The new year is finally here. To celebrate, we asked 15 designers—Bill Baldwin, Maegan Blau, Karin Bohn, Everick Brown and Lisa Walker Brown, Shanna Gatanis, Erin Hackett Nordholt, Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz, Eve Jean, Annie Obermann, Kerri Pilchik, Lisa Tharp, Danielle Wallinger, and Justine Wolman—to look back and share their 2025 highs.
New Beginnings
“The opening of our new flagship interior design studio. We reimagined a 1950s building as an immersive, residential-style environment rather than a traditional office, one that invites clients to experience furniture, textiles and materials as they would in a lived-in home. Spaces unfold intuitively, from layered living areas to our record lounge, creating moments of discovery and connection. The studio reflects a meaningful evolution of our practice, reinforcing our belief that design is best understood through experience.” —Shanna Gatanis, Shanna Gatanis Design Studio, New York
Dedicated Workspace
“My biggest achievement of 2025 was opening my office. Having a dedicated workplace outside of my home brought a sense of balance I did not realize I was missing. It also gave me a welcoming environment to connect with clients and vendors in a more meaningful way. Having a space of my own created momentum and pushed my business forward in ways I could feel almost immediately. It marked a real shift in how I show up as a business owner, and I am genuinely excited to keep building on that growth as I head into 2026.” —Maegan Blau, Blue Copper Design, Chandler, Arizona
Systems Overhaul
“2025 brought a recalibration in pace and created a rare and valuable window—one we chose to use with intention. We focused on strengthening the studio from the inside out: capturing our projects on camera—something that got away from us during Covid—refining our billing structure, redesigning our website, and engaging a PR representative to increase visibility for our work. We also completely reimagined our proposals—evolving them from straightforward legal documents into cohesive, design-forward presentations that reflect our aesthetic, showcase our portfolio, and clearly establish boundaries around communication and expectations—and explored different ways to utilize AI to help us be more efficient. These efforts may be largely behind the scenes, but they are critical underpinnings of a sustainable and successful studio. Together, they have brought clarity, alignment and renewed momentum, positioning us confidently for what comes next.” —Danielle Wallinger, Studio D Design, New York
Resilient Community
“Our firm’s most significant achievement and largest regret may well be two sides of the same coin: We have offices in Claremont and Pasadena and became immediately involved in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, [including] its tragic impact on the city of Altadena, a community we routinely work in (and my birthplace). I am very proud of the research, creativity, ingenuity and empathy our team has brought to the table to help the many families who have come to our door for help. The families who have lost their homes have lost the museums of their lives, and healing is an integral part of the process of rebuilding. Our regret would certainly be tied to the number of families we can help, given resources and time constraints. If we had a magic wand, we would have a hand in helping every family in the community find their way back home.” —Bill Baldwin, HartmanBaldwin, Claremont and Pasadena, California
Global Citizen
“My biggest achievement was completing a full rebrand and seeing that evolution recognized by Business of Home. This year also marked a turning point in the scale of my work, with the commission of an entire beach club in Ghana. Between international travel to Spain and on-site planning in Africa, 2025 reinforced my commitment to building a globally minded, wellness-centered design practice, and to continuing forward, even when growth feels demanding.” —Eve Jean, Style My Space Design, Massapequa Park, New York
From the Ground Up
“One of my proudest achievements this year was completing a full new build in Armonk, New York. It was a project we truly poured our heart and soul into, from the earliest architectural decisions to the final styling details. Being involved from the ground up allowed us to create a home that feels cohesive, intentional, and deeply personal to the clients. It represents everything I love about design: collaboration, craftsmanship, and creating spaces that feel elevated yet livable.” —Justine Wolman, Justin Wolman Interiors, Harrison, New York
A Curated Lineup
