Year-End Reflections: Design Projects, Growth, and Lessons Learned

As the year comes to a close, it feels like the right moment to pause and reflect on the projects, people, and experiences that shaped Elevation Interiors this past year. Each year brings its own rhythm—new challenges, exciting opportunities, and moments that remind us why we love what we do. This year, more than ever, we felt deeply grateful for the trust our clients placed in us and the creative growth that came from each project.

Grateful for Our Clients and Relationships

First and foremost, we feel incredibly fortunate to work with such amazing clients. Our projects continue to come from personal relationships, past clients, return clients, referrals, and trusted colleagues. That means everything to us. It tells us that people who know us understand the creativity, care, and value we bring to a project.

Those relationships are at the heart of our work. We take pride in creating a design process that supports, hears, and empowers clients from start to finish. We work hard to ensure that experience is felt at every stage.

A Look Back at the Year’s Projects

This year, we worked with 10 clients across 13 projects, each with its own personality and scope:

• 6 projects included full furniture packages

• 6 projects were under construction

• 2 projects were in early conceptual design and design development

• 5 projects included cabinetry designed and provided by Elevation Interiors, a new and exciting scope we introduced this year

Expanding our cabinetry offerings was a significant milestone for us. Being able to design and provide cabinetry enabled tighter integration between design intent and execution, clearer budgeting for clients, and a smoother overall process.

Growth Within the Studio

One of the biggest highlights this year was welcoming Brooke Hunter to the team as our Design Assistant. She jumped in wholeheartedly—learning, assisting, and contributing across multiple projects. Quite honestly, we wouldn’t have made it through the end of the year without her support.

Rachel continued to shine as she knocked her furniture collections out of the park. Her ability to read clients, interpret their style, and present thoughtful, layered designs has been incredible to watch. She consistently brings creativity and confidence to every presentation.

What I’m Learning Along the Way

With growth comes learning, and this year offered plenty of that.

I’ve been navigating how to manage an increased project load and expanded scopes while maintaining creative energy and strong client relationships. Balancing creative direction, client communication, and business management has been a continual learning process. Finding that rhythm, where creativity and structure support each other, is something I continue to refine.

A Personal Project That Changed My Perspective

My favorite project this year was completing my own home, not because the design was our best work (we truly do some incredible things for clients), but because of what I learned by stepping into the client’s shoes.

I experienced firsthand the balance between wants and needs, the emotional impact of shifting timelines and budgets, and the reality of living with the materials and products we specify. I learned what it feels like to maintain high- and low-maintenance finishes, and whether design intent truly aligns with daily use.

Most importantly, I experienced the joy of living in a thoughtfully designed home—one that reflects personality, function, and comfort. That experience reignited my passion for creating that same feeling for our clients.

Brooke’s Reflections: Learning Through Experience

For Brooke, this year was about learning, observing, and contributing to meaningful pieces across multiple projects.

Some of her favorite moments included working on floor plans and elevation drawings for a kitchen and bath remodel, helping her better understand how cabinetry details move from concept to construction. She also loved sourcing furniture for a small conceptual project and seeing how individual pieces support a larger design vision.

Being introduced to an extensive mountain home renovation, participating in client meetings, assisting with furniture, finish, and fabric sourcing, and visiting the stone yard, gave her valuable insight into the collaboration and depth behind residential design.

Rachel’s Favorite Creative Moment

One of Rachel’s standout projects this year allowed her creativity to truly flourish. The client had a love for mid-century modern, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and William Morris, while also wanting to modernize their home and bring the surrounding mountain landscape indoors.

The challenge, and joy, was blending these influences without becoming too literal. Drawing on her background in art history, Rachel crafted a concept rooted in nature, layered with rich color, architectural inspiration, and eclectic elements.

As she described it to the client:

The overall concept focuses on bringing the outdoors in, paying homage to nature while blending your mid-century furniture, art collection, and love of eclectic pieces into a cabin-inspired space with a contemporary twist.

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on this year, we’re incredibly proud of the growth, creativity, and collaboration that defined it. Each project brought new insights, strengthened relationships, and reminded us why thoughtful design matters.

We’re heading into the new year inspired, grateful, and excited for what’s ahead.

When you’re ready to begin your next design chapter, whether it’s a renovation, new build, or furnishing project, Elevation Interiors is here to guide you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to begin your next design chapter, Elevation Interiors can help create spaces that balance creativity, functionality, and thoughtful detail. Contact us today to start designing a home that reflects your lifestyle, supports your daily life, and feels truly personal.