SPECIAL REPORT 2021
THE REGION’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE
EXECUTIVE LIVING: THE
VISIONARY DESIGNS OF
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LORI CARROLL
20TH ANNIVERSARY
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Designs for Executive Living The Award-Winning Aesthetic of Lori Carroll
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By Romi Carrell Wittman For more than three decades, Lori Carroll has transformed homes, businesses and outdoor spaces with her creative and chic residential and commercial designs. Her work can be seen in medical offices, restaurants, hotels and countless luxury homes across the region. Carroll and her team at Lori Carroll & Associates have built a solid reputation for desert sophistication and style while retaining the individuality of their clients. “I don’t have a huge calling for opulence here,” she said. “It’s more understated elegance – beautiful indoor and outdoor living.” From her Tucson headquarters, Carroll has also built a large client base across 126 BizTucson
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the United States, from California to New York for her world-class, award-winning designs. In fact, she’s won more than 100 local, national and international design awards, including the International Design of the Year for Powder Rooms, the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Pinnacle of Design, the NKBA Kitchen of the Year and NKBA Bathroom of the Year. In her new book, “Circle Square Balance Hue,” which highlights some of Carroll’s favorite projects through the years, she details her approach to design. “Spaces should capture the imagination while honoring the clients’ needs and lifestyle,” she wrote. continued on page 128 >>>
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Her straightforward yet innovative aesthetic, coupled with her boundless imagination and singular work ethic, is at the core of her design practice. “Every single project we create, I love that project at that time. We put our heart and soul into it,” she said. Here’s a look at many of her noteworthy designs over the years:
retreat from the world, a place to relax and tune out the stress and anxiety of daily life. For others, it’s an extension of the kitchen gathering space, available for both large and small gatherings of friends and families. At the end of the day, however, the space must be practical as well as beautiful.
The Good Life
Living Room Designs
A home’s living room is one of the most multi-functional, highly used rooms in any house. “No two living rooms are alike,” Carroll said. For some clients, a living room serves as a
One of Carroll’s favorite living room projects is a testament to her knowledge and application of color, with the use of crisp greens playing off crimson tones in the artwork for a beautiful contemporary feel. “This is color at work for an energizing design.” Using the beautiful, rugged desert as a breathtaking visual backdrop is also her forte, as seen in a Foothills home that is “a sanctuary like no other,” Carroll said. “I feel totally comfortable mixing textures and fabric to create a memorable and dynamic space. When it’s done well, it’s gorgeous.” Another luxurious Ventana Canyon home is a feast of textures created from top with the wood latticework to bottom with rustic brick flooring and impactful rugs and lighting. “This is a wonderful environment where durability and beauty co-exist together,” she said.
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Stunning Kitchen Designs
Kitchens serve as a home’s central nervous system, according to Carroll. They serve as a place where food is prepared, where people gather and converse, and where work is done. As such, functionality is of utmost importance. “While function may dictate the general scope of the kitchen, there is plenty of room to push the envelope,” she said. Advances in materials and kitchen technologies have made for many opportunities to create statements. Carroll said she views kitchens as the ultimate place to meld impeccable design with practical functionality.
One of Carroll’s ultra-modern kitchen designs for a Foothills home won the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2016 Kitchen of the Year. The room
was completely wrapped in afromosia, a wood with beautiful, exotic qualities. “When we first started creating the initial concepts, this project just felt really good,” Carroll recalled. “I told one of my team members that the project was definitely special.” Modern kitchens, she said, provide a perfect opportunity to make visual impact. An open uncluttered layout is critical. In the Foothills kitchen, the wrap-around wood warms what could have been a cold and dark space. Additional lighting draws attention to the height of the room and its clean lines. While the design is minimalist, with multiple spaces to encourage small gatherings, it’s inviting and functional. “The continued on page 130 >>>
PHOTO BY BRITTA VAN VRANKEN – COMPOSITION BY CHRIS MOONEY
The Heart of the Home
The Lori Carroll & Associates Team Back row from left
Becky Eppihimer Elle Taft Debra Gelety Karen Hamill Josh Heros
Front row from left
Kat Saucedo Lori Carroll Laurie Colburn
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BizDESIGN continued from page 129 handcrafted materials, artisan touches and timeless styling here really made for a dramatic statement,” she said. A transitional style reigned supreme in another of Carroll’s welcoming kitchens, where warm ivory cabinets encircle a complementary gray and tan wood island. The granite marries the palette of both and the expansive lighting fixtures illuminate the entire space. “This design is inclusive, inspiring and innovative,” she said.
