why?
When I was a child, I loved moving the furniture around in my bedroom. I shared a room with my little sister, Jennifer who is four years younger. Over the years, we had two twin beds, bunk beds and even shared a full sized bed. I think my favorite combination was when we had our two separate beds. I climbed up to attach sheets down the center of the room to create a feeling of two separate spaces.
I remember creating a comfy spot in the closet to read or listen to music in. I had a collection of porcelain cats and she had a collection of Care Bears.
My fondness for space planning grew as I got older and my Dad took me to a few of his job sites in the Kimberly Crest community of Redlands, California. He owned and operated his carpentry business and created beautiful custom oak staircases and cabinetry. I remember dreaming of some day designing such incredible spaces and perhaps even living in one myself. I was excited when he gave me one of his old drafting pencils. You could often find me sketching spaces, furniture and sometimes accessories or even clothing just for fun.
I took the opportunity to take a drafting class in High School and then collected every design magazine I could get my hands on and I made it a goal to study Interior Design. During my pursuit, I learned I had leadership skills and successfully ran some businesses while attending classes to achieve my goal. My favorite business to run as a Store Leader was Restoration Hardware. It had everything I loved, leading a team of extraordinary people, personal development, design, client relations, business management, travel and creativity.
My passion evolved as I became a parent and had a deep desire to be fully present in that new journey. I discovered Montessori education for my child and for myself. I remember one of the first days working at the Montessori school, one of the Guides asked my background and when I shared, she said, “oh, the prepared environment.” (A Montessori term for a space created for children in mind). book nookbaby bed
After spending decades in the Interior Design industry, business management and the last six years studying, learning and working in Montessori environments, I have seen just how impactful it is to create spaces for clients which includes all members of the family. Recently, I staged a home with the intent to sell it. I know that is what I have learned over the years, design is ever evolving. Creating spaces for the people who have or will inhabit them, creating spaces with intention.
So, why? Life evolves. We receive whispers to adapt, change, move and change. All of my passions are still intact. I am passionate about design, creating beautiful, serene and purposeful spaces for all of the people who will use the spaces. I have been approached by parents wanting to homeschool or create environments in their homes to support the children and therefore, I am stepping forward to listen to the whisper.