The dream was almost always there—a steady drumbeat inviting me to imagine something beyond what I was doing. Over the years, it took many forms: a sustainable goods shop, a jewelry boutique, a Pilates studio, and countless other creative ventures. Beneath each iteration was the same desire: to create a place where beauty could bring people together. As our world became increasingly disconnected, that drumbeat only grew louder. What I didn’t know then was that it would eventually lead me to open a full-service interior design studio right here in Phoenix. 

Then I hit a milestone: I turned 50. Around the same age, my mom earned her PhD in Education and began an entirely new chapter of her life. Today she lives with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and if you’ve walked that road with someone you love, you know how precious even small points of connection become. Realizing that we shared this moment in life—a season of reinvention at 50—made me feel unexpectedly close to her.

So at 50, I stopped waiting for permission to build the business I’d always known was somewhere in my future.

Why interior design services? The obvious reason is that I’m an interior designer by trade. I studied interior design in college, spent more than a decade practicing after graduation, and have built a career from different vantage points around the architecture, design, and construction table. Beyond that, I wanted the freedom to develop a design voice that could stand on its own.

I’ve also been through countless renovations of my own, including the particular joy and complexity of older homes with real architectural character. I know how intimidating the process can be, especially when you’re trying to honor what makes an historic or midcentury home special while making it work for the way you actually live today. My hope is to demystify it for others who have the opportunity to improve their spaces and create homes that better support their lives. The thought of helping people do that still gives me chills.

Why CURIO? Curiosity is one of my superpowers. Somehow, I’ve always been able to ask authentic questions without seeming nosy. I believe genuine curiosity leads to the best outcomes—whether you’re getting to know a new friend, trying to understand another perspective, or defining a design challenge.

In a digital world where people often make decisions without ever speaking to another human, I wanted CURIO to feel more like stepping into a thoughtfully curated shop than scrolling through another website. I wanted the experience to feel personal, welcoming, and real. And who knows? Maybe bringing a retail component into the mix is the next chapter.

Along with my natural tendency to make things happen (those familiar with Human Design would call me a Manifestor), there was also an element of serendipity—or divine timing, depending on your perspective.

My friend Matt Wszalek had recently opened a new location for his shop, Modern Arizona, and had the foresight to see that we could offer complementary services to our North Central Phoenix community – one of the city’s most architecturally rich neighborhoods. With a little faith and a lot of trust in our instincts, Matt offered me space within his shop to operate a studio.

A physical space where beauty connects us.

What began as a quiet drumbeat years ago has become a real place, a Phoenix interior design studio rooted in community and built on curiosity. I can’t wait to see what connections, conversations, and transformations happen here next. Welcome to CURIO.