2025 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas
designers
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AVERY COX DESIGN
Avery Cox is the founder and principal of Avery Cox Design (ACD), an award-winning residential design firm based in Austin, Texas. Known for celebrating color, playfulness, and comfort, Avery creates immersive spaces rooted in classical design principles.
A Dallas native, Avery studied interior design at the University of Georgia and began her career in New York City working with esteemed design firms. After 12 years on the East Coast, she returned to Texas in 2016 and established ACD. Since then, the firm has earned a reputation for its artistic eye, dynamic use of color, and thoughtful, layered approach to interiors.
Specializing in the design and decoration of architecturally significant homes, Avery’s work is defined by a sensitivity to history and place. Each project reflects a collaboration between client, architect, and builder, resulting in homes that feel both transportive and deeply personal. Though her projects span nationwide, Avery has a fondness for Texas’ architectural heritage and the classical tradition, from historic Dallas estates to modern ranch properties. Since returning to her home state, Avery has enjoyed creating designs that resonate with the region’s character while elevating them with a distinct point of view.
Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Domino, House & Garden UK, and Dwell, as well as leading regional publications including D Magazine, Austin Home, and The Dallas Morning News. Avery was the regional winner of the 2025 Luxe RED Award for Best Renovation and was named by Better Homes and Gardens as one of the Color Stars of 2025. Avery is currently working on a historic 1920’s dude ranch in Wyoming, a 1922 mediterranean style landmark property, and a 1923 Palladian revival bungalow in Austin, TX.
bureau interior architecture | design
Matt Donahoe is the founder and principal of bureau interior architecture | design, a Nashville-based studio celebrated for its architectural approach to interior design. Central to Matt’s approach is a creation of spaces which balance elegance and comfort while reflecting individuality and purpose. His work focuses on crafting environments that evoke a lasting sense of place and curated connectivity.
With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creating enduring design, Matt merges the pragmatic with the transcendent, curating interiors both distinctive and welcoming. His design style is defined by neutral palettes, organic materials, and rich textures, which together imbue warmth and sophistication. Tailored furnishings and thoughtful design choices further elevate each space, ensuring projects feel both classic and contemporary.
Matt’s background spans commercial, hospitality, and residential design, which informs every project with his commitment to quality, taste, and meticulous attention to detail. His studio’s work strikes a harmonious balance between aesthetics and function, always aligning with the client’s vision.
Matt takes a collaborative approach to every project, leading his clients through a full-cycle design process emphasizing personal attention and exceptional craftsmanship. Through his expertise, Matt has gained recognition for his elevated style and dedication to envision unforgettable spaces that enrich the lives of those who inhabit them. His firm continues to set the standard for excellence, offering a comprehensive, thoughtful approach to design with service at the forefront.
While recognized in regional and national shelter publications throughout the years, Matt and bureau interior architecture | design were recipients of the esteemed 2025 Southeastern Residential Designer of the Year Award from ADAC and Veranda.
Christopher Architecture & Interiors
Collaboration is at the heart of Christopher Architecture & Interiors. Founded in 2002 by nationally recognized architect and designer Chris Reebals, the firm is known for its creative, client-centered process—uniting passionate clientele, exceptional designers, skilled consultants, and meticulously vetted craftsmen. This unified approach to architecture and interiors delivers exceptional synergy, efficiency, and uncompromising quality.
Before launching the firm, Chris studied architecture at Auburn University, competing as a Division I athlete, and quickly rose to lead designer and project architect at a prestigious Alabama firm. His later work in vocational ministry, from serving students to high-security prison populations, deepened his belief in the power of place to enrich lives.
A registered architect and active member of the AIA and NCARB, Chris has over 20 years of residential and commercial design experience. His accolades include Southeastern Architect of the Year (2023), Top Coastal Architect by Ocean Home Magazine, and HGTV Faces of Design Finalist (2023). From new builds to transformative renovations, Christopher Architecture & Interiors creates bespoke spaces of elegance, continuity, and purpose—designed to add value not only to property, but to life itself.
DESIGN BY TULA
I studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and began my career working with two of the most prestigious design houses in the industry. There, I was responsible for identifying emerging fashion and color trends each season and developing new product lines that reflected those insights.
Later, I moved to North Carolina and took on the role of New Products Design and Development Manager at Westwood Incorporated. I oversaw the coordination of product design, production, and technical operations, while also supporting sales efforts between the New York office and manufacturing facilities across the country.
