Cheryl Stauffer, CEO of Crimson Design, is an award-winning interior designer of residential and commercial spaces. Her work is vibrant and adventurous, bringing an international flare full of culture and beauty to any space. For the past 20 years, through Crimson Design, she had been sharing her gift by bringing vivid energy to personal and social spaces throughout the Midwest.

Cheryl’s talents were not realized at a young age and came to life as she found her calling. Raised by missionary parents, Stauffer spent her early childhood in the jungles of South America, in a life completely void of color. As she grew up and discovered her talent and passion for design, Stauffer infused amazing combinations of color with an international flair into all her work.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Crimson Design has been commissioned by developers since 2013 to design the most modern community living spaces, restaurants, bars, and areas of the city that are young, professional, and attracting talent from across the globe. Her most recent designs include Lux 23, a new luxury suite multi-living complex, and the Whisky Lounge in Columbus.

Cheryl recently spoke to Haute Residence about where she finds her inspiration and what sets Crimson Design apart in an industry full of unique talent.

Photo Courtesy of Crimson Design / Submission

Stauffer, who grew up in the untamed jungles of Paraguay, South America, was raised by Mennonite missionaries who dedicated much of their lives to helping others. “Living among the locals and indigenous Indians shaped how I look at the world,” Stauffer told us.

“It also curated my love of cultures, which has given me a different viewpoint of spirituality and made my world much larger. I was instilled with a strong faith and acceptance of people from all walks of life and I’ve carried those values into my adult life through my artistic work, philanthropic efforts, and of course, my family.”

Stauffer’s most recent work, Luxe 23, has received a tremendous amount of attention. The 113 luxury suite apartment complex located in the heart of Short North (Columbus, Ohio) has a rooftop terrace and a refined social venue known as The Whiskey Lounge.

“Our design goal was to create an experience to transport guests into another world,” Stauffer says. “The inspiration started with Pierre Frey fabric that represented caftans collected at a bazaar as colorful as Ikats. The starting point in the design was the use of color, custom brass light fixtures, mosaic tiles, and custom-designed wood cabinetry. The rooftop terrace displays chandeliers from Italy.”

Stauffer describes this as a “one-of-a-kind” piece that serves as a local landmark, creating curiosity and making for memorable Instagram moments.

Haute Design: What was the biggest challenge with Luxe 23?

Cheryl Stauffer: The design challenge was to translate and marry the developer’s vision along with the restauranteur’s vision for a seamless design of the lobby, The Whiskey Lounge, and throughout the five-story complex.

To give a new spin on modern imagery, we created unique art with a Renaissance vibe which was graffitied, with a collection of modern and old pieces comprising the art and furniture. Additionally, there is a 12-foot sculpture of a woman from the waist down, which was designed by our team and manufactured by a local company.

Within the weeks of its opening, Luxe 23 was a success for the developer and at 100 percent occupancy.

HD: Where do you pull your inspiration from today? How do you keep your designs unique / fresh / vibrant?

CS: Most of my inspiration comes from my travels and experience with other cultures. From the vibrant colors and patterns of the Massai tribe in Africa to the refined architecture in Europe, I see art and inspiration everywhere I go.

My goal is to make the typically unseen beauty, seen by people in the spaces I create. I love being able to make a difference in the lives of our clients and transform how they view and experience their spaces. The art of interior design can have an emotional and spiritual effect, and I enjoy creating something beautiful for each client to appreciate. This industry is full of makers and creatives who think outside of the box and bring ideas to life; the people and their ideas are what makes interior design so magical!

HD: Let’s talk about some of your philanthropic work, specifically with the orphanage in Thailand you are building and designing.

CS: My husband, Luis, and I have a heart for adoption. Luis was adopted from Guatemala and we have an adopted daughter, sparking our interest in having a bigger impact with children. We worked with Asia’s Hope, which provides residential housing and a family-care environment for orphaned children in Thailand, Cambodia, and India.

The project, which started in 2019, couldn’t have been done without the help of our clients and vendors, allowing us to raise $250,000 over the course of 6 months to build the home. Now, it houses 20 children with ages ranging from 2 to 16. Most of the children in the orphanage are from a hill tribe, and now have access to a safe, nurturing environment and education while staying true to their culture.

HD: Do you feel comfortable talking about your work in Columbus, designing a home for victims of human trafficking?

