Would you rather wake up and step onto a plush, warm carpet that carries you through your morning routine or be jolted awake as your feet hit cold, hard concrete? Is there even a moment of hesitation when picking carpet? There definitely isn’t for me.  I’m devoted to the pursuit of softness underfoot — it’s the ultimate luxury, really. Whether through wall-to-wall carpeting or custom-cut area rugs, I always advocate for comfort in the home. Unfortunately, trends have moved away from plush carpets, reverting back to cold, hard concrete floors. Why would anyone want to go back to ..read more

& Top of Mind: What We Learned in Mexico City   The value of traveling as a team is so important to how we work together and design for our clients. Traveling helps us better understand each other and fuels the inspiration we need to create. Now that we’re back from our travels and settled into our usual routine, I thought we should take a moment to reflect on the fun we had in Mexico City and the lessons we learned along the way. Travel Lessons Learned  Improving Problem-Solving Skills  Challenges will arise when people travel together. Delayed planes, conflicting int ..read more

My father passed away suddenly of heart failure when I was 12 years old. It happened only a few minutes after he arrived back home after dropping me off at school, waving me goodbye outside my 6th-grade classroom. Two hours later, I was picked up and told the news. My world was changed forever.  My father had been the primary caregiver to my sister and me. While my mother was around, she was often preoccupied with her older children from another marriage and was just not as predictable as my father. We all tried to adjust to our new reality that year as our home evolved and we were met wi ..read more

Are things starting to look the same as you scroll through your social media feeds for interior design inspiration? Let’s take a minute to see what corner of the internet the algorithm has placed you in. If your phone sends you images of white-washed woods, rustic plank tables, and floral textiles, congratulations — you’re Cottagecore. Feeds populated with interiors of clean lines and nature-inspired palettes might indicate that you’re in the Japandi corner (an intersection of Japanese and Scandinavian design). If you still see photos of white shiplap and high-contrast black hardware, God ..read more

& Top of Mind: Discipline Outperforms Talent, Every Time  I recently talked with my kids about the difference between discipline and talent. Relying on your natural knack for something or your “smarts” can only get you so far. It’s discipline and conscious effort that take you to the finish line. I strongly believe in the importance of discipline and channeling energy into improvement in your field. In my opinion, those with discipline outperform those relying on talent alone, every time.  discipline, noun: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral ..read more

In the days pre-dating the internet, the interior design process by nature was slow. Designers would spend hours perusing showrooms and antique stores in person, hand-sketching room elevations, and assembling (heavy) sample boards to present to clients. There was a sense of intentionality behind every decision. If it wasn’t right, it would take weeks to redo!  Today, the internet has sped the design process up to a nauseating pace. Endless online product catalogs are available with a click, celebrity designers reveal instant room makeovers by the day, and promises of 2-day shipping lure u ..read more

Galley kitchens tend to get a bad rap, especially on interior design shows. The first thing made-for-TV designers will do is blow out a galley kitchen wall to make space for an island that overlooks the living room. Now, your refuge for quiet movie nights and gatherings with friends is interrupted by the looming shrine to housework that accounts for 75% of your renovation budget. Forget about having time to enjoy yourself; there are dirty dishes stacked on the island that require washing! Well, this interior designer is here to rescue you from the deserted kitchen island and show you all the b ..read more

Crewel embroidery calls to mind fanciful fruit, leaf, and nature patterns adorning the curtains and plush furnishings of countryside cottages and beach bungalows. I’ve always loved the art of crewelwork, and I’ve noticed my Austin interior design firm clients expressing a renewed interest in the age-old textile trend. I think it’s time to look back to see just how lovely it is to be crewel. In this Interior Design Glossary entry, I review the definition, history, uses, and revival of crewel embroidery in the home.  What is Crewel Embroidery?  Crewel embroidery, also known as crewelw ..read more

As interior designers, we get very caught up in the visuals of a home (and rightfully so). We go through the details of a project, asking ourselves questions like:  What color should we paint the wood paneling? What fabric pattern would look best on the chair? What stain should go on the hardwood floors?   But what about the sound? I love the way homes sound — all of those little house noises, the creaks and hums, come together for a beautiful symphony that’s more comforting than any lullaby. Growing up, I’d lie in bed at night listening to the gentle tune of the dishwasher ..read more

When you invest a dollar, it gains value through the years, compounding and growing. Before you know it, that dollar has turned into thousands. The same is true for our career expertise. Throughout our careers, interior designers like me build on tried and true principles — further refining our process, honing in on our niche, and ultimately delivering a wealth of knowledge and experience to our clients. Do we start out with this level of expertise? No, it takes time to grow — just like our financial investments, but it is a simple equation. Thankfully, this equation is much simpler than the m ..read more