Carian Design

Describe the featured project.

This project is a 100-year-old Tudor-style home that my clients bought right after they had their first baby. It was in good shape but was staged in a way that wasn’t true to the home’s history. My clients wanted to add depth and personality with the finishes and furniture.

What’s the first thing you want to understand about a client before you begin a project?

I want to know what is important to them. What does their day-to-day life look like? How could design decisions best support anything they want to change about their current routine?

How do you collaborate with other professionals to bring a cohesive vision to life?

I’ve built strong relationships with several general contractors who are responsive, produce high-quality work and are genuinely great to collaborate with. They make my job much easier. The key to collaboration on any project, though, is organized documentation. Everyone on the project, including subcontractors, knows exactly where to look if they have a question. We have site meetings before a new trade begins working to make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s best to live by the saying: “Measure twice, cut once.”

What kind of projects energize you the most at this stage of your career?

While I love remodels, my favorite is when I also get to specify the furniture. There’s nothing better than finding the perfect combination of color, texture and pattern while selecting fabrics. The scale of furniture in a space is also important, so it’s best to have a designer handle it.

What do you hope clients feel the moment they walk into a space you’ve created?

I want them to feel at peace, like a big sigh. A home should reflect their values and experiences. Remodeling or furnishing a home requires a lot of decision-making and investment, so I’d hope that they feel like it was all worth it.

Tell us about your family.

My family includes my husband, Scott, and my two children, who are 5 and 3. My mom lives five minutes away, so I include her in our immediate circle too. It takes a village to have balance between work and family, so I’m thankful for their support. The kids make us laugh every day, and my eldest has even started “designing” her own room.