After settling in North Carolina, I founded my own company, Design by Tula.
My work is grounded in a deep respect for tradition and history, combined with a strong appreciation for contemporary design. I love blending modern elements with classic forms, and I have a particular talent for incorporating unique objects from around the world into my designs.
DONIPHAN MOORE INTERIORS
Doniphan Moore, principal of Doniphan Moore Interiors, is an American designer creating timeless, textured and edited environments. In projects spanning the country, the Kentucky-born native intuitively mixes period furnishings and modern moments for unexpected spaces.
Moore’s layered interiors — known for their varied color palettes, wallpapers and custom pieces — are meticulously detailed and reflective of each individual client’s lifestyle. “True luxury exists in enjoying and lingering in one’s personal space,” says Moore. He continues, “My projects share a traditional sensibility enhanced by uncommon details curated from the owner’s way of living.”
From intimate high-rises to gracious homes, his mix of the masculine and feminine creates inspirational narratives that are as diverse as they are well-dressed. “My influences can be identified through the subtle nuances in my work,” says Moore. “The silhouette of a piece of furniture, a certain color combination or a mixture of materials that I choose habitually reflects art or references fashion.”
Based in Dallas, Texas, Moore, whose identifiable work is inspired by both the past and the present, has been featured in numerous shelter publications and recognized with multiple design awards. In 2020 Moore participated in the inaugural Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas. Doniphan has recently opened a studio atelier to house offices, artisans, artists, craftspeople, and events on Fairmount Street.
ELLERSLIE INTERIORS
Laura Lubin is the founder and principal designer of Ellerslie Interiors, a nationally recognized design firm based in Nashville, celebrated for its elevated, emotionally resonant interiors that marry refined elegance with livable comfort. Since establishing Ellerslie in 2015, Laura has cultivated a portfolio of luxury residential projects across the country, each defined by her masterful use of texture, scale, and layered materiality.
Her design philosophy is rooted in the belief that a home should not only reflect how you live, but more importantly, how you wish to feel. Guided by an intuitive sense of proportion and an editorial eye for detail, Laura creates environments that are as timeless as they are tailored, grounded in beauty and built for real life.
Known for her strategic, client-forward approach, Laura ensures every detail is intentional, balancing investment with impact to create homes that feel effortless yet exquisitely considered.
Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, FREDERIC magazine, Elle Décor, and Veranda, among others. A two-time AD PRO Directory designer (2024 & 2025) and a finalist for the 2024 Southeast Designers & Architects of the Year by ADAC, Laura is widely regarded as a leading voice in luxury residential design today.
JEAN LIU DESIGN
Jean Liu Design, LLC was established in 2007 as a full-service interior design firm, specializing in high-end residential and commercial projects. Since then, the firm has grown to become a party of five, all of whom would do almost anything for a pretty picture–of interiors, that is. We are also a group of design aficionados whose talent, experience, and training make us uniquely qualified to work alongside clients, builders, and architects on all aspects of interior design, whether it is new construction, historical renovation, space planning, furniture sourcing, or staging. We pride ourselves on creating modern, edited, comfortable, and inspired spaces, and nothing makes us happier than helping clients translate their vision and lifestyle into a place they can call home. From time to time, our work has even graced the pages of publications such as House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, and The Wall Street Journal.
J.D. Ireland Interior Architecture + Design
JD Ireland was founded in 2002 by high school friends Joe Ireland and Julie Weber. Joe is the studio’s creative director while Julie carefully manages client and vendor relationships ensuring a smooth customer experience. Both Julie and Joe started working for internationally recognized firms before they decided to join forces and launch their own design studio. They were in their 20s at the time and, much like the tech disruptors of today, they were intent on breaking away from business as usual and offering a more dynamic, down-to-earth approach.
The values they championed—creativity, transparency, and a spirit of collaboration—were a shock to the system. Together, Julie and Joe redefined what it means to be a designer. Transcending a one-note, rarefied sensibility, they deliver premium design, full of imagination and creativity, yet entirely without pretense
Joshua Bernard Design
Every great designer has a story, Joshua Bernard’s began with an unanticipated push. At just 22, he was propelled into the profession, navigating high expectations, evolving trends, and discerning clients. What began as trial by fire became the foundation for a nearly decade-long career defined by an ability to merge elevated aesthetics with purposeful function. Creating spaces that respect architectural integrity while reflecting how people truly live.
