3. What is your least favorite part of your job?
Business Development, but I’m learning to like it and I’m getting better at it. I don’t love “selling” so it feels unnatural for me. I also hate public speaking, so I avoid that as much as possible but I’m challenging myself to do it a little more. I also don’t really like the HR part of my job, but Paisley (the office dog) usually handles that ;).
4. What excites you the most about senior living?
So many things are exciting about Senior Living right now! I feel there is so much opportunity to make a bigger impact than just designing beautiful spaces. We can help change the way people think about Senior Living (and aging in general). I think we are on the forefront of a huge and very impactful shift where the general public starts to think differently about senior living and that it’s a choice to enhance lives versus a place to go because our elders can’t care for themselves. Through our design work we can help change the image people see when they think of senior living communities. Its already happening and I can’t wait to see that this industry looks like in 10 years.
5. What is your favorite current design trend?
Design trends are funny, no one wants to invest in interiors that are “trendy” so I lean towards trends that are classic and won’t go out of style quickly or that can be changed out easily later. I do love wall paneling of all types, from classic wainscot paneling to vertical tambour panels either wood or painted. I think wallpaper is one of the best trends and a great way to add a cool pop of color, texture, or use as focal art. It’s so diverse that it can be placed on walls, ceilings or cabinets, the uses for wallpaper, and the cool patterns and graphic designs are endless.
6. What do you think the hardest part of any project is?
There is an old saying that says “the devil is in the details” and that is 100% the case with interior design. The success of a project depends on how well all the details are executed. As designers it’s up to us to think through and detail everything on the interior of a building, down to the smallest items like the trim on a tile edge or how the carpet and tile meet. If these items are not clearly called out in our plans it won’t happen. There are thousands of corners, edges and transitions in a senior living community that need to be considered because they can be a trip hazard, or the finish can be damaged by walkers and wheelchairs. We are responsible for making these details safe, durable, and beautiful throughout every community we design.
I don’t really follow any style icons. I know that sounds strange as a designer, but I really feel that too many people follow other designers and their designs start to mimic their icons work, I want our designs to be uniquely ours and trendsetting not following trends. I love this quote: “Be yourself and give them something new to copy.”
8. Where do you get your inspiration?
I love to travel so I find a lot of my inspiration while traveling, dining out, in hotels and resorts, especially internationally. I still like to look through magazines and find inspiration on Pinterest too. I like to pull applications of certain elements vs copying a specific overall design.
9. Best Advice you’ve gotten?
“Don’t compare yourself to others, it creates discontent in your own life” I live by this advice and love being unique, different, and forever evolving. This mindset has given me the ability to be confident and happy with all my imperfections, and goofy personality.
10. Anything else you’d like to say/touch on/offer perspective from the last 25 years?
Whatever journey or path you’re on remember to enjoy it. You only have one shot so be happy, evolve, and adjust along the way. Love yourself, what you do and who you surround yourself with and the rest should fall into place.