“2025 was a defining year. As we officially marked our fifth year in business, the studio experienced its most significant period of growth to date. We completed more than eight full-scale construction projects, alongside three furnishings-only projects—a major accomplishment for our 2.5-person team! More importantly, 2025 was the year we became truly intentional. We stopped saying yes to every opportunity and began curating our project roster with purpose, selecting work that most clearly reflects our values, point of view and the level of design we want to be known for. That shift marked a turning point for the studio. 2025 will be remembered as the year Hackett House Studio fully stepped into its identity, and the body of work debuting in 2026 will be the clearest expression of that evolution.” —Erin Hackett Nordholt, Hackett House Studio, Columbus, Ohio
Process Makes Perfect
“We placed high priority on continuous process improvements, and they keep getting better. Process improvements provide an enjoyable and streamlined experience for all involved—our clients, our industry partners and our employees. Each member of our team can work at optimal capacity and as their best selves, because we create an environment where every role is clear, every person is mentored and every idea is valued. I believe our team has never been stronger. While excellent creative is expected, it’s a very good sign when our clients and partners thank us for being so organized.” —Lisa Tharp, Lisa Tharp Design, Boston
Time Away
“I took a three-month work sabbatical in the fall, which gave me the space to step away from the business, get out of the minutiae, and really evaluate what was working and whether I was leaning into my strengths. It also allowed me to see my team step up in big ways. My biggest regret is that I waited so long to do it. The sabbatical allowed me to reorganize roles and responsibilities so I’m no longer working in the business, but more on the business—now for about 15 to 20 hours per week. I’m no longer needed for day-to-day operations; my team handles everything. I simply needed the reset to see how capable they truly were and to get out of the way. My husband, who is also my business partner, continues to play a very active role in the company. We’ve promoted a long-term team member to oversee daily operations and production, and we’re refining his role so he can focus more on leadership and direction. Our biggest accomplishment in 2025 was the level of team delegation and personal elevation we’ve achieved through this new company structure.” —Annie Obermann, Forge & Bow, Fort Collins, Colorado
Emergency Response
“Just one week into 2025, the fires pushed Los Angeles—and the city’s architectural and construction industries—into full triage mode. We’re incredibly proud of our team and our collaborators for how quickly they mobilized, adapted and committed themselves to rebuilding. Their perseverance, care and professionalism in the face of real loss has been the most meaningful achievement of the year so far.” —Harper Halprin and Aaron Leshtz, AAHA Studio, Los Angeles
On the Up-Up-and-Up
“2025 marked a year of significant internal growth at House of Bohn. We doubled down on our systems and procedures and tightened our processes. As a result, we’ve seen increased efficiency, client satisfaction at an unprecedented high, and greater clarity within our team—something that’s always positive for camaraderie and morale. I anticipate that the internal growth our studio experienced this past year will lead to new and exciting opportunities for [the firm] in 2026.” —Karin Bohn, House of Bohn, Vancouver, Canada
International Waters
“My biggest achievement in 2025 was completing our first international project. We were so fortunate to be retained by a repeat client to decorate a six-bedroom second residence in Turks and Caicos. We had to work long-distance with a local contractor (moving on island time) to finish the rooms, as well as navigate the logistics of shipping containers, freight forwarders and customs brokers, all in time for the clients’ arrival for the winter season. We lost many hours of sleep worrying about shipping damages on choppy seas during Hurricane Melissa. But after all that, the result was a unique and beautiful home—and a very happy client!” —Kerri Pilchik, Kerri Pilchik Design, Ridgewood, New Jersey
Community Engagement
“In 2025, [we] reached a defining milestone with the reopening of Middle Collegiate Church, marking the studio’s most significant achievement of the year. Completed in collaboration with CTA Architects, the project represents the successful Phase I reconstruction of the historic, landmarked church following the devastating fire of December 5, 2020. The project carefully balances historic preservation with contemporary performance, accessibility and flexibility, reestablishing the church as a vital spiritual, cultural and community anchor. At the heart of the project is a new 225-seat, two-level sanctuary, designed to support worship services as well as concerts and public programming. Reopening Middle Collegiate Church is about more than rebuilding walls—it’s about restoring a sense of place, purpose and belonging. This project challenged us to merge preservation with progress, and to design for resilience, inclusivity and long-term community impact.” —Everick Brown and Lisa Walker Brown, Everick Brown Design, New York