Joshua’s design philosophy is rooted in possibility. He looks beyond what exists to uncover what could be, guiding clients to refine their vision, discover untapped potential, and achieve results that are as intentional as they are beautiful. His spaces are designed to be lived in, felt, and appreciated every day—not just admired from afar.
Known for his use of rich materials, sculptural forms, and detailing, Joshua brings a collaborative approach that ensures each project reflects the client’s personality through his refined perspective. Balancing creativity with thoughtful execution, he creates spaces that feel effortless, personal, and lasting.
KATHARINE POOLEY
Katharine Pooley is an internationally recognised, multi-award-winning Interior Designer, with a studio established for over 21 years.
Katharine’s Interior Design and Interior Architecture Studio crafts exceptional, luxury projects for a discerning clientele, where every element is thoughtfully curated with masterful precision for an outstanding service. The Studio’s work spans from private residential, hospitality, and commercial interior design and interior architecture, to collections of furniture, lighting and decorative Objets d’Art. Projects are global and range in scale and style, from country estates, historical palaces and traditional castles, to contemporary homes, hotels, luxury spas, modernist beach villas, ski chalets, private jets, and yachts.
Born in Hertfordshire, educated in Oxfordshire and France, and then predominantly spent her childhood growing up in Bahrain, followed by 18 years in Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam. Katharine’s global sensibility was obvious from a young age. Hailing from a family of adventurers and aeronautical enthusiasts, Katharine’s passion for exploration has been a lifelong inspiration for her creativity.
Overseeing her team of 49 interior designers and interior architects, Katharine’s approach ensures every detail of every project and product is perfectly realised and impeccably finished, appealing to a client base that seeks a deeply bespoke and detailed service, tailored to unique needs. Katharine is a champion for cherishing, promoting, and nurturing British craftsmanship, as well as utilising local artisanal skills for projects overseas.
Philanthropy and sustainability are equally important dimensions of Katharine’s work; she applies to her many charitable pursuits the same drive and determination with which she undertakes her design projects. The in-house sustainability focus group strives to continuously make improvements in processes to best serve the design industry and wider community. Katharine’s philanthropic work includes being an ambassador for The Childhood Trust, Trustee for the Kings Medical College, Campaign for Wool and a Trustee for the British Forces Foundation.
LISA & LEROY
Lisa & Leroy is a Washington, DC–based interior design studio celebrated for
creating bold, layered interiors that revel in the joy of maximalism. With an artful
mix of vintage discoveries, bespoke pieces, and fearless use of color and pattern, the
firm crafts homes that are deeply personal, richly sophisticated, and delightfully
unexpected.
Founded by Lisa Shaffer, a former corporate executive turned visionary Creative
Director and licensed General Contractor, the studio has, over the past decade,
become one of the region’s most sought-after names in design and construction.
Backed by a team of over 20 designers, artisans, and project managers, Lisa &
Leroy deliver projects with a rare blend of creative imagination and technical
precision.
Their work has been recognized in leading publications, including Architectural
Digest, House Beautiful, and Veranda. As members of the AD PRO Directory and
with an upcoming debut at the prestigious Kips Bay Decorator Show House in
Dallas, Lisa & Leroy continue to solidify their reputation as a studio that elevates the
everyday and transforms interiors into environments both livable and extraordinary.
At Lisa & Leroy, design is not simply about furniture or finishes - it’s about conjuring
a sense of wonder. Each project is approached as a narrative, where layers of
texture, color, and detail tell a client’s story. From historic Georgetown townhouses
to sprawling country estates and cutting-edge new builds, the studio creates homes
that sparkle with personality and polish - worlds where luxury has a sense of play
and a daring detail becomes the spark that makes a room unforgettable.
MOHON INTERIORS
Founded in 2001 by Autumn and Marcus Mohon, Mohon Interiors stands as a testament to their shared passion for crafting extraordinary living spaces. Marcus, with a background in interior design, brings forth his artistic vision, while Autumn's talent for "making things happen" ensures the firm's success in creating beautiful interiors that reflect each client's unique style. This partnership defines Mohon Interiors, where a distinctive fluency in architecture meets a sincere value of personal connection.
