MEET THE DESIGNERS
RYDHIMA BRAR
Rydhima Brar grew up in Kuwait, where her childhood was filled with breathtaking design & architecture, helping out with her father’s construction business. In 1990, the effects of the Gulf War drew Rydhima and her family to leave their home in the cover of night for another country. Returning to Kuwait after the war, I experienced the rebuilding of our home, and the rebirth of a nation. As her father then rebuilt his business, she helped him organize his building materials and sample libraries, always complaining but secretly loving every minute of it.
As a young adult, she then took to New York City to begin a career in Business and Finance, yet her love for design never left her. After several years, it was a move to L.A. that sparked the next evolution for her career, now shifting toward design, a transition that was gradual yet inevitable. Starting with her own condo, she rediscovered her love for an approachable + functional + luxe aesthetic, using bold color and unique pieces throughout. Friends were impressed with the result and Rydhima then began to help design their spaces.
A few projects later, she found herself fully immersed in the world of professional design, where she felt she belonged. She then balanced going back to school while working on projects, and the pages of the new chapter were filling with new experiences and challenges, which eventually led to the most recent chapter, the brith of her own business, R/terior Studio.
FUN FACT
Rydhima has a blog dedicated to discovering what your favorite cocktail says about your interior design style! Rydhima believes that craft cocktails, much like interiors, need to be carefully crafted with attention every detail to become a masterpiece—Each ingredient, or design element, has a purpose, and when paired well other ingredients, the result is sophisticated, balanced, and bold. Check-out the blog HERE.
EVERICK BROWN
Everick Brown is an interior designer with clients throughout the United States and abroad. Based in New York, he launched everick brown design in 2009 to dedicate 100% of his time to creating modern, elegant homes for a discerning clientele.
Prior to everick brown design, he was the founder and proprietor of ebhome, an upscale home furnishings and design studio established in 2000. Located in Mt. Kisco, NY and South Norwalk, CT, his home furnishings store and design studios are a compilation of his life experience as a fashion merchant and connoisseur of fine home furnishings. For over 15 years, Everick traveled to Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand as a senior retail executive, providing merchandising and design expertise for Duty Free Stores, Coach Leatherwear and J. Crew, to name a few.
Everick offers an intriguing mix of fashion, design and style. His interiors are self described as, “modern classic with a global perspective”. He has been acknowledged by Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and Westchester Magazine, to name a few. Everick has also been featured on television and was a design expert on several shows, including NBC Open House.
Everick is married, has two children and is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
FUN FACT
Everick is an avid swimmer and has run several marathons.
IANTHA CARLEY
Iantha Carley has been energizing homes with her signature passion for color and pattern since she started her business in 2005. She delights in helping clients realize they can live in beautiful environments that can still stand up to the rigors of daily life. Iantha’s guiding philosophy is to transform and elevate her clients’ most cherished possessions within an environment that’s invigorating yet enduringly personal and familiar. Having previously worked at Century Furniture and in textiles for Kravet and Lee Jofa – companies run by generations of American families – Iantha always puts a premium on craftsmanship that’s produced at home. “That’s really important to me – well-made furniture, and sourcing things that are made in the United States. It’s always important to support American manufacturers and craftspeople,” she says.
Even closer to home, Iantha began highlighting her local resources in 2020 on a weekly Instagram Live channel called DC Design Matters, where she interviews design experts, artisans and a range of industry professionals about their craft. “There’s so many incredible designers and artists and craftspeople here – it’s about time we stand up and show people how great we are,” she says of the DC design scene. “I wanted to create an esprit de corps for design in DC.”
Iantha’s work has been published widely in newspapers including The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal; Better Homes & Gardens and Home & Design magazines; and online publications such as Business of Home, and Architectural Digest’s AD Pro and Clever. She’s also contributed her design inspirations to multiple charity showhouses over the past decade.
FUN FACT
Designer Thomas O’Brien named a rug after Iantha. You can see it here.
PATTI CARPENTER
As an international expert in trend research, analysis and forecasting, Patti Carpenter is principal of carpenter + company, an award-winning firm focused on identifying trends in home décor, personal accessories, fragrance and gifts. She began in the world of fashion, and has since developed a career identifying the impact of global color and trends on the world of interior design.
