment and your sanity. 1. Design Your Home Before Construction It sounds simple, but "saving money upfront" is where m

I recently returned from an incredible designer trip to London, immersed in the heritage and "fabulousness" of British design. While the trip was inspiring, it reinforced a core belief of mine: great design cannot be copy-pasted. If you took a classic London townhouse and dropped it into the heart of Texas, it would feel disconnected. Truly exceptional interior design must embrace the unique spirit of its location (afterall that's why architecture looks different in each city

✨ The Delight of Design: Renovate or New Build? Recently, a past client reached out. They expressed how much they were enjoying their home. They shared their delight in waking up in their refreshed space. They also enjoyed showing off their beautifully personalized home to neighbors and friends. They understood the profound joy of daily living in a well-designed space. This leads us to a fundamental question facing many high-end homeowners: When should you renovate, and when

A local builder once said, "Designing and building a custom home is the greatest group project of your life," and they couldn't be more right. It's a massive undertaking that can span years and cost millions of dollars. Think back to group projects in college. Sometimes, one person did all the work, carrying the whole team across the finish line. Other times, everyone contributed equally, leading to an incredible final product where each person respected their partners. Thi

About 20 years ago I was heavily considering not pursuing my interior design degree. I was contemplating jumping right into decorating and skipping over my degree. However, I had an older mentor at the time that said "Go to school. The time will pass anyway and at the end, you will be standing with a degree in hand". They were 100% right. Now as I look back, it was one of the best decisions I made regarding my career. I went on to train under architects for nine years and pas

I was recently chatting with an industry partner, and we both agreed that the word luxury is overused. Luxury used to convey a level of...

I recently gave a talk on the value of interior design. As I was gathering researching, I realized how much we (read: people) are...

As I enter 2025, I've chosen "do hard things" as my mantra for the year. I aim to challenge myself more in the design field and push both myself and, by extension, my clients.

Many years ago I started working on a project and the client said to me "I love beautiful tile".

We all have that one thing that truly captivates us, a passion that fuels our curiosity and drives us to constantly learn.

About a month ago my mother texted me "someone dropped off tons of Architectural Digest magazines outside the library".

I was seven when I began drawing chalk floorplans on my parents driveway. While other girls in the neighborhood were playing house - I was designing the house.