With projects spanning from California, Colorado, Florida, Texas, and even internationally in Hong Kong, and based in the vibrant design hub of Austin, Autumn and Marcus have cultivated a company where creativity thrives, and clients are guided with expertise and care. Whether it's choosing the perfect fabric or envisioning the architectural layout, Mohon Interiors is dedicated to making every space an exquisite expression of its inhabitants' personalities and lifestyles.
Mrs. Paranjape Design + Interiors, LLC
Mrs. Paranjape Design + Interiors is a luxury, full-service interior design firm with a reputation for excellence in customer experience. Lori Paranjape's eponymous firm started in 2008 and is based in Nashville, but her projects span North America with projects from coast to coast. Her enviable client list consists of young entrepreneurs, professional athletes and country music royalty.
On the business side, Mrs. Paranjape's team maintains thorough and detailed construction and renovation documents to make for a seamless client experience with both the builder and professional trades. A project with the Mrs. Paranjape team ensures a thoughtful design process from the first onboarding meetings all the way through construction management, furniture procurement, installation, styling and a full reveal upon completion... truly a world-class design experience for their illustrious clientele.
Paranjape’s design work is published frequently across print and digital platforms, design blog, and daily on her mouth-watering Instagram feed with more than 100k+ followers.
Her work has been featured in Luxe Magazine, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, People Magazine and many more.
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NICOLE GORDON STUDIO
Nicole Gordon is an award-winning interior designer and founder of Nicole Gordon Studio, a Los Angeles–based firm celebrated for its timeless, deeply personal high-end interiors. Since opening her studio in 2014, Nicole has shaped acclaimed residential and commercial spaces across North America, with projects in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Park City, the Hamptons, Chicago, and beyond.
Admired for her exceptional work and authenticity, Nicole uniquely captures each client’s personality with originality and integrity. Her soulful design philosophy has made her one of the most sought-after voices in luxury interiors. Her distinguished clientele spans cultural icons and global industry leaders, including Rick and Kathy Hilton, Suki Waterhouse, Robert Pattinson, and esteemed businessman and investor James Packer—whose private estate was once the residence of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.
A recent highlight included a custom sofa designed in collaboration with Pattinson—the first in a limited-edition series sold exclusively at JF Chen. In another notable success, she designed Ladera Golf Club, developed with architect Tom Kundig for music titan Irving Azoff and Apple executive Eddy Cue. Ladera was named Best New Private Course of 2024 by Golf Digest.
Her distinguished collaborations span acclaimed architect Mark Rios to the late Howard Backen, contributing to a portfolio of high-profile and architecturally significant homes. Nicole’s noteworthy work has been showcased in Architectural Digest, California Home+Design, and other top-tier design publications.
Before launching her own firm, Nicole was a senior designer at AD100 firms Waldo’s Designs and Michael Smith Inc., where she led iconic hospitality projects including Soho House West Hollywood and Spago Beverly Hills.
Nicole studied interior design at UCLA and currently lives in Santa Monica, California, where she starts each morning hiking through Will Rogers State Park with her beloved Labrador, Mason
NICOLE ZARR
Born and raised in Houston, Nicole has been surrounded by design her entire life. In 1997, she took the helm of her family’s firm—formerly known as Triangle Interiors—after the passing of her beloved mother, Paulette. Since then, her own guiding mantra, “Life is short. Make it beautiful,” continues to inspire every project and decision today. What began as a family business has evolved into a nationally recognized design studio, celebrated for layering tradition with unexpected flair and creating spaces that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
A proud University of Texas graduate and member of Kappa Alpha Theta, Nicole recently completed the redesign of her own sorority house—just one in a portfolio that spans second homes, ranch retreats, new builds, and ground-up transformations nationwide. With an innate instinct for scale and color, she blends antiques with transitional pieces, modern details with storied finds, and refinement with a touch of the unexpected.
Her work has been featured in national publications and will soon debut at Kips Bay, cementing her place among the design world’s most notable talents. Still, Nicole measures success by the relationships she builds and lifelong friendships that follow.
Paloma Contreras Design
Paloma Contreras is an acclaimed interior designer based in Houston, Texas. Paloma’s design sensibility is a modern take on traditional style– gravitating towards classic silhouettes and timeless pieces paired with a touch of glamour and an infusion of color. Paloma has honed her distinct eye for style over more than a decade in the design industry. She has developed a reputation for designing beautiful interiors in her signature modern-meets-traditional aesthetic resulting in spaces that feel polished, refined, and effortless. Paloma's interiors are at once timeless, yet fresh-- balancing attention to detail and the intersection of form and function to enhance a well-lived life.
