Firm Turns Design Passion Into Award Winning Success

She continues: “Through this process I can spend quality one-on-one time with the clients and learn more about their personalities and lifestyle, and then come up with a design proposal created especially for them. Whether talking materials or design fees, I give 110% to create exclusive, one-of-a-kind kitchens and bathrooms. I believe that is what sets my interior design firm apart.”

This despite the fact that the firm does not presently employ a CKD or CBD on staff, she notes.

Also crucial to the process, Carroll notes, is conducting regular meetings with the architect, builder and homeowner to insure that nothing is left to chance.

“One area of expertise for us is assisting busy clients, many who are part-time residents, and who don’t have the time or patience to oversee their own projects,” she says. “These clients want an established designer they can trust, who has a proven relationship with other industry professionals and can work independently while they are away.”

She adds: “It can be challenging because Tucson is a small community where many of my client’s live in close proximity to one other. Therefore, I need to come up with distinctive ideas, assuring each and every project I am involved in is unique. Occasionally I will specify a product or material more than once as long as I can come up with a design concept that is totally different from the neighbors.”

Recounting some of her recent projects, she offers: “Luminous natural agate, beautifully backlit, is one of those things I just had to use again. In the powder room, the floating vanity – handcrafted from agate slab – became a stunning focal point. In a larger bathroom I designed, a deeper colored agate became the perfect edge detail for rich, leather wrapped cabinetry.”

She concludes: “The main thing to remember is that kitchens and bathrooms are such personal spaces, so highlighting the home’s architecture, providing quality products and workmanship as well as taking into account the client’s individual character are the most important factors when designing.”

Varied selection

The firm also selects high-end product brands while remaining aware of client sensibilities.

“In high-end custom home design, I sometimes have to look outside my comfort zone to find items that will be perfect for a particular space,” she explains, citing that she often uses custom cabinetry which is designed and handcrafted locally.

She offers: “With fixtures, the brands I will choose are Kohler, Grohe, Sonoma Forge and Elkay as well as Toto, Ginger and Franke. Since we are in the desert southwest, I use a lot of natural stone material for countertops, flooring, walls and accents.”

She continues: “What is nice is that I have several different suppliers so I can choose just the right product for each client. With appliances, I gravitate toward Viking but also spec Wolf, Thermador and Bosch quite often. I also enjoy lighting and companies I select in that category are Terzani, Eureka, Visa and Bega.”

“Basically, in my kitchen and bath portfolio you will see everything from wooden wall tiles, leather wrapped cabinets and riveted sheet metal in bathrooms to hand-made glass tiles, polished concrete and zebra wood veneer in kitchens,” she says.

She also notes that her studio features customized architectural details, specially made furnishings, commissioned artwork and many other made-to-order details that personalize any kitchen or bath.