While many may think of the design life as a glamorous career path, we know that a lot of sacrifice, time, dedication and talent has to go into it if you want to be successful. Several Haute Design experts took the time to reveal what it is about their job that has them waking up with a smile on their faces every day.

Haute Design: What is the best part about being an Interior Designer?

Kelly Dunn, designer & founder of FATHOM Design Company: The best part about being an interior designer (besides shopping for a living!) is specifically the hunt for unique finds. I love searching for that perfect statement piece and collaborating with other craftsmen/women to create something special. Working with other creatives that love their skill is a privilege and an honor. We push each other to think more outside the box and the result is always stunning. For this bedroom design, I worked with talented glass blowers, lighting technicians and woodworkers to create one of a kind pieces that when blended together, tell an eclectic story.

FATHOM Design Company

To learn more about FATHOM Design and Kelly Dunn's work, CLICK HERE.

Luciana Fragali, CEO & Owner of Design Solutions Miami: I love that I get to solve my clients' problems in such a beautiful way. Each day brings a set of new and exciting challenges. I love that, in this industry, you get to interact with so many different people and teams. From clients, to artisans, to brand representatives, to electricians (who are magicians, by the way), to architects and builders. It is so collaborative and inspiring! Together we make the impossible, possible. We take the well-executed dreams and the crazy structural ideas and poof! We successfully design and deliver projects that are treasured forever.

This career has taught me tough lessons, shown me my full potential and allowed me to have a flexible schedule with my family. I have dozens and dozens of homes that are living proof of ideas I created and nurtured in my head for so long, and many happy clients who get to live their best lives in those spaces.

Design Solutions Miami

CLICK HERE to learn more about Luciana Fragali and Design Solutions Miami.

Hafsa Burt, Studio Head at hb+a Architects: The best part about being an architect is that we’re given tool sets of a problem solver/an inventor that we utilize on a daily basis to imagine new functional solutions and create objects and spaces. I am also able to see a space in my head and get a sense of what works and what doesn’t and I attribute that to my training  and experience as an architect.  Spaces can tell a story and evoke emotions and I love having such an abstract medium of expression at my disposal.

hb+a Architects

Photo Credit: Doug Birnbaum

If you wish to learn more about hb+a Architects and Hafsa Burt's work, CLICK HERE.

Chasity Centeno, Founder and Designer at Riese Design: The best part about being an interior designer is creating spaces for clients to enjoy for years to come as well as building great relationships throughout the process. Not only do we address the client's pain points, we also deliver a product that is both functional and beautiful. As a result, at the end of the project you have someone you can call a friend. Personal relationships are key and each client should be treated in a way that makes them feel as though you, yourself are investing in them. At Riese Design, our clients are part of a family!

Riese Design

To learn more about Riese Design, CLICK HERE.

The post Haute Design Experts Reveal Their Favorite Part About Being Interior Designers appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Kelly Dunn’s obsession with authentic expression is unparalleled and is the driving force behind her award-winning firm, FATHOM Design Company. Kelly is sought out by her colleagues as an expert on out-of-the-box solutions and blending colors and textures in imaginative ways that breathe new life into the world of interior design.

Kelly Dunn recently sat down and spoke to Haute Design to share some of her driving design principles.

Haute Design: What is the earliest memory you can recall where you knew you wanted to become a designer?

Kelly Dunn: I was a young teen when I would constantly rearrange the furniture in my bedroom. Sometimes the layout didn't even make sense, but I desperately needed my space to feel fresh and exciting. I would also rearrange my family's living room when my mom was out for the day, always promising to put everything back if she didn't like it, but I had to play with it and try new things.

HD: If you could name three design principles you live by, what would they be?

KD: 'AUTHENTICITY ALWAYS.' If your space does not reflect who you are to the core, something will feel off and you will always be frustrated.

'HAVE A CONVERSATION PIECE.' It continually breathes new life into your home.

'PLAY.' Introduce new colors and textures. Experience them, be curious. You may discover a whole new side of yourself that is waiting to be expressed.

HD: You have stated that you are bored by trends. How crucial is the client's input to the ideas and design you put forth in any given project?

KD: Client input is critical. It's their space, so it must resonate with them. If they are leaning heavily on trends, I try to dig a little deeper to discover what it is they're attracted to. Then I show them variations of what they're looking for that acknowledges a certain trend but is ultimately expressive of their true identity. This balance always produces spectacular results.

Photo Credit: FATHOM Design Company

HD: Is there a particular color or material you gravitate toward (consciously or subconsciously) throughout your work?

KD: There isn't a specific color but I personally gravitate toward dark and moody aesthetics. It certainly pops up in most of my work but ultimately, I focus on what is the best design representation for my clients' personal style.

HD: Has there been one particular factor to your work which you have implemented as a result of the COVID pandemic?

KD: The biggest hurdle the design community is still facing is that shipping is at least three times longer, production is either nonexistent or takes up to eight times as long and it has been difficult finding quality installers and finishers. Our clientele has been stir-crazy for so long and it's hard for them to wait on their finished spaces.

HD: Where do you see FATHOM Design Company in five years?

KD: Taking on more restaurant and hotel projects and expanding beyond NYC.

To learn more about FATHOM Design Company and book Kelly Dunn for an upcoming project, CLICK HERE.

The post FATHOM Design Company’s Kelly Dunn Shares Her Interior Design Principles appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Here, she describes her recent project Eclectic Retreat. 

Photo Credit: Lisa Russman Photography

This bedroom is about blending the old with the new and honoring your roots while embracing a bright and bold future.

The owners of this space are multi-faceted, well-traveled and down to earth, so we turned this bedroom into an authentic expression of their character and passions because at FATHOM design company we know that when you are surrounded by what feeds your soul you are more deeply replenished.

Photo Credit: Lisa Russman Photography

Every wall is dressed in a charcoal-colored grasscloth wallpaper from Thibaut. These dark, textured walls ground the room while exuding an overall calming and sophisticated vibe. It is the bed that takes center stage, though. Handmade in California, the sunburst caning draws you in, reminding you of simpler times even though it is juxtaposed with a sleek dresser and a retro, shag rug that’s modernized with a metallic sheen. This juxtaposition creates an equilibrium that you can feel as soon as you walk in.

The stunning cobalt blue vase was hand blown by the incredibly talented team at Tightrope in Brooklyn, NY. It casts an electrifying, creativity-inspiring hue as it filters the sun’s light.

Photo Credit: Lisa Russman Photography

Modern lighting from Lume Room on Howard Elliot’s blue mirrored nightstand is paired with a custom-made, traditionally styled ceiling fixture by ABC Lighting in New Jersey adding a deeper level of intrigue to the space. Natural elements, animal prints, modern art, and a 12 string guitar all contribute to the diverse character of the room and reflect the inhabitants' many interests.

Overall, this space is the ideal eclectic retreat. Traditional pieces, modern touches, and contemporary art blended to reflect a life well-lived.

Photo Credit: Lisa Russman Photography

The post FATHOM Design Company On Their Project Eclectic Retreat appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.