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Design that narrative rather than from whatever happens to be trending at the moment.
Trends come and go, but authenticity lasts. I encourage clients to make decisions based on what genuinely reflects their lives instead of what they have seen on social media or in the latest design magazine. When a home is filled with materials, furnishings, and architectural details that resonate personally, it naturally stands the test of time.
That philosophy also extends to the planning process. One of the most important conversations we have early in a project centers around priorities. Understanding what is truly non-negotiable allows the entire design process to move forward with clarity. In kitchens, for example, appliance selections often influence cabinetry, electrical layouts, ventilation, and circulation. Identifying those decisions early helps avoid costly changes later while ensuring the space functions exactly as intended.
Interior opportunities
Thoughtful planning matters throughout the home, but nowhere is it more important than in highly functional spaces like kitchens, mudrooms, and primary closets. These rooms may not receive the same attention as a dramatic great room or outdoor terrace, yet they have an outsized impact on everyday life.
The architect Le Corbusier famously described the house as‘ a machine for living in.’ While his generation embraced a highly restrained architectural language, the underlying principle remains remarkably relevant today. Homes function best when they are carefully organized, efficient, and designed around the routines of the people who live in them.
At the same time, no one wants a home that feels like a machine. This is where architecture must strike a balance. I often draw from modernist principles when organizing floor plans and designing efficient circulation, but I also look to regional and vernacular architecture to create spaces that feel rooted in their location and connected to history. Functional planning and warm, timeless design are not competing ideas. They strengthen one another.
Once the architectural framework is established, the interiors become an opportunity for clients to express themselves. Whether they gravitate toward traditional
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