How did you get started doing Interior Design?

I was always influenced by design and the entire world of interior environments from a very young age, around 5 or 6 years old.  I was always highly aware of my immediate surroundings, how they looked, and how they impacted my moods and productivity.  The orientation, the balance, the placement, the things I chose to surround me… they all mattered so much.  Every space always had to be my little haven no matter where I was.  Without a question, I was created and hard wired to be an interior designer from the beginning.  The education and practical experience would be vital to my future success and part of becoming the design professional I am now, but it was secondary to the gift of vision that was already instilled within me.

What compelled you to start The Design Loft in Colorado?

After having worked for a couple of prestigious firms in residential and model home interiors at the start of my career, I began to feel limited.  I knew there was an entire world out there to explore, and many other platforms upon which I could utilize and build my skills and design talents.  So, after 15 years of working for other firms, I launched my full-time independent design firm in 2008 which was eventually restructured and rebranded as The Design Loft LLC at the beginning of 2015.  My foremost goal as the firm grows and reaches new levels of success is to exceed every expectation while forecasting the most effective designs for years to come.

What are the core values of The Design Loft?

First and foremost, that the client always comes first.  It’s just that simple…

My company’s core values reflect my own. They include integrity, accountability, perseverance, and reliability.  Keeping my word, being committed to excellence, and providing the utmost professional and superior outcome is also important. I pride myself on being honorable, capable, qualified, motivated, selfless, firm yet gentile, and to always be approachable and respond with grace and poise. To me, success translates to being market-smart, but a realist.  I don’t follow the crowd and I always take the road less traveled. Even though it may be tougher or more challenging, it is unquestionably more rewarding. I’d rather do what is right, over what is easy.

What are your current service goals for The Design Loft?

To continue to build my local and regional design portfolio and reputation among my current residential and realtor clientele by always delivering the highest level of design services.  Earning the trust and the subsequent referral business from my loyal and long list of clients is the highest honor I could receive, and therefore fuels the momentum to keep reaching for that next level. 

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

We do not have a complicated pricing system, yet we personally tailor the fee structure to the needs of each individual project and client respectively.  A complimentary consultation is always offered, and from the information gathered and discussed, a design proposal is presented inclusive of the scope of work and appropriate pricing structures before moving forward.

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

After the first complimentary consultation, a design proposal will be presented.  This is to ensure we have included every aspect and understood your goals precisely as you had expressed. From that point, we will discuss how you would like to move forward in terms of your priorities and at your desired pace.  Next steps are then planned, including timelines and financial investments.  Each project is unique in all forms, so the process is truly constructed to align with your specific, relative requirements. 

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

Having hand-on experience in multiple facets of the interior design trade over 27 years in residential, models, and commercial work has afforded countless project types, large and small, to be mastered.  The principles of interior design remain the same while all applications will vary.   Equally invaluable, has been remaining engaged with multiple publications and traveling to national design trade shows twice annually is critical to see what is currently trending, fashion forward, or what is nearing the end. Both are beneficial for all our design projects, but the type of project at hand is the key factor in the resources we tap into during the process.  We have long standing, stable, and nearly unlimited resource relationships in the industry with skilled contractors, quality merchants and reputable manufacturer’s representatives.  This creates a full-circle approach to reaching and exceeding your goals.

The Design Loft’s Experience:

• 29+ years of interior design, remodel, luxury staging and merchandising experience
• Luxury design/build projects throughout Castle Pines Village with Sterling Custom Homes
• 10 years of exclusive model home merchandising
• 2 Custom Builder “Parade of Homes”
• High-end residential interiors and renovations
• Custom builder homes
• Real Estate staging and restyling, vacant and owner occupied
• Commercial office space interior design and expansions
• Lower “per-square-foot” cost for model homes
• Minimal overhead as a streamlined small business
• Trend-setting, market-savvy, cost effective design and merchandising
• Fosters long-standing local and nationally recognized industry relationships and resources
• Excellent rapport with local/national furniture/fabric manufacturers
• Direct access to full service receiving warehouse/storage/installations