10 Questions with our Interior Designer, Lindsay!

Q&A With Lindsay

Lindsay, one of our extremely talented interior designers, is involved throughout the entire design process and you’ll see her influence in many of the project photos we share! Her expertise in all aspects of interior design, including finish selections, millwork design and 3D renders, helps our clients envision their dream home and make it a reality.

We recently chatted with Lindsay to learn more about her role working with our clients, all things design & how she finds inspiration- enjoy!

How would you describe your style?
Typically I don’t design to my style, I design to our clients style – we have a large variety of projects on the go that require us to shift between styles with ease which I get into a bit later!

As a young designer I am still developing my personal style, but currently I love natural materials, neutral palettes and organic shapes.

Where do you go to get new ideas and inspiration?
There are so many great resources online these days. I think 75% of the accounts I follow on Instagram are designers from all over the world. Some of my favourite designers to follow are Jake Arnold, Gillian Segal Design and Nam-Dang Mitchell. I also love reading Architectural and Design Magazines and have a little library of coffee table books that are all related to design. Travelling is always inspiring- I am hopeful that 2022 will bring new adventures outside of Canada which will be a great source of inspiration.

Which design trends are you most excited about this year?
A continuation of the use of natural materials, antiques and thrifting. This is major as it adds uniqueness, is more green (upcyling) and we avoid long lead times which are still an issue due to the pandemic, natural disasters and tariffs.

What are your everyday responsibilities when working on a project?
Every day is different, which makes my job exciting. On a day-to-day basis you can find me: Completing Computer Assisted Drafting, 3D Modelling, Photo Realistic Renders (Technical); Sourcing finishes, fixtures, appliances, lighting; Assisting the construction team & project coordinating on preliminary pricing; Meeting & presenting to clients; Performing site visits through the construction process.

How do you work with a client to define their needs?
Listening and understanding their lifestyle is key. Our process allows for us to have several meetings with each client. As we work through the design, our relationship organically grows and you learn more and more about their specific needs and can somewhat anticipate future needs. As far as the aesthetic goes, each client is different- some come with a full Pinterest board or magazine clippings, while others are comfortable taking the back seat with less of an initial vision. As a designer working with an experienced team in-house, we are fortunate that a lot of a clients’ needs and visions are discussed very early on in the process and carefully considered.

When designing a room what is the most important factor for you?
The layout and the lighting. Firstly, you want the layout to be functional for your clients’ needs and lifestyle. If our clients have children or pets, they may have different priorities than someone who is a bachelor or an empty nester. No matter what the design concept is, lighting has to be carefully considered. To me, a well-designed room has multiple sources of lighting.

Are you seeing any particular style requests trending amongst your clients?
Since joining the Urbis team, we have designed many different styles of homes including Farmhouse (Churchill), Contemporary California (Crestwood) and French Country (highlands). One common theme is the use of natural materials– marble, wood and quartzite. There are benefits to using man-made products from a durability perspective and we still use them often, but nothing beats the real thing.

What is your favourite part of the design process?
Selecting lighting and the minute details that may go unnoticed– to me it’s what makes a custom home different as they are well thought out and intentional.

What’s the most treasured item in your own home?
A vintage travertine console table.

Where are some of your go-to sources for materials/finishes?
We work with some incredible suppliers in Edmonton and beyond– slab shopping is one of my favourites (shout out Hari Stone!) I also love to source vintage one-of-a-kind pieces online, especially lighting.