Paloma has repeatedly been named to the prestigious ELLE Decor “A-List” and has also been recognized as a “Next Wave” interior designer by House Beautiful and has been named to LUXE Magazine’s “Gold List”. In 2017, Paloma was named #4 on the Forbes list of the Top Social Media Influencers in the Home category and has one of the Top 10 Instagram accounts to follow for interior design according to ELLE Decor. Paloma and her work have been featured in numerous publications and websites including ELLE Decor, Architectural Digest, Veranda, House Beautiful, Vogue, Domino, Luxe, Traditional Home, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.
Paloma recently debuted a trim collection with Schumacher and has a lighting collection with Visual Comfort & Co. She is a sought-after speaker on the topic of design and frequently participates in keynote and panel discussions. Paloma’s first book, Dream Design Live was published by Abrams in September 2018. Her second book, The New Classic Home was published in October 2023. Her curated retail shop, Paloma & Co opened in Houston's River Oaks neighborhood in January 2019 and has expanded to include a robust online platform. Paloma is currently working on projects in Houston and beyond with clients in Palm Beach, Key Largo, Chicago, and New York.
Samantha Fisher Interior Design
Fusing her global travels and natural eye for immaculate design, Samantha Fisher has cultivated a style defined by approachable elegance. Since founding her eponymous, Dallas-based studio in 2006, Fisher has developed a portfolio of layered, personal spaces that balance refinement with comfort, guided by a deep sense of place.
A Houston native and University of Texas at Austin graduate, Fisher was teaching in Highland Park when she was discovered by a Dallas real estate agent who helped launch her design career. Now, Fisher’s portfolio spans Highland Park landmarks — which can be viewed on the Park Cities Preservation and Armstrong Bradfield Home Tours — as well as projects from Cape Cod, Mass. to Crested Butte, Co. Recent work includes a Dallas residence designed around a museum-caliber art collection and a Texas ranch blending mid-century and Spanish hacienda influences in collaboration with an award-winning architect.
Named on D Home’s “Best Designers” list every year since 2016, Fisher’s work has appeared in leading shelter publications across the U.S., including Luxe Interiors + Design and Southern Home. World travel and a commitment to client-centered design infuse her projects with global perspective, timeless appeal, and enduring livability.
As a mother and former teacher, Samantha Fisher has a natural intuition for the evolving needs of family life, which often informs her design. She lives in Preston Hollow with her husband and daughters and supports causes including Doctors Without Borders.
Sarah Stacey Interior Design
Sarah Stacey partners with clients in the art of layering, bringing together pieces that feel both timeless and refreshingly new. With an eye for balance and contrast, she creates interiors that are soulful, expressive, and designed to be lived in.
Her earliest lessons in design came from time spent at antique auctions as a child in Louisiana.
Surrounded by the layered influences of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, she developed an early love of eclecticism and a bold approach to mixing styles. Travel later expanded that perspective, encouraging her to look beyond convention and shaping the foundation of Sarah Stacey Interior Design.
Sarah studied studio art and interior design at Louisiana State University and now leads her Austin and Nashville-based firm in projects that range from private homes to boutique hotels. Each project begins with listening closely to her clients and drawing out the individuality that makes a space truly theirs. The result is always personal, often surprising, and filled with warmth.
Her philosophy extends beyond furniture and finishes. A sofa becomes a place for family to gather, a dining table a place where connection happens, and an antique piece a touchstone that gives a home depth and character. From the first sketch to the final installation, every detail is approached with care and intention, creating interiors that invite comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging.
Sarah lives in Texas with her husband, a musician, and their son. Their colorful and creative life infuses her work with a spirit of curiosity and delight that clients feel the moment they step into a finished space.
SEES DESIGN
A second-generation design studio celebrating its 50th anniversary, Dallas-based Sees Design has garnered a reputation for transforming interiors into sophisticated and elegant environments that are at once contemporary and comfortably inhabitable. That was exactly the goal of Carson See when he founded the firm in 1975. Today, Carson’s sons, Ross and Corbin, and daughter-in-law Sara See carry on his legacy while elevating the firm to a global choice for residential and hospitality designs.
