Meet the magic behind Alisha Taylor Interiors! Alisha has been running her design studio in Arizona for almost 20 years and has been recognized for her award-winning designs locally and nationally. Enjoy an interview with Alisha Taylor and learn what made Alisha Taylor Interiors what it is today!

1. How did you get started with Alisha Taylor Interiors?

I graduated with a four-year design degree and got hired by the same university to teach their AutoCAD course to design and construction management students. Quickly I became a point of contact for builders and homeowners who needed plans drawn and designs drafted. After two years of teaching, I went out on my own to meet the design needs of many builders in the area. I also give credit to a fabulous 6th-grade teacher who inspired me to be a designer or architect someday.

2. What sets you apart from other interior designers?

We are organized in how we accomplish a design. Design is a creative process, but we use very structured systems and processes behind the scenes to stay on task and on time to get the best design for our clients.

3. How has your style evolved?

With each project and client, there is something to learn & appreciate thus I incorporate into my business and design style.

4. When designing a room, what is the most important factor for you?

Layering! It’s why clients hire a designer. If you just need a piece of furniture, there’s plenty of furniture stores that can help with that. But layering in each detail, not just the sofa but also the pillows, the drapes, the soft area rug, the textured coffee table, drink table, the sculptural lamp, and the list goes on… it’s all about looking for ways to layer, create interest in a room and capture the clients’ style through those layers.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I fangirl over many other designers around the world, follow their work and attend seminars and conferences where I know I can learn from them. Also, I am constantly inspired by the world around me, whether it’s staying in a fun hip boutique hotel in downtown LA during a quick weekend getaway with my husband, walking the art galleries near my office, or checking out a new restaurant, design is everywhere… I can’t turn it off.

6. What was the best piece of design advice you’ve ever received?

Listen. I read an article in a design magazine years ago when I was just starting on my own about a lovely design firm in Atlanta that had gorgeous pictures of a client’s home, and the entire article was about the designer listening to what the client wanted. I have heard that advice again and again since and it’s something that I continue to bring to each project. The homes I design are not my home, they are my clients’ homes, it needs to reflect who they are and there’s no better way to know what that is than to listen.

7. What are you looking forward to in the next coming years?

We have a fabulous team, a fabulous office, and great clients….I’m excited to see my company continue to elevate and to refine & sharpen our skills as we continue to tackle larger and more challenging projects. I had a builder recently tell me that my company and design team was an “A Team”. I politely thanked him and let him know that pretty soon we will be his “A+ Team!”

8. If you weren’t the Owner & Design Director of Alisha Taylor Interiors, what would you be doing?

My geeky side is going to come out here….I would be teaching high school math. I love teenagers and I’m a total nerd when it comes to mathematics. Math is something many kids feel they aren’t good at, but it’s because they haven’t seen how powerful and useful it is and will be in their lives. I’d love to teach kids, not just math skills to pass a class, but to see how math helps them in life and that it’s something they can be good at!

9. What’s your definition of success?

Ending each day with a smile is my definition of success. For me, it’s not about money or a job title, it’s about enjoying the journey and the people around me. I have a great team around me at work, I enjoy the projects and clients I work for, and I absolutely adore my husband and the time we get with our children as they grow up and become adults themselves.

10. What three words describe you the best?

Kind, Creative & Honest

11. What advice would you tell your younger self?

I would tell the younger Alisha to give herself a little more grace, to breathe a bit, and ensure that amazing things are ahead.

12. What did you have to learn the hard way?

I can’t control everything! I know, I know…it sounds silly, but I truly did have to learn this one! Back in 2007, I went through a divorce and was a single mom of 4 young kids, while running my own design business. Then before I could even get my bearings as a newly divorced single mom, the housing market crashed and almost no one was hiring a designer. I went through many humbling experiences during those years to hold onto my business, while trying to create and maintain a happy home for my kids. Now, 14 years later, I’m much better at not sweating the small stuff, and seeing what is not in my control is not worth my stress and anxiety.

We strive to enhance our clients’ lives by not only creating beautiful interiors for them but by keeping the design process understandable and efficient through a systematic method that allows them to visualize and be excited about their designs. Schedule a consultation with Alisha Taylor Interiors to get started on your custom home design!

Congratulations, you’re ready to design with us! Right off the bat, we love getting together for a Kickoff Meeting to determine your expectations, design desires, lifestyle & priorities. This is also the time where we educate you on our procedures and processes, and the expectations of our journey together!

Before jumping into the nitty-gritty, it’s important to be 100% honest with your interior designer about your needs & desires during this process. This is a VERY personal project of yours, and we want you to love the final result and the experience.