CS: Unfortunately, Ohio is one of the top 10 states for human trafficking, with a clean and constant need to address the issue.

We first became involved with the Rehab’s Hope project to spread awareness and bring comfort to victims. When the organization’s founder started an effort to transform a 32-bed facility into a home to transition women who are victims of trafficking and start new lives, I took the lead to gather the design community and get involved.

We enlisted the help of eight other designers, along with Value City Furniture to turn this facility into a home. We wanted this place to feel safe, warm, and comforting. We put our collective skills to work, mixing both old and new pieces to bring the rooms to life through soft colors and textures. We are excited about this project and are expecting a December 2021 completion date. 

HD: What does ‘success’ mean for you in today’s interior design industry?

CS: Success in many industries is based upon relationships, which also holds true in design. Building and maintaining long-term relationships with clients, subcontractors, and vendors is critical to long-term success. There are many layers and details to each piece of a project, as it is a complex industry. For this reason, knowing how to navigate the many working pieces and streamlining processes to increase efficiency has always, and will always need continuous improvement.

Another key to achieving success is surrounding yourself with a strong team. I have worked hard to recruit a team of thought leaders with amazing talent that are committed to the Crimson vision.

HD: What advice would you give to incoming designers, perhaps Millennial/Gen-Z targeted, on how to get started and succeed?

CS: To get to the top, you have to start at the bottom. You have to be willing to take leaps beyond just interior design - which means getting out from behind the computer and going to your sites, seeing the whole process from start to finish, and actively participating.

Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get dirty. Some leaders I look to for inspiration that embody these values include Joni Vanderslice of J. Banks Design Group and Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels and Kit Kemp Design Studio.

To learn more about Crimson Design and Cheryl Stauffer’s work, CLICK HERE.

Be sure to follow Crimson Design on Instagram, @crimsondesigngroup.

Written in partnership with Ascend

The post Award Winning Designer Cheryl Stauffer Draws Inspiration From Her Childhood, Infusing The World Around Her With Color Through ‘Crimson Design’ appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Carmeon Hamilton is the first winner of HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen. Founder of Nubi Interiors, Hamilton competed in weeks of competition to define her interior design style from each challenge to the next.

The finale aired on Thursday on HGTV where Hamilton won $50,000 and the possibility of having her own HGTV show. Design Star: Next Gen is a spin-off to the popular series Design Star.

Hamilton was a front runner throughout each challenge by impressing the judges with her use of materials and pushing the limits within design trends. Hamilton described her style as “modern bohemian” influenced by African culture and textiles.

When describing Hamilton, HGTV’s President Jane Latman said, “Cameron is an incredibly talented designer whose creativity and heart was on full display inDesign Star: Next Gen.”

Hamilton celebrated her victory by posting a video of her win on Instagram. She captioned the clip, “Good morning world.”

Hamilton wrote on her website that her “purpose is to not only discover the beauty in all things, but to also help others find that beauty in the things that surround them every day.” Based in Memphis, Hamilton is an environmental curator, interior designer, merchandising consultant, blogger, and content creator for Nubi Interiors.

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Photo Credit: Blue Zone Realty International

“The difference between a good company and a great company is the drive and passion that each member of the team has for the industry," says Tim Fenton, President of Blue Zone Realty International. "This award is a credit to each of our real estate professionals and our extraordinary support staff. I am humbled by the dedication that they have for their clients, and by the passion that they have for real estate.”

The USA & Americas Property Awards, now in their 27th year covering over 45 different residential and commercial categories, are decided by an independent panel of 80 industry experts, focusing on design, quality, service, innovation, originality, and commitment to sustainability. The panel is headed by Lord Caithness, Lord Best, and Lord Waverley, members of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament.

Photo Credit: Blue Zone Realty International

The Awards are spread throughout Arabia, Europe, Africa, Canada, Central & South America, the Caribbean, USA, UK and Asia Pacific, with "heats" staged for each region. The top winners per region are then entered in the international award nominations, culminating in the announcement of the International and World's Best winners.

