Design Perspectives

Today I am sharing how we must all slow down & CELEBRATE our wins! Too often we arrive at a goal & want to move to the next BIG thing! We need to stop & take in our accomplishments.

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.  https://www.bhdmdesign.com/ https://archivebydm.com/ https://www.instagram.com/danmazzarini/

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.” https://annieelliottdesign.com/ https://www.instagram.com/annieelliottdesign/

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.  https://www.purebyamimckay.com/ https://www.instagram.com/puredesigninc/

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. https://www.kes-studio.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kesstudio/?hl=en

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.  https://www.instagram.com/clarepaint/ https://www.clare.com/

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. https://www.susanhaywardinteriors.com/ https://www.instagram.com/suhayinteriors/

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. https://www.sagradastudio.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hemaapersad/?hl=en

Today I am interviewed by neighbor Regine La Biossiere & we discuss all things kitchen renovations. I want to thank my sponsors for their AMAZING products: Monogram Appliances, Emtek, The Tile Shop, EcoDomo, Blanco, Fabuwood, Kravet & Phillip Jeffries. Special shout out goes to the AMAZING construction team The Zorel Group!!

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.   https://www.instagram.com/soakepools/ https://soakepools.com/

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. https://gilliangillies.com/ https://www.instagram.com/gilliangillies/ https://www.pinterest.ca/gilliangilliesinteriors/_created/

I am back and, I will be slightly pivoting the message. Racism is an important part of the fibers of this country. While I will still discuss design...I will also address yt supremacy as it is designed into the fibers of this country. While I am a proud American...I am also disappointed with the death grip that yt folks have on their privilege. This is NOT an attack (although it may FEEL like it) but what it is, is an observation on casual racism.  Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.  

Here are a few questions that I had for Amy: What is my “why?” I am a creative person and a business owner and I understand the necessity and the difficulties of communicating your own story well. Given my background in editorial, I felt I could demystify and simplify what it means to be “press ready" from that perspective, which is just one perspective but an important one when trying to get your message out there! Who is my clientele? Mainly interior designers. Increasingly small manufacturers and brands in the interiors industry. The communications component  that is now so closely bound to business continues to express itself in new ways within the design community, whether with showrooms, design centers, or large design markets. How to be “pitch perfect”? First, understand that writers and editors look for the special in your work, a point of view. You can learn what it means to communicate that in my book, Recipe for Press: Designer Edition. But in a nutshell, pitching requires clarity, reliability, consistency and reciprocity. It is a process that takes time and valuing the process of creating relationships within the design community. Elevator pitch in three seconds. You be you, with conviction! I treasure people’s story. I always have. https://amyflurry.com/ https://amyflurry.com/products/

This is the kitchen renovation episode! My kitchen renovation to be exact! I have been toiling away for the past 4 months working on my kitchen. I have learned A LOT and will share my journey. This kitchen was designed with the grown & sexy in mind! I want it to feel like you are experiencing  your favorite restaurant whose dining area is sultry & moody. I wanted it to be a visceral tactile experience. Thank you to House Beautiful and the following sponsors for being so AMAZING  to work with: Emtek - https://www.emtek.com/ Monogram - https://www.monogram.com/ The Tile Shop - https://www.tileshop.com/ Fabuwood -  https://www.fabuwood.com/ Leeor Zorel - https://www.thezorelgroup.com/

Anne started her eponymous firm after relocating to Toronto 15 years ago after working for Daniel Romuladez on all Tory and Chris Burch's projects. She was House & Home's Designer of the Year in 2021 and has been featured in House Beautiful (her home was the cover story), The Wall St Journal, AD, Domino to name a few. She just released her first ever design and lifestyle book, MOOD, which is available on Amazon and in select stores. More about MOOD In Anne Hepfer’s world, a home is a complex reflection of who you are, and the people, places and ideas that matter most. For this, her first, book, the acclaimed designer explores the power of a stylish and soul-nourishing refuge of one’s own. Drawing inspiration from influences as wide-ranging as travel, music, food and drink, fashion, and nature, Hepfer shares her process and opens the doors to the masterful spaces she has crafted for both international clients and her own family. Filled with exuberant color and meditative reflections, MOOD is an ever-evolving journey through the seven key emotions a brilliantly designed home should evoke: happy, relaxed, energized, cozy, sexy, tranquil, and nostalgic.

Why do you attend conferences? Are you going to truly learn? What are you expecting to glean? Do you want to learn how to get better? Or do you want someone to do the work for you? I share my perspective on what it is like to experience a conference as a speaker instead of being in the audience.

Todd Raymond, principal of the firm, founded the studio in April of 2020. While opening a new design firm in the midst of a global pandemic presented unique challenges, Todd did not let that deter him. He already has a few exciting projects in the pipeline that we'd be happy to share with you. Before opening his firm, Todd worked with the likes of top designers such as Tony Chi and Pembrooke and Ives as well as AD100 designers Dan Fink and Shawn Henderson. https://www.instagram.com/studiotoddraymond/ https://www.studiotoddraymond.com/

Heidi Caillier Design is a full-service interior design firm, with a project portfolio spanning San Francisco, Los Angeles, New England, the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The studio is experienced in everything from new build construction to simple room refreshes. We work closely with architects, builders, contractors, furniture makers, and artisans to create unique spaces that are client-friendly and speak to your specific needs. Our design philosophy is based on the belief that homes should be comfortable and livable while at the same time beautiful and curated. Our style mixes old with new, integrating textures and color, layered with pieces that feel travelled and have history. An intrinsic love of vintage furniture and materials that feature raw and natural textures balance our appreciation of color and pattern to create spaces that feel practical and effortless. https://heidicaillierdesign.com/ https://www.instagram.com/heidicaillierdesign/

Eugene Colberg is an architect with twenty-five years’ experience producing award-winning architecture and interiors both in the United States and internationally. He has designed imaginative and environmentally sensitive residential projects, directed projects at recognized New York institutions, and helped master plan higher education campuses nationwide. His retail projects have successfully dovetailed architectural design and brand identity and expression. He has a BArch from Cornell University, is a Registered Architect in the State of New York, a LEED Green Associate, and is NCARB certified. Colberg Architecture is a Certified Minority Owned Business with the City and State of New York and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Will Zhang, Director of Design and Product Innovation at Emtek, developed a curiosity for design and stylish interiors at a young age. After receiving his degree from The Art Institute of California - Orange County, he joined Emtek in 2009. Zhang is responsible for establishing industrial design as a key part of Emtek to maximize the aesthetic and design value of the product while searching for new sources of inspiration and ideas. During his time at Emtek, Zhang’s designs received awards including the Interior Design BOY Award 2014, Good Design Award, Best of KBIS Award 2020, and Architectural Record Best of 2021. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife.