Generations of Artistry & Design
My late grandfather, Gerry, was a talented artist and architectural designer who began his post-military career as an art teacher in Wisconsin. He later had his own design studio, hand-painting signs and designing logos for local business owners, and rebuilt a historic steamboat in the Wisconsin Dells. In the late 1970’s he moved to Florida to work for Walt Disney World as an Imagineer. Years later his freelance work included architectural designs for churches, restaurants and commercial buildings in the Orlando area. His sister, Jeanine, also had an eye for design and was a talented seamstress who also worked for Walt Disney World. She and my late grandmother, Marilyn, taught me how to sew dresses from patterns, and my grandmother’s sisters taught me how to knit and crochet. Growing up surrounded by creativity and talent planted the seeds for what has grown into a lifeling love of mine.
Residential interior and garden design
for discerning homeowners
looking to create
enjoyable, beautiful spaces
When I was a little girl we didn’t have much and what we did have was mostly hand-me-downs and second-hand things that had been given to us. I remember looking at my grandmother’s Sears catalogue and adoring the pictures of the beautifully decorated rooms, and being envious of my friends who had newer furniture and prettier bedrooms, a stark contrast to mine. I would go home and look at my rusty chair and worn out furniture and think about ways to make them pretty. Having grandparents who grew up during the Great Depression and were consequently very resourceful, always repurposing and reusing things rather than throwing them away, I learned to see things in the same way. So, I repurposed an old dress to cover my chair, and wrapped my rusted wastebasket and torn lamp shade in leftover construction paper and ribbons. Albeit simple, turning those worn out things into something prettier made me enjoy my humble room a little more, and made me realize how much I enjoyed the process, and so my love of interior design was born.
It wasn’t until years later when I had the opportunity to visit some of the largest and most impressive homes in Florida, that I understood what was possible in the realm of design. After college I had the opportunity to work for a landscape architect with well-known clients, and was exposed to an even broader range of design and scale. I remember meeting clients whose living rooms were larger than my entire home. Those experiences opened my eyes and taught me so much.
Traveling abroad also exposed me to the beauty and character of far away places: from deep, rich, hand-carved woods, to colorful, embroidered fabrics, and hand-carved stone with centuries of natural patina and character.
Needless to say, over the years as I absorbed more inspiration, I took on more projects. I’ve done everything from reupholster furniture and tuft headboards, to hang wallpaper and drywall, install lighting and trim molding, make custom draperies and pillows, to complete outdoor hardscape transformations.
Designing spaces and gardens is my passion. My goal is to help homeowners transform their indoor and outdoor spaces into beautiful destinations they enjoy for years and generations to come.