Come Prepared

Lifestyle & Day-to-Day Preferences

Look into what your current lifestyle entails. What do you find yourself doing from day to day, weekly, or even on vacation? Do you have a routine? Do you host and entertain guests at your home? Understanding your lifestyle will allow us to formulate solutions, layout & materials that will best fit your home and the way that you live.  We’ll ask you lots of questions about this but if you have thought this through before our kickoff meeting the conversation seems to flow smoothly and we can get at the right info more efficiently.

Describe Your Dream Home

Come to your Kickoff Meeting with your design priorities in mind. We like to ask this right off the bat, so we can make sure your priorities are our focus before designing your home. Perhaps your design priority is to have a personal and cozy feel, or maybe a luxurious sense with custom-made pieces. Or let’s say you prefer to entertain your guests, or your space to be functionally driven instead. It’s important to describe what you would like your home to look AND feel like. We use this information to decide on a creative direction based on your priorities and the vision you seek for your custom dream home.

Inspiration Photos

Although we design custom homes and develop very personalized designs for each client, we still request inspiration photos that you are drawn to. This helps us make sure what you’re verbally describing matches what you visually are attracted to. These inspiration photos can be as broad or as detailed as you like, such as an entire kitchen concept or a specific cabinet handle. These photos can also represent the color palette you are most drawn to. A few great resources for inspiration photos are on Instagram, Pinterest, Houzz, and our website. Collect as many as you can, we’ll take whatever you have whether it’s 5 or 500.  Having these inspiration photos available at your Kickoff Meeting will get our team started on brainstorming and architecturally visualizing your dream home.

The Kickoff Meeting is nothing to be stressed about! This meeting is just about getting to know you and the expectations of your custom home. Think of it as sitting down with friends having a fun conversation.  We guide the entire meeting so there’s no stress on you. These meetings are fun! We get excited for each and every one of our clients because it’s such a personal and exciting experience, and we love making your dreams a reality!

Our interior design projects are individualized to create a true sense of place, reflecting the desires, personality, and style of the clients that put their home in our hands. Are you ready to see if your project is a good fit for the Alisha Taylor design team? Contact us here!

Designing your guest home from the architectural floor plan to the very last finishing touches can be an exciting endeavor. However, it also can come with its own set of obstacles, such as knowing what type of floor plan to choose.

Should you select an open floor plan design and use interior features to section off spaces? Should the living room be extra spacious or small and cozy? With Alisha Taylor as your interior designer, you’ll have no problem figuring out the answers to all of these questions and designing a stunning guest home.

Read on to learn more about creating a luxury guest house plan.

Enhance Guest Experience With an Elegant Floor Plan

When it comes to choosing the perfect guest house plan, your guests should be at the forefront of your mind. This may be friends and family looking for extra privacy when they come for short visits or a long-term visitor that intends to move into your guest home for an extended stay. Knowing how your space will be utilized is the first step in selecting the right floor plan.

Once you’ve decided on the type of guest house plan you’d like to create based on your intended visitors, Alisha Taylor can guide you through the architectural process. This is where we’ll really take a look at the layout of the space and design your guest home plans. What size is the ideal guest home? Will you need a full kitchen to accommodate long-term guests? These are questions that we’d be happy to go over with you and design a floor plan that’ll work with your guest home priorities.

When designing your guest house plans, don’t be afraid to have your architect draft multiple choices. Alisha Taylor can relay your requests and work closely with your architect and builder to draft different guest house floor plans to pick from.

The final step in selecting a gorgeous guest house plan is to consider the interior design. Our team at Alisha Taylor Interiors can evaluate your needs and help you select an interior design concept, from stunning furnishings to captivating decor to complete your space.

Guest House Interior Design Ideas

As you establish your guest home interior design plan, consider the following ideas for creating a luxurious feel for your guests.

Incorporate Home Construction

This can mean incorporating that massive bay window or building shelves right into the wall for additional storage. The architecture of your home can be an interior design element itself, so make sure to consider these unique features before the guest home building process begins.

Include Secret Storage

Guest homes are often smaller than the main home on the property. With this in mind, it’s essential to utilize your space to the fullest extent. This may mean investing in furniture that doubles as a storage unit, such as an ottoman that can be both additional seating and linen storage. This storage style can be disguised as a purposeful design element that allows you to stow everything your guests may need.

Mix and Match Decor Elements

Blending contrasting textures or patterns can liven up your space and make your guest home feel more welcoming. Though matching features is a typical go-to for interior design, the differing elements can add a unique flair to your guest home and create the dream design you were hoping for.

Design Your Dream Guest Space With Alisha Taylor

Ready to design the guest home of your dreams? Alisha Taylor Interiors has the experience and knowledge to help you select the perfect guest house plan and welcome your guests into a beautifully designed space. Whether you’d like a mini replica of your main home or a completely unique design to your new space, our team can create a breathtaking guest home that your visitors will be lining up to stay in.

Contact Alisha Taylor today to learn more about the new build process and how you can begin the guest home design process!

I had the privilege to sit down with Brad Leavitt, with A Finer Touch Construction, to discuss the behind-the-scenes of designing a New Build Project and creating a Dream Team on the AFT Construction Podcast!

Listen in as I give my thoughts on educating and setting expectations with our clients. I explain why embracing the role of an interior designer as a facilitator is more important today than at any other time due to changes in the industry brought on by the turbulent circumstances of the last year and a half. Brad and I unpack the reality that “there’s nothing more expensive than a cheap bid.”

We discuss that our biggest challenge right now is simply educating a client on what to expect from the new build process. The market is absolutely bananas, and prices are always changing. The ideal client understands that there’s no set number when it comes to building their custom home. They understand that they are hiring the right team, not a number or a bid.

We really try to be upfront, honest, and transparent with our clients, whether it’s how we design or how we charge, and what the industry looks like. We design custom luxury homes every day, and the client doesn’t. So, when they’re coming to us looking for that right builder or keep talking about bids, we’re not afraid to pump the brakes on that conversation, educate them about trust and reputation in the industry, and how important it is to choose the right builder, not just the cheapest one.

In this podcast, we dive into much more about our processes and systems, our personal aesthetic, and how we are navigating today’s supply chain and the everchanging industry of interior design. At Alisha Taylor Interiors, our goal is to make each one of our clients feel at home in their living space. Through our personalized design process, we work to create homes that are unique, timeless, and reflective of the people who live in them.

Listen to the Podcast Interview here:

Sponsored by: Pella Windows & Doors

When it comes to creating your dream home, the decorative elements of your space can make all the difference. However, you may be wondering whether you should be investing in an interior designer or an interior decorator to add the flourish your space needs to feel complete.

That’s right — despite popular belief that the two are interchangeable, there is a difference between an interior designer vs. interior decorator. This difference stems from the process involved in designing the home of your dreams.

Interior design is the process of understanding and creating a functional space from the start, incorporating both the architecture of the room and the decorative details in the design.

Interior decorating occurs after the architectural structure has been created and works with the existing flow of the room.

We’ll discuss the capabilities of an interior designer vs. interior decorator below to help you distinguish between the two and decide which interior extraordinaire to hire for your home.

Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator

While an interior decorator has all the industry knowledge to exceed your home design expectations, an interior designer is able to take it one step further. Read on to learn a bit more about the key differences between an interior designer vs. an interior decorator.

Interior Decorator

If you’re looking for a simple room remodel to liven up your space, an interior decorator may be the way to go. But what is an interior decorator? Instead of constructing the architectural design of your space, an interior decorator focuses solely on the room’s existing functionality. Your interior decorator is skilled in the art of choosing the best fabrics for your drapes and essential wall decor that will spruce up your space. They can help you choose the luxury furniture that will fill your home and add a touch of flair to your interior design style. However, an interior decorator is limited in the extent of design they are able to complete since they are not a part of the home building process. Instead, they use their talents to design a home post-build.

Interior Designer

So, what is an interior designer? From the minute you decide to build a brand new home or re-invent your current space, an interior designer is a must-have part of the project. Your interior designer can not only play the role of your decorator, but they also have the knowledge and experience to incorporate the architecture of your space into the design plan.

When your interior designer joins the team, they consider the big picture of your space. They’re taking into account your lifestyle and how your home should function to best fit that. Instead of wondering how the furniture you’ve chosen will fit into a pre-existing room, your interior designer plays a part in designing the architectural layout of the room to increase functionality and match your vision.

Since an interior designer is such an integral part of the entire construction and design process, you’ll want to choose your interior designer right from the start. Working with Alisha Taylor means having access to an interior design guru and her incredible team of architects and builders.

Consider Alisha Taylor for Your Next Interior Designer

Hiring an interior designer opens up a world of opportunities to create the home you’ve been dreaming of. Alisha Taylor has the advanced skills and experience to make your home an absolute masterpiece, from the architectural layout to the very last picture frame on the wall. Check out our portfolio for inspiration before you give us a call to get started turning your designs into reality!

Our goal at Alisha Taylor Interiors is to make each one of our clients feel at home in their living space. Through our personalized design process, we work to create homes that are unique, timeless, and reflective of the people who live in them.

We strive to enhance our client’s lives by not only creating beautiful interiors for them but by keeping the design process understandable and efficient through a systematic method that allows them to visualize and be excited about their designs.

Read on to learn more about the interior design process you will experience working with Alisha Taylor Interiors.

The Interior Design Process

For nearly 20 years, we have honed our interior design process for luxury homes. We take your dreams and turn them into a beautiful reality. Our interior design process allows you to be involved every step of the way to ensure you are thrilled with the final results.