Patti has designed, sourced and created private-label collections for leading international brands including Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Crate & Barrel, Donna Karan Urban Zen, Sferra and Ralph Laruen. Much of this work was hand made by artisans around the globe. As a recognized leader in trend forecasting, Patti serves as a consultant for Pantone and is the Global Trend Ambassador for the prestigious Maison & Objet trade show in Paris and America. She sits on the Advisory Boards of SERRV International and the Black Artists and Designers Guild (BADG). She is also a member of the IFDA and ART. Carpenter has worked in fifty-seven countries around the world, and calls New York City home.
FUN FACT
Patti loves travel and discovering art and culture. She has been to 57 countries working with artisans. Her goal is 100 countries.
DOREEN CHAMBERS
Doreen arrived in Manhattan to pursue a career at Estée Lauder and later Donna Karan Cosmetics & Home. It was there that she first fell in love with the process of creating, developing and accessorizing interiors.
Those skills were later put to work when Doreen became assistant to world-renowned architect, Peter Marino. On project after project, she saw how structures come together and how the spaces within them come to life. After going on to study at the New York School of Interior Design Doreen founded her design studio in 2001.
Named a Next Wave rising star designer by House Beautiful Magazine, Doreen draws on inspiration found in nature, fine art, theatre, fashion, food and travel. She designs sophisticated environments with a serene ambiance for her clients, where they can unwind, relax and recharge.
Whether projects are large or small; the aesthetic contemporary or traditional, combining a global aesthetic with contemporary art, Doreen creates homes that are relaxed and welcoming.
FUN FACT
Collecting contemporary African-diaspora art is my passion.
CHRISTY DAVIS
Christy Davis is the owner of Christy Davis Interiors, a full service interior design firm that specializes in commercial and residential new construction and remodel. Christy works closely with her clients to reflect each client’s unique personality and needs. Taking the time to listen to the client and study the space, she is able to create functioning interiors with an updated and fresh approach to the client’s design style.
As a graduate of The University of Georgia, she began her interior design career in Houston, Texas, becoming an award-winning designer. A true Southerner at heart, she moved back to the South-East, Columbia, South Carolina, where she opened her own design firm. Living in various cities and working for other designers, Christy has been able to bring her extensive knowledge to create functional, classic, and timeless spaces.
Her passions in life are travel, art, food, and fashion. Family and friends are important to her as they make for a fulfilling life. Christy is married to her husband Chris and together they have a bernedoodle, Nigel. Christy is a board member of The Ronald McDonald House and gala committee, a board member of The Columbia City Ballet, a board member of SC Columbia Museum Contemporaries, a board member of The SC Arts Foundation, a volunteer, a member and Sustainer chair of The Junior League, on the design team for Camp Cole, and member of the Calvary with Prisma Health.
FUN FACT
Christy is an avid tennis player. Her husband is in the hospitality industry, and are always down for a night out on the town.
GAIL DAVIS
Celebrated interior designer Gail M. Davis infuses her designs with a refreshing air of lively elegance. For more than a decade, she has forged a blazing path in the interior design industry, following a successful career in fashion at Saks Fifth Avenue. She studied at New York School of Interior Design, and honed her craft interning at the legendary firm of Bunny Williams Inc. and the prestigious David Kleinberg Design Associates.
Today, her projects can be seen in the tri-state area, as well as on the west coast. She has been featured in House Beautiful, ADPro, domino magazine, Design Sponge and more. Gail is lauded for her timeless traditional style with a hint of modernity.
Gail is committed to freshening up and breathing new life into each client’s space. She thrives on creating a happy balanced environment which makes her a unique talent in the industry. Her passion is fueled by the desire to deliver welcoming, personal spaces that envelop her clients in warm energy and love.
AUSTIN GRAY DESIGN GROUP
Austin Gray Design Group (AGDG) is the collective vision of Denise N. Gordon and Tanya S. Lewis, who share a deep passion for supporting and collaborating with other Black women in the design industry. The company serves clients throughout the United States and abroad.
First meeting in 2015, Denise and Tanya instantly connected, like long lost sisters! While very different in presentation, their shared generosity is the core value that bonds their partnership. Together they curated a collective of Black female creatives who embrace sisterhood. This growing, “Tribe of Excellence” has decades of combined expertise in interior design, construction, architecture, culinary arts and décor. Most importantly they possess a spirit of generosity to ensure that all partners succeed.
Austin Gray Design Group is more than an Interior Design company, it is an experience!
Denise N. Gordon, Founder & Creative Director
Denise possesses the unique ability to merge exceptional design sensibilities with commanding organizational skills to create spaces that transform clients’ lives from chaos to beautiful order. Her expertise flourished during her tenure as Lifestyle Editor for CocoaFab.com and as host to home makeover series’ (“The Organized Home”, sponsored by The Home Depot and “Fab in a Flash”, sponsored by IKEA Atlanta), and now as the owner and Creative Director of AGDG.