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But just as Africa hosts a large diversity of ethnicities, cultures and languages, it also boasts some genteel and diverse landscapes. It’s not only a continent with the Sahara spreading wide with sand dunes that stretch for hundreds of miles at heights of more than one thousand feet. It's also a dwelling that embraces undulating plateaus cradling some of the purest, luscious greenery and highlands with the most monumental mountain ranges. Large and deep lakes, accompanied by the most wild and tempestuous terrains bounded by the blues of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, help to create the quintessential symmetry of this mighty continent. It remains evident, the beauty of Africa runs deep; however, this motherload of majesty would not be complete without its luxurious mansions.

It turns out that Africa is not only one of the richest areas for plants in the world, one of the richest lands for diversified ecology, but is one of the richest real estate domains providing the most luxurious homes ever to be built.

Camps Bay, Western Cape

This palatial property, dubbed The Casablanca, is designed for opulent living on a most lavish scale. This sanctuary hosts the most glorious reception rooms, unobstructed sea views from every room and the most majestic mountain backdrop.

It simply doesn't get any better than this African morning sunlight.

Except, perhaps, with this spectacular afternoon view?

Grand-Baie, Mauritius

This stately villa is situated in Grand Baie and is one of four colonial villas on oceanfront property with tropical surrounds.

There are five bright and airy bedrooms, each with an en-suite luxurious bathroom and designer walk-in closet. The master suite expands into a massive balcony with the most stunning water views.

The regal living area opens out to embrace the landscaped garden and pool deck, accompanied by a gazebo that eloquently complements the slate-bottomed infinity pool. The massive patio is ideal for relaxing or entertaining numerous guests in Gatsby-like fashion.

Teak and natural stone finishes create a warm ambience throughout the home and cathedral ceilings optimize the natural light and expand the spaciousness of each room.

Constantia, Cape Town

This picturesque property is set on 3.5 acres and remains the epitome of solace, grandeur and the very best architectural design - all of which sit nicely in the most beautifully landscaped garden.

State-of-the-art functionality and sophisticated simplicity make this property the perfect not-so-humble abode.

Panoramic views keep you company while you work out in your private gym with lap pool, or dine outdoors with an ocean breeze to caress your face while effortlessly elevating the elegance of your home.

Beau Champ, Flacq

This villa depicts the perfect combination of modernity and traditionalism. It's an oasis that exhibits a collection of upscale furniture, bespoke finishes, glazed oak panels and hand-embroidered paintings. And the most awe-inspiring vistas of verdant green encapsulated by the rolling hills beyond are to be found here.

This home boasts a grand entrance, an open plan kitchen with breakfast bar, an office/study and an entertainment room with cinema, master bedroom with luxurious custom-designed en-suite bathroom and two walk-in closets, a jacuzzi on a private patio adjoining the swimming pool, a private hammam, sauna and gym, two wine cellars and a surround sound system.

As if more is required, Residents enjoy access to two exceptional 18-hole championship golf courses and exclusive use of two beaches.

A palatial living area is accentuated by two glamorous chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that allow for the entry of natural light and panoramic views of the outdoors. From every angle, the landscaped gardens unfurl like a 3-D green tapestry studded with tropical plants. Spa-like enjoyments include a private kiosk with lounge and dining areas, a timber deck and a swimming pool with five water jets.

Come to eye some young trees that are twice the size of you, and rest your eyes upon distant mountains that pierce the bluest of skies. Feel that thick green grass under your feet leading the way to the thickest of forests that carpet the uplands. Smell the thickly scented spruce branches on your veranda. In other words, let the beauty of Africa come to you, wash over you, as you relax and reside in any one of the above-mentioned luxury homes.

All images courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty

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They became a part of the culture and soul of Zambia by donating the funds necessary for a daily second meal for the students at the Twabuka Primary School. By piggybacking on the efforts of a group from Italy that started funding lunches in 2015, the students now have a more nutritious lunch with protein and vegetables and now a daily breakfast as well. Plus, another cook’s job was created with the new funds. Offering students two healthy daily meals that they can count on does more than just cure rumbling stomachs—it increases attendance, promotes great focus and learning and makes for a healthier community.

Below is an interview conducted by OutsideGo, the safari planning company that organized the Lyon/Greenfield adventure.

Outside Go: What inspired the trip?

Cindy: I’ve always wanted to go to Africa. Our last name is Lyon and I’m a Leo, and so I love the big kitties. I was turning 60 and Neil asked what I wanted to do for my birthday. I said I wanted to go see cats, and he said “you want to go to the zoo?” “No, I want to go to Africa!” That’s how innocently this trip started.

Neil: We saw lions, cheetahs, a leopard with her protected cubs. Hundreds of giraffes, hundreds of zebras, a million impalas, and a hundred elephants in one sitting as they crossed right in front of us on a dirt road. We walked with the white rhinos. It was an incredible trip.

Cindy: We knew we would get excited about and love to see the wildlife, but we didn’t know in advance how much we would love the African people. At each camp you visit on safari, the guides have their work cut out for them. By the time we were at our third camp we had seen a lot of things. Our guide asked us what we still wanted to see, and the one thing was a leopard. He was determined that he was going to find us a leopard. It took him a couple of days–10 hours of tracking to be exact–and he found one. He was so determined.

O: Tell us about your visit to the Twabuka School in Zambia.

N: We went there with a suitcase full of school supplies and solar lights. We were going to Twabuka School to drop it off on what was scheduled to be a 15-minute visit, but we had no expectation that we would do anything beyond that.

C: One of the things that was really impactful when we went to the school was that as we drove into the school all these little children just ran joyfully along the vehicle smiling and saying "thank you for come see us!" There was no sense of entitlement, there was just joy and gratitude.

N: They were the sweetest greeters you could ever have. It was so wonderful. That set the tone for how we felt when we got to the school a few minutes later. There was definitely no grand plan to doing anything other than deliver the school supplies but we were so inspired by the kids and teachers we met. The need was so great and we knew that for a totally manageable amount of money we could really change things. We found out that there was an Italian musician named Federico Spinucci that had started funding one meal a day at Twabuka (which we were told was the one meal that many of these kids got on any particular day), and so we talked to one of the people we met at the school. I said I’d like to be in touch with this musician guy, who is in fact an attorney based in Rome. Largely because of my interactions with Federico and knowing that he had vetted the situation and had been providing funds for three years, that gave us the confidence to say let’s just do it.

That morning we had gone to Victoria Falls and then on a bush walk with white rhinos and two park rangers. Just imagine the contrast, going to this school and having these beautiful kids chasing our vehicle and welcoming us. On our way back to Toka Leya (the safari camp), what started as a couple of elephants walking in front of our car ended up being so many that we lost count at a 100. Some of them were mere feet in front of the vehicle.

C: That was our first day of the trip.

O: So you decided to donate a second meal a day to every student–over 300 total–for the next three years. Tell us more about what this commitment means.

C: While we were visiting we learned that the woman who started the school had at first had trouble getting children to attend. But once they started providing food, attendance went way up because the kids could eat (which they might not have at home). And the product of that, partly because of education and partly because the kids were at school, was the AIDS rate in the village went way down. The impact of education is huge here.

N: You could also tell by our interactions at the school that many Americans and Europeans had visited this school and said that they’d help, but that very few had really followed through. I could sense that even with Federico, and that he couldn’t be sure that we were really going to commit. I told him on one of our Skype calls that while I’m sure most didn’t follow through, we were going to. Once all realized we were serious about helping, everyone’s gratitude went through the roof.

C: That’s why we made the commitment to provide the second meal for three years.

O: Have you always given back like this?

N: We have always supported local non-profits in Santa Fe that have focused on underserved kids, and in some cases rescue animals. I’m with Sotheby’s International Realty and last year while we were at an international conference, one of the speakers we heard was one of the founders of a non-profit called New Story. New Story builds houses in third-world countries where they have tremendous housing problems. They don’t just go build a house—they work with local governments and local contractors to buy land and create neighborhoods and villages. This 20-minute talk inspired Cindy and me to buy a home for a family, who we later learned lived in Aquas Calientes, Mexico, with our business partner at Sotheby’s International Realty. We felt so good about it, I’m sure it had an impact on us when we went to Zambia.

O: How can our readers help the kids at Twabuka School?

N: It would be great if we could generate the funds for a 5 or 10-year commitment, or double the amount of money we are sending now to provide things like solar panels for electricity for the school. It's such a manageable amount of money that you can literally change someone’s life in a day. Why wouldn’t we want to do that?

For more information contact Neil D. Lyon at 505-660-8600 or neil@neillyon.com

Neil D. Lyon is the exclusive agent representing the Santa Fe, New Mexico real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.

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