Let’s start at the very beginning and take a closer look at the Project Initiation Phase.

Project Initiation Phase

The project initiation includes the new client inquiry form, the initial client meeting, and the design kickoff meeting. This is the time when logistics are discussed, and visions are expressed.

Step 1: New Client Inquiry Form and Initial Client Meeting

The first part of the interior design process is filling out an inquiry form. This form will entail the type of project you are interested in (New Build, Remodel, or Interior Design) and logistics such as square footage and budget. We will review your form and provide you with the project proposal.

At the initial client meeting, we will take measurements of the spaces needed, evaluate the furnishings level, and take “before” photos of the existing home.

Step 2: Proposal/Design Kickoff Meeting

At the design kickoff meeting, we will discuss your lifestyle, style preferences, priorities, vision, and review inspiration photos.

We will use all the information we gather from the kickoff meeting to create a design that incorporates your unique vision and lifestyle.

Interior Design Development Phase

The interior design development phase is likely what you think of when you think about the interior design process. This phase includes interior design renderings and storyboards that are used to visually communicate each room’s design.

Step 3: Interior Design Concepts and Material Selection

Next, we will go room by room and talk about interior design concepts you are imagining.

With this information, we will present a storyboard for each room. An interior design storyboard like the one below showcases the different elements of a room’s design. It is an easy way to get an idea of what the finished room will look like before an interior design rendering is made.

During this step, we will also select quality materials such as quartz for kitchen countertops, high-end flooring, and paint colors to elevate the design.

Step 4: 3D Interior Design Renderings

We will present interior design renderings of each room for you to clearly envision the final product. These renderings are drawn to scale to create a realistic-looking model. All of the small details, including wall hangings, furniture, light fixtures, and more, are included in an interior design rendering.

Below is an example of a realistic 3D rendering we created for a client’s great room design.

Design Documentation Phase

The design documentation phase is an essential part of the interior design process because it’s when all of the plans are compiled into the Design Book.

Step 5: Floor Plans, CAD Elevations, and Ceiling Plans

During this phase, custom floor plans, CAD elevations, and ceiling plans will be carefully drawn to include in the Design Book. CAD elevations are computer-generated drawings of rooms as viewed from standing in the room itself. Ceiling plan drawings will show the interior of your home viewed from above.

Floorplans are like the blueprints to your custom home. They are drawn to scale and designed to show the relationship between different rooms in the house. Larger furniture pieces will be drawn to scale to see the organization of each space. Room sizes and wall lengths are noted and used in the construction process.

Step 6: Showroom Viewings and Material Selection

Next, we will take you to view showrooms and select more materials for the interior design process. We will work with you to decide upon materials that you love and work in your price range.

Step 7: Design Book

All of the design elements, materials selected, floor plan, 3D renderings, storyboards, and more will be compiled into the Design Book. We will spend time reviewing the final selections before the construction phase begins.

Construction Phase

So how does an interior designer fit into the construction process? An interior designer incorporates your lifestyle needs and aesthetic wants into the entire interior design process, including construction. We will share the plans we created with the architect and builder to ensure your needs and desires are met.

Step 8: Builder Reviews Design

After you approve the Design Book, we will review the designs with the builder to ensure they have a perfect understanding of the project. The builder will see what changes you want to make to your home and how the interior design will fit into the process.

Step 9: Site Visits

Throughout the construction process, we will conduct site visits to check in on the builder and the home. This will ensure that construction is on track and that your needs and desires are being met. You can rest assured that we will keep the process running smoothly.

Furniture/Furnishings Development Phase

The furniture development phase is when we source the custom and unique furniture pieces that will fill your new home.

Step 10: Furniture Layouts/Sourcing

We will present final furniture layouts and decide the placement of pieces in your space. This step is where the design begins to feel complete. Through 3D renderings and storyboards, we can communicate what your space will look like at the end of this process.

Furniture/Furnishings Project Management Phase

Step 11: Order Placement, Inspection, and Installation

Once agreed upon, orders will be placed for furniture and decor pieces. The goods will be received and inspected thoroughly to ensure they are in good condition. Then, the furniture and furnishings will be installed in your home. We will stage each room to create a balanced and elevated look.

Step 12: Reveal and Walk-Through

Finally! The time has come for the big reveal of your new home design. The interior design process is complete. You will do a final walk-through of your newly furnished home and see your dreams come to life!

Trust Alisha Taylor Interiors To Design Your Home

Now that you know the interior design process, it’s time to work with a professional interior designer. Our team at Alisha Taylor Interiors is ready to bring your vision to fruition. Our expertise and collaborative process provide our clients with the best possible experience.

Let us work with you to showcase your style and meet your lifestyle needs with our design services. Contact us today for more information!