Eating in Style
Dining Room Designs
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In interior design, the lion’s share of attention is given to kitchens and main living spaces, meaning areas like dining rooms are sometimes forgotten. However, the dining room of a home is the ideal space to entertain guests and, most importantly, push the “wow” factor, Carroll said. She’s drawn on a variety of sources for dining room design inspiration – from the homeowner’s favorite colors to the home’s surrounding landscape and, of course, how the room will ultimately be used. One distinctive dining room is an extension of the home’s award-winning modern kitchen. Warm wood wraps the wall without dominating the room. A modern metal light fixture is as much sculptural as it is functional. A wooden dining table mixes up the room’s modern theme by introducing new colors. Contemporary oyster-colored fabric chairs provide an inviting space for people to gather, slow down and enjoy one another’s company. Finally, granite accents tie the design together for a cohesive, sophisticated look. Located in stunning Stone Canyon, another contemporary dining room utilizes a neutral palette with small pops of color. Though they share one large open space, the dining room, living room and outdoor spaces remain distinctive yet balanced, providing multiple spaces for people to gather. continued on page 133>>>
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At-Home Oasis
Bathroom Designs
The bathroom is probably the most private room in any home. It’s a place for relaxation and renewal, far away from the noise and distraction of the world outside. It’s no surprise that most homeowners try to infuse spa-like themes in this space – items like soothing and neutral colors, natural materials that evoke the outdoors and lots of light. The goal is to construct a serene retreat that’s insulated from everyday life. With a blend of deep walnut set against two stark white sinks and an elegant freestanding bathtub, a bathroom can be a beautiful example of modern tranquility. Carroll’s favorite part of one project was the textural tile behind the tub. “It’s a perfect example of blending design with texture,” she said. That room won a 2019 American Society of Interior Designers First Place award for Best Large Bathroom and Best of Show. “When I’m selecting materials, I like to push the envelope and locate new and interesting products – not based on trends.” she said. “It’s putting them together. Every project is a puzzle.” No design opportunity escapes Lori Carroll, which is why she has a particular affection for designing powder rooms. “Clients often express that they are at a loss for how to address a small powder room,” she said. “I’m always up for a challenge. This is where you can be extremely creative.” “When designing a powder room, I like to provide an element of surprise, unique detail and make it original to provide a lasting impression,” she said. “So, when you are in there, you are in
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continued from page 133 awe.” For example, the use of textured wood on a wall in a powder room is a powerful rustic tapestry against the modern sink and bathroom fixtures. Carroll earned the 2016 Designer K&B Awards’ International Design of the Year for a transcendent powder room that features a spectacular onyx countertop and glass sink. “The floating semi-precious stone vanity sparkles like jewelry,” Carroll said. “Color has everything to do with setting the tone in a space.” She noted that lighting greatly affects the perception of color, which is why it’s such a critical design element.
The Great Outdoors
Landscape Designs
A great outdoor space should seamlessly blend the outdoors with the indoors, Carroll said. The landscape should also give the home extra impact – the ultimate finishing touch. To achieve this, Carroll approaches each outdoor project with what she calls a “destination mindset.” In other words, she hopes to evoke an athome luxury resort experience. This often means tying together outdoor dining and living areas with swimming pools and other features. For an intimate outdoor space, the geometry of a trio of fireplace sculptures seamlessly corresponds with the modernity and sleek lines of the living room and staircase in full view through large expansive glass doors. “The clean lines feel timehonored and fresh,” she said.
Suite Dreams
Bedrooms are another space where people want a restful, but gorgeous respite from daily life. Great bedroom designs balance beauty with practicality, Carroll said, and she works hard to ensure that her designs layer elements to build interesting spaces. In one master suite design that is one of Carroll’s favorites, she was able to subtly give a nod to the client’s travels while also accentuating the breathtaking views just outside the window. Dimensional tile makes a unique backdrop for the television, which features LED backlighting. The limestone flooring and neutral rug complement, rather than distract, from the views. The chairs in this design were among Carroll’s favorite items. “They were very organic, almost like they grew there,” she laughed. “I also installed hidden window treatments so nothing could take away from those desert views.” continued on page 136 >>>
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Bedroom Designs
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Form and Function
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Commercial Designs
Carroll has used her design expertise to design commercial spaces that are both stunning and inclusive. She’s re-imagined restaurant spaces, medical offices, boutique hotels and even sorority and fraternity houses at the University of Arizona. She said the process for commercial projects is very similar to the approach she takes for residential homes, and she enjoys them equally. “I like both residential and commercial,” she said. “I have the mindset of incorporating commercial products in all my projects because they’re more durable and sustainable.” The firm has worked on new builds as well as remodels, from small projects to those that surpass 30,000 square feet. Recently, Carroll and her team completed a waiting room as part of the firm’s entire design for the new Retina Associates location. Like the residential projects she’s worked on, a clean modern look coupled with appealing, comforting colors and abundant functionality were at the forefront of the design. At the Lodge at Ventana Canyon, a new look for the private club and resort’s bar and grill was a welcomed upgrade for the members and guests. Carroll, who likes to call the project “Fore!,” mingles vibrant color tiles on the wall against a giant photograph of one of the club’s most scenic golf holes. The result brings “conversation elements with playful demeanor” to the oft-used casual dining area. Lori Carroll & Associates also created an award-winning design for a bathroom remodel at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon. “It was a rewarding project being able to make such a statement,” Carroll said of the re-design of the main public bathroom off the lobby. The design won the 2013 ASID First Place award for a commercial single space. “I have to say I feel very fortunate to be able to collaborate with incredibly talented vendors, amazing associates, innovative architects and wonderful clients to create dynamic and memorable living environments.”
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A Celebrated Career in Design Lori Carroll’s prodigious design resume includes more than 100 design awards, over 200 features in more than 50 publications and appearances on both regional and national television shows. A look at some of her best and brightest over the years:
AWARDS 2020 Ferguson Best of Show Master Bath 2019 Sources for Design Design Icon – Interiors 2018 NAHB Best in American Living Awards Platinum Award – Bath Remodel Over $50,000 2018 NKBA Design Competition First Place – Powder Room 2017 NKBA Design Competition Bath of the Year
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2017 Designer K & B Awards International Designer of the Year – Finalist 2016 Designer K & B Awards International Design of the Year – Powder Room 2016 NKBA Design Competition Kitchen of the Year
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS Objekt International
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2016 HGTV National Kitchen Bath Association People’s Choice Award – No-Threshold Showers 2015 Viking Kitchen Design Competition Designer of Distinction – January 2012-2013 ASID Design Excellence Awards Best of Show/First Place – Commercial Singular Space 2011 ASID Design Excellence Awards Best of Show/First Place – Large Bathrooms 2010 ASID Design Excellence Awards Best of Show/First Place – Singular Residential Space 2