Principal and Partner Ross See is an Allied ASID who heads up the firm’s satellite Oklahoma City location. Before joining the family company, Ross earned a design degree from Harrington College of Interior Design in Chicago and cut his teeth working for notable interior designers in New York City. Today, he specializes in space planning and interior architecture. Ross’s fellow Principal and Partner is his brother Corbin See, who leads the Dallas headquarters for Sees Design as the firm’s de facto Creative Director, guiding the aesthetic direction with a discerning perspective, bringing his deep passion for decorative arts, design history, and the timeless craftsmanship of furniture, lighting, and antiques. Corbin worked for Orion Antiques and Holly Hunt before taking the helm at Sees Design.
Based in Dallas, Associate Principal Sara See brings her expert, hands-on knowledge of the textile industry to the firm. Cultivated over a long career in textile manufacturing, Sara possesses the unique ability to align the Sees' Interior Design process from every angle–both behind the scenes and in front of the client. Together, the formidable creative group has built upon a diverse portfolio of eclectic, elegant environments, many of which have been featured across publications including Architectural Digest, AD Pro, D Home, PaperCity, the book Dallas Modern, and Modern Luxury.
SHANE AND PIERCE
Shane and Pierce, established in 2024, is the design studio of Evan Shane Krenzien and Pierce Jordan. The pair focuses on merging their respective modern and classic sensibilities to design unique luxury homes. Their projects are rooted in history but transcend specific eras where storied vintage elements and contemporary features coexist with ease. Collectively the pair brings decades of experience to the design and construction world, both having started their careers in development.
Evan Shane worked on numerous high profile mixed use and five-star hospitality projects before shifting his focus to full-service design of single-family homes. He appreciates the personal connections and unique design challenges each residential project presents. Evan was born and raised in Los Angeles and brings an eclectic modern West Coast sensibility to the team’s projects. Evan has a degree from the School of Architecture at University of Virginia.
Pierce Jordan brings a deep technical knowledge of construction to the team’s projects, having designed and built over 30 luxurious homes in Dallas over the past decade. His design journey started personally selecting the finishes and fixtures for each home, ensuring no two are alike, including many references to European architecture. Pierce grew up in Mississippi amongst historic homes that inspire a layering of rich period details into their projects. Pierce has a degree from Southern Methodist University.
SHANNON BOWERS DESIGNS
Shannon Bowers is known for her strong sense of vision and intuitive approach to creating homes that are lovely, livable and highly personable. Crafting clean lines mixed with antiques, art, and form, Shannon’s light yet layered touch brings a sense of timelessness and joy to her work.
With a strong team by her side, Shannon’s obsession over details and drive for service oriented, high-end interior design yields approachable spaces where individuals and families thrive. Shannon believes that a sense of home really matters in the lives of her clients and takes the art of creating homes fully to heart. With no signature style and yet a style of her own, Shannon listens intently to the clients of her full-service design projects - whether remodel or ground up.
Prior to launching her design career twenty-five years ago, Shannon worked as a public educator and earned a master‘s degree in educational administration. Shannon’s early years in education instilled in her a strong work ethic and honed her patience, attention to detail, and strength in relationships; qualities that now inform every project she and her team undertake.
Studio Eckström
About Studio Eckström
Studio Eckström is a Nebraska-based luxury interior design firm celebrated for crafting richly layered, deeply personal spaces that balance elegance with livability. Founded by Mark and Mikal Eckstrom, the studio evolved from an intimate side project designing homes for family and friends into a full-time pursuit of design excellence in 2022. Today, Studio Eckström is known for its sophisticated approach—rooted in artistry, history, and a discerning eye for detail.
Mark Eckstrom – Creative Director
Design has been in Mark’s DNA since birth—he jokes that he “came out of the womb knowing where to place an ottoman.” Raised in his mother’s interior design studio, Mark developed an intuitive understanding of proportion, texture, and flow. His formal path took a detour from architecture to journalism, earning a degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln before spending two decades in New York City. There, he shaped culture and storytelling at Spin Magazine, worked alongside Quincy Jones to launch Vibe, and served as publisher of Out. Upon returning to Nebraska, Mark returned to his first love: interiors. His work blends restraint and exuberance in equal measure, with a signature mastery of color, pattern, and scale. Drawing on a profound knowledge of decorative arts and art history, Mark creates rooms that feel timeless yet utterly fresh.
