With sweeping lake views as the backdrop, this screened-in lounge layers handwoven textures, a rounded daybed and warm stonework to echo the natural palette outside.
Andrew Joseph: What inspired you to become a designer?
Stephanie Wiott: I honestly think it was always in my blood. My grandmother was a very talented artisan and seamstress and my grandfather, a woodworker. These were always hobbies until they retired and upon retirement, they turned it into a business. I have so many heirlooms from them, mostly pottery and ceramics that they created and kilned themselves. When I was young, I thought nothing of the fact that they had their own kiln in their basement. As an adult, that amazes me.
My mother is also an exceptionally talented decorator, we always had the home my friends thought was the “coolest”, and a seamstress as well. My dad is a builder and a skilled carpenter.
It’s almost like I didn’t have a choice but to become a designer and make a career out of it.
AJ: Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
SW: Just keep working hard. It’s not about the fall, it’s about how you get up. There is nothing truer in life.
This built-in moment goes beyond function with a rainbow-organized bookshelf that turns storage into a design statement.
AJ: Can you describe a project that you’re particularly proud of?
SW: A project that we most recently did was an 18-month project that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. The clients were wonderful to work with and wanted a bit more of a traditional aesthetic than what we typically do. We both stepped outside of our boxes, mine into a more traditional realm, hers into a more transitional one, and the end result was breathtaking. I am so proud of the project, and all involved, and how we worked together to create an overall look and feel that made us all very happy in the end.
AJ: What is your favorite thing about being a designer?
SW: I love building relationships with clients and I love seeing our ideas go from our heads to paper, through construction to completion. There is nothing better than sitting back and looking at a completed project that started out as brainstorming between myself, team and our clients.
Soft and serene, this little girl’s room pairs oversized floral wallpaper with blush bedding, woven textures and powder blue trim.
AJ: What is your favorite type of space to design?
SW: Kitchens! They are the heart of the home and where I really started my career. I focused on kitchens and love working with clients not only to create a beautiful kitchen, but one that is functional and serves as the heart of the home where they will entertain loved ones and create all the best memories!
I also love working on little girls’ rooms. They can just be so fun and so magical.
AJ: Can you tell us about a specific moment in your career that made you feel accomplished?
SW: I feel a true sense of accomplishment every time I see how happy and proud our clients are at their home. After months/ years of work, seeing a truly beautiful home that a client is overjoyed about is just the best!
Photography by Sarah Shields Photography.
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