Key to Denise’s success is her 20+ year career as a Human Resources professional where she passionately encouraged the sharing of expertise to create integrated and effective solutions. Collaboration propels Denise to create strong client experiences and is the foundation of the AGDG business model.
FUN FACT
I’ve been in a Book Club for almost 25 years. We meet regularly for discussions, but we have not read a book in the last 20 of those years!
Tanya S. Lewis, Co-Founder & Interior Designer
Tanya is the problem solver, who sees endless possibilities. She masterminds innovative solutions that repurpose interior spaces and furnishings -- making what was old, fresh and relevant again. The result is that each piece in a room has a place in the story of that space.
After a 25-year career in the non-profit sector, Tanya used her Cornell University degree in Interior Design to join Denise in establishing Austin Gray Design Group. Known for her enthusiasm for helping Black women build their businesses, Tanya also is the owner of 2 additional companies, TSL Consulting and Surrey Lane Construction Services.
FUN FACT
Tanya moved into a floor in Denise’s Brooklyn brownstone at the beginning of the pandemic, to strengthen their collaborative energy. She designed herself a beautiful, fully functioning “retro” kitchen in a walk-in closet, using the Elfa shelving system. Now she won’t leave!
Marilyn W. LaVergne, AGDG Design Partner
Marilyn threw off the burden of perfectionism years ago. Instead, she’s drawn to the beauty of patina, asymmetry, antiquity and natural light. That said, she believes design is a practice that invites us to enhance our future with elements of the past. “Whether we’re creating interior space, outdoor gardens, a sofa or a fork, as designers we proceed knowing our work impacts humanity’s tomorrows,” she says. “I bring that sentiment to every client project.”
Marilyn also has a wealth of knowledge in all things design and business. She contributes to the collective from her experience as a proprietor of a home furnishings showroom and fine art gallery; as a city planner; and working in PR at The Terrie Williams Agency, Burson-Marsteller and Hill & Knowlton.
FUN FACT
Here’s Marilyn’s one piece of free design advice, “never use fluorescent lighting in your bedroom, you’ll look bad naked!’
RASHEEDA GRAY
Rasheeda Gray is the owner and Principal Designer of Gray Space Interiors (www.grayspaceinteriors.com), a full-service design firm in Philadelphia devoted to curating timeless, balanced, and contemporary spaces. Rasheeda’s path into design begins at the end of a fifteen year c-suite career in Marketing and Communications, with the nation's top insurance companies.
As a self-proclaimed “business creative”, her approach to design can be found at the intersection of artistic innovation and effective project management, resulting in what her clients affectionately refer to as being “grayspaced”. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and International Business, an interior design certification from Temple University and a Master of Business Administration degree, MBA. Rasheeda has been featured on HGTV and A&E networks, House Beautiful, Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Business of Home, Good Day Philadelphia and more. Rasheeda is married to her husband Jake and together they have two children Jacob & Kennedy.
FUN FACT
Rasheeda and her family recently welcomed a new addition to their family, a bich-poo named Prince born on 10-10-20.
DENNESE GUADELOUPE ROJAS
Recognized as one of the Top 20 African American Interior Designers, Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas is the owner and Principle Designer at Interiors by Design (IBD) based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her loyal client base continues to grow from the expansive tri-state area known as the DMV, which encompasses Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. A highly creative and seasoned designer Dennese has a diverse national client base as well, with projects ranging from primary homes to vacation/second homes across the US and in the Caribbean. She attributes much of her success to her commitment to establish meaningful and trusting relationships with her clients. Dennese believes that client trust is essential to her professional and business growth. Her client relationships enable her to introduce innovative designs that reflect both client lifestyle and elegance in all of her projects. Her clients all appreciate her impeccable eye for detail and her commitment to leave no detail unattended. She creates luxurious surroundings and makes it affordable for every client!
Dennese brings over 20 years of experience to her residential and commercial design projects. Her refined technical skills have enabled Dennese to manage and oversee the complete design and construction of a full range of home and commercial renovation projects. Interiors by Design has a talented and committed staff that contributes to every client’s project from start to finish. Their resourcefulness and immediate response to every client concern assure clients that their project is a high priority to IBD.
Dennese earned her A.A. Degree in Interior Design from Bauder College in Miami, Florida. She has showcased her talents in a number of show houses over the years and been featured in the Washington Post and many other print and on-line design publications. She is an active member of the District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA), the Women Presidents’ Association (WPO) and the Black Artists & Designers Guild (BADG).
RIO HAMILTON
Rio Hamilton is a Designer/Stylist whose work has been seen in Harpers Bazaar, Vogue.com, AD PRO, THE CUT, CBS NEWS, Open House TV and more. Rio is a jack of all trades within the Interior Design industry. He has had a very successful career in design and decorating, in addition to starting his own consulting firm that specializes in marketing and branding for 'creatives' and their businesses.
Rio's popular blog site riohamilton.com is celebrating its 6th year of featuring design, architecture, fashion, art, and profiles on rising stars in the creative world.
FUN FACT
Rio's popular website RIOHAMILTON.COM has published more than 200 stories and garnered 2.5 million views.
LINDA HAYSLETT
Designer Linda Hayslett has a strong fashion and entertainment background. A lot of her inspirations comes from her experience working at companies such as VH1, Allure, W, Details & InStyle Magazine.
She lived and worked in New York City for many years soaking up the electric vibe of the city. After working in fashion on the east coast, in 2003 she made a decision to move west and become an Angeleno. Linda planted roots in Los Angeles and started to absorb the west coast atmosphere. She worked with a well known celebrity stylist and assisted in styling celebrities such as Hillary Swank, Sandra Oh, Charlize Theron, Heather Graham and more.
Her passion in creativity led her to go back to school and get a degree for Interior Design at FIDM. After graduating Summa Cum Laude in Interior Design, Linda became interested in construction and planning. While Co-Designing on projects with other designers, Linda created LH.Designs.
From her connections and experience in the industry, she adds an arsenal of skills along with her talents. With her knowledge, she has infused a warm touch that is often missed when clients hire only a contractor or architect for their project. She realized that offering services that tailor and integrate the designer with construction at each level of building, from concept to completion, was the best way a person would truly get the lifestyle experience that they are looking for. By infusing a construction team with design, LH.Designs uniquely makes the client's project not only aesthetically pleasing but can raise the property's value higher than expected.
Linda was recently named one of House Beautiful's 2020 Next Wave Designer to watch and has had work featured in Elle Decor, Rue, Apartment Therapy, California Home + Design, MyDomaine and more.
"We believe that a space should always be a great experience that enhances a person's mood or life. Making that happen doesn't occur with any vision, it happens with the right vision and team." - Linda H.
FUN FACT
Linda graduated from Syracuse University and is a super March Madness fan always routing for the Orangemen.
JOHANNA HOWARD
The roots of our products are in Johanna’s native Sweden. That is where, as a young girl, she sat in her mother’s atelier as she meticulously crafted dresses by hand. Johanna learned to appreciate the quality and versatility that only hand work can achieve. And it is where she was surrounded by the clean elegance of Scandinavian design.
As a young woman, Johanna took these influences with her to America to attend fashion school and then to establish herself as a successful clothing designer. Working for such companies as BCBG, Katayone Adeli, Express and Gap - her accessible designs have been worn by women all over the country. Whether gracing the pages of Vogue, an actress’ wardrobe or a special night out, her designs made women feel special.
Now, Johanna has turned her eye to designing for the home. Through her travels, she has discovered incredibly talented artisans and collaborates with them to elevate their traditional craftsmanship with refined composition. Whether engaging the dyers in the highlands of Peru or the weaving families of Portugal, she envisions the possibilities of their techniques and incorporates their unique skills into her products. The result of this marriage of cultures and creativity is “a revelation” that is “simply breathtaking.”
NILE JOHNSON
House Beautiful Advisory Board Member & African-American top 20 Interior Designer; Nile Johnson was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He is the Creative Director & Design Principal of Nile Johnson Interior Design. His work has been featured on HGTV as well as in national and local publications. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, and a Master of Science degree in Interior Architecture, from Chatham University.
Nile Johnson Interior Design is a boutique design firm specializing in comfortable, curated, and elevated residential and commercial spaces.
Headquartered in the Philadelphia & Wilmington metropolitan
area, we work with clientele globally. From residential to commercial, celebrity to CEO, and stay-at-home parents to start-up entrepreneurs, our approach to every project is rooted in approachable luxury and tailored to fit our client’s specific needs. With an appreciation for all aesthetics, we create spaces, layering them with thoughtful, personal, and inspirational elements that reflect who our clients are and the kind of lifestyle they desire to live.
Nile currently resides in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a western suburb of Philadelphia. He is an adjunct faculty member in the Interior Design department at a local college, a father of three children, a supporter of underprivileged youth, and a member of the Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG).
FUN FACT
Nile has an immense love of music. He has a playlist for everything! He has also spent some time in front of the camera in a few television commercials, and as a designer on an HGTV Showhouse Series. Take a look!
NIKKI NJERI KLUGH
Nikki Njeri Klugh is a highly sought-after interior designer who is beloved by her hundreds of clients nationwide. As the principal designer and owner of NIKKI KLUGH DESIGN GROUP, INC, Nikki is also an award-winning interior designer and three time best-selling author. Additionally, she is a media powerhouse whose interior design expertise and magnetic personality has led her to appear on BET, BET Her, NBC, San Diego Lifestyles, and The American Dream Show. Her incredible work has been featured in publications such as San Diego Home and Garden magazine, FINE Magazine, Discover San Diego, Coastal Homes, Black Southern Belle, and many others.
As an NCIDQ qualified interior designer, Nikki is a professional member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). She has also served on the board of ASID as the Director of Membership.
Nikki’s philosophy is, “your home is a Sacred Space and a place for relaxation, rejuvenation, restoration and respite. Interior design extends far beyond making spaces beautiful, comfortable or even simply functional. Sacred Spaces have the ability to change our lives -- to shift the way we feel and the way we function at a deep level.” This design philosophy is apparent in her body of work and is just one of the reasons she was selected to be a member of the interdisciplinary team tasked to lead the design and renovation of the international headquarters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated in Washington, DC.
Nikki is a force to be reckoned with as an interior designer. Her extreme attention to detail, her ability to go deeper than surface level with her clients, and her always upbeat personality are a few of the many reasons why she is consistently recommended by her clients to their networks.
Not only does she believe in your home as a Sacred Space, Nikki also designs to your 5 senses and shows her clients the true meaning of EveryDay Luxury Living.
As an interior designer to high net-worth individuals and a discerning clientele, style, luxury, beauty and comfort are always at the forefront of Nikki’s mind. She gives them peace of mind and turnkey results.
Nikki’s commitment to interior design extends to serving others, as she is a highly regarded mentor to many emerging designers, proving that she is not only passionate about interior design, she is dedicated to the field.
Admired and loved by her clients and mentees alike, you can rest assured that in working with Nikki, you have come to the right place!
JENNIFER OWEN
Recognized as a fabric guru with an eye for colour, Jennifer has achieved accolades for her unique sense of style and vision. She has been featured on the cover of House to Home, Lifestyle Magazine of Fairfield County, featuring a home in Westport; East Coast Home Design Magazine; Shippan Designer Show House, (benefiting Stamford Museum and Nature Center); Weston Designer Show House benefiting Connecticut Humane Society. They feature her definitive style of design, transforming spaces to uplifting, functional environments, “simple elegance” at its best!
A native of the West Midlands England, Jennifer grew up with a mother who was a passionate knitter and a talented seamstress, with a love to decorate and a relish for fabrics and yarns. This led to many inspiring visits with her to the fabric market.
Hence Jennifer’s passion!
FUN FACT
I’m a dog lover who once rescued a greyhound named Bailey. Bailey used to race on a track in Florida and when he was retired he came to live with me and we became family instantly. Bailey changed my life in terms of my understanding of unconditional love with no ego attached. I now have two small shih tzu and yorkie mixes named Harry and Oliver. They are brothers and they love exploring the Berkshires with me when we take our long our walks. My dogs have always brought joy and fun into my life!
PURVI PADIA
Combining her love and passion for the style inherent in New York City and her strong background in design, Purvi Padia started her namesake residential interior design firm in 2008 and has since been featured in Elle Décor, Luxe, Forbes, Vogue, Manhattan Magazine, Hamptons Magazine, Cottages and Gardens, the NY Post and Open House NY among many others. She grounded her firm on the idea that residential luxury and style are not concrete ideas but rather creative works of art.
Her philosophy of merging modern and classic elements creates spaces that are aesthetically balanced, effortlessly elegant and have a sense of timeless luxury. Regardless of whether the space is a New York City townhouse, a sprawling loft or a vacation home, Purvi and her team are celebrated for their ability to evoke a sense of luxury and style while capitalizing on the best use of space. She prides herself on delivering projects that have a sense of self and reflect the values, aesthetics and taste of the client in their most beautiful and comprehensive interpretation.
Purvi earned her BA with honors from the University of Michigan and later continued her education at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in the field of Interior Design. Purvi splits her time between Bridgehampton, NYC and the Bahamas and lives with her husband, Harsh, and their two children.
FUN FACT
In addition to design, humanitarian work is another of Purvi’s passions. She is highly regarded in the NYC philanthropy community and in 2018, she partnered with UNICEF USA and founded PROJECT LION – an initiative which serves nearly 500,000 orphans in India. Oh, and she also knows more tiktok dances than any adult ever should!
CHANAE RICHARDS
Chanae Richards is the CEO & Principal Designer of ọlọrọ interiors, an interior design firm with offices in Philadelphia and New York. Her curated spaces and design expertise have been featured in ELLE Décor, Business of Home, Philadelphia Magazine, and Apartment Therapy as well as on national syndicates including MSNBC, National Geographic, Vice, CNN, and The Travel Channel. An inaugural Philadelphia Mural Arts Fellow, Chanae also serves as the Managing Director of Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Entrepreneurship Resource Center, a groundbreaking initiative providing residents with free business resources and support for community innovation.
Chanae received her BA from Temple University and MA and MPA from Rutgers University. She is also an alumna of Bank of America Women’s Institute at Cornell University and a member of the Black Interior Designer’s Network
FUN FACT
Chanae has a rainwater collection system installed to keep her plants thriving all year round. Talk about tree hugger!!
DAVID SANTIAGO
David Santiago is an award winning designer and owner of Casa Santi Interior Design (www.CasaSanti.com) established in 2011. He caters to clients who seek the unique, creative details that elevate a project blending his traditional sensibility with the unexpected, known as his signature and trademark "Santified".
His Strictly Santi brand was created as an umbrella brand in 2018 and since then, David launched several products; a lighting collection with American Brass & Crystal Lighting and a wallpaper collection entitled The Passport Collection, catering to hospitality and residential markets with Bijou wallcoverings. David is known as the “Prince of Wallpaper” highlighting his ability to master the art of wallpaper application on every project. David is acknowledged by the High Point Market Authority as an influencer.
He is the 2021 President of the NY Chapter of the International Furniture and Design Association (IFDANY), an active contributing member of the Interior Design Society (IDS), International Society of Furniture Design, and Accessory Resource Team. He also serves on charity committees for The Bailey House, Kids Need More, Hope Lodge and My Face. Currently, David continues to grow as a brand ambassador and give back through the media platforms as a design and lifestyle correspondent for "The Donna Drake Show" on CBS NY and guest designer on the NBC hit television series “George To The Rescue".
FUN FACT
David is an accomplished classical opera singer, an alumni of Mannes College of Music. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the New York City Opera, among others.
VIRGINIA TOLEDO
Virginia founded Toledo Geller in 2006 after recognizing a need in the luxury residential market for a firm with specialized knowledge in both the design and construction process. Formally trained in interior design, she also gained invaluable experience working along side her father, a general contractor, on construction sites.
A native of Brooklyn, Virginia is a mother who loves historical fiction and entertaining in her 1920’s Craftsman style New Jersey home, which she is constantly updating.
FUN FACT
If I wasn’t an interior designer, I’d want to be a crime scene investigator.
SHAWNA UNDERWOOD
Since founding her boutique, Washington, DC design firm, Shawna has been recognized for her clean and refined design approach. Shawna Underwood Interior Design is faithful to providing clients with quality and functional design that create timeless, bespoke interiors with turnkey service.
With professional experience designing and furnishing historic and nationally recognized buildings, Shawna decided to share her love for intricately crafted interiors and materials by opening her own design firm in 2010. Working with clients, mostly from referrals, emphasizes Shawna's ability to guide her clients through every step of the design process and capturing her clients needs and challenges with every detail handpicked and tailored for their space. As a LEED-Accredited Professional, Shawna also advocates designs that incorporate the technologies and strategies of sustainable design.
Shawna is an alumnus of Home & Design Magazine's Hot Talent recognition and has been featured in numerous shelter periodicals and online publications. A Pennsylvania native, Shawna obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Information Systems degree from North Carolina Central University and her Masters of Fine Arts and Interior Design from The George Washington University.
She enjoys living in DC with her photographer husband, Edward Underwood and their two amazing sons, Preston and Chase.
FUN FACT
Shawna can often be found on weekends photographing beautiful weddings alongside her photographer husband.