Mikal Eckstrom, Ph.D. – Chief of Operations
Mikal brings a scholar’s precision and a storyteller’s soul to Studio Eckström. Holding a doctorate in history from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, he is a Ford Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities fellow whose work has been published in venues including The Wall Street Journal. At the studio, Mikal orchestrates the operational heartbeat—managing relationships with vendors, artisans, and global sourcing partners to ensure every detail meets the firm’s exacting standards. For Mikal, interior design is a form of narrative building: each space a carefully constructed story, told through texture, material, and form.
Together, Mark and Mikal lead Studio Eckström with a shared vision—to create homes that are as deeply rooted in personal history as they are in beauty and comfort, designed to be lived in, loved, and remembered.
Studio Thomas James
Philip Thomas Vanderford, principal and founder of Dallas-based Studio Thomas James, has cultivated an internationally recognized portfolio of interiors—each one a bespoke expression of its owner’s lifestyle, sensibilities, and ambitions. Eschewing the constraints of a “signature look,” Vanderford and his team approach every commission as a couture-level collaboration, resulting in spaces that feel profoundly personal yet universally sophisticated.
As a graduate from the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, Vanderford apprenticed with his grandfather—a master craftsman, machinist, and woodworker—gaining an uncommon, tactile understanding of how enduring beauty
is made. This experience gave him a practical understanding of creating lasting beauty. This foundation is evident in the studio’s work: interiors that exude effortless calm while revealing layers of artisanal detail, couture-level precision, and uncompromising execution.
Studio Thomas James’ design philosophy has earned both regional and national acclaim. The firm is a perennial fixture on D Home’s Best Designers list, and Vanderford was named HGTV’s Designer of the Year in 2021. The studio’s projects have been featured on the covers of Luxe Interiors + Design, DHome, and Modern Luxury Interiors, and across Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Veranda, Martha Stewart, Southern Living, Business of Home, and PaperCity, among others.
Recognized as a sought-after voice in the design world, Vanderford debuted at the inaugural Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas in 2020 and later at Kips Bay Palm Beach in 2023. In 2024, he created a showstopping tablescape for the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Dinner at The Plaza—an event celebrated as one of the design industry’s most distinguished evenings. In 2025, the studio’s work was published in /be-spōk/: a philosophy of beauty, a luxury coffee table book celebrating exquisitely curated spaces from around the world, and Vanderford was appointed a Donghia ambassador. Most recently, Studio Thomas James was selected to design a multi-million-dollar luxury residential collection in collaboration with SHM Architects, set to debut in Dallas’ coveted Knox District.
Tracery
Paige Schnell is the owner and lead interior designer of Tracery Interiors, a Florida-based interior design studio with two retail locations offering clients both inspired interiors and curated home goods.
Paige’s portfolio spans from coastal retreats to mountain getaways – and everything in between – reflecting her ability to capture the spirit of each setting while creating timeless, livable spaces. Her work draws on a deep appreciation for place, whether it’s the airy elegance of a beach home at destinations like Cinnamon Shore or the cozy warmth of a ski condo.
An avid traveler and seeker of new experiences, Paige infuses her designs with influences from her adventures. She is equally dedicated to her life outside of work, cherishing her roles as mother, wife, aunt, and daughter. Her love for hosting gatherings, cooking for loved ones, and creating spaces where people can connect deeply shapes her design approach.
For Paige, great design is about honoring the spaces where life’s most meaningful moments unfold – whether along the shorelines you escape to, in the mountains you retreat to for ski season, or anywhere you find yourself at home.
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YATES DESYGN
At Yates Desygn, we craft unique and livable environments by capturing your design language through bespoke interior architecture and design.
A testament to the notion that “there are no coincidences in life,” an impromptu encounter in New York City laid the groundwork for what would become one of Dallas’ most sought-after design firms. Introduced through mutual friends at a Manhattan party in 2011, Mike and Bryan Yates set out on a journey that would see them become partners in life as well as in Yates Desygn, weaving a passion for style, design, and fun throughout both ventures.
Brought together by their shared passion for style and design, Mike and Bryan Yates married their talents and personal visions and created a firm that captures the style and distinctive personalities of the people who inhabit the spaces they bring to life. In doing so, the duo places a premium on the relationships between their team members, partners, and clients, which are so integral to the success of each project.
In addition to the firm’s impressive portfolio of client work, the duo participated in the Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas in 2021, launched its first wall-covering collection, “Ever x Yates,” in 2023, and continues to be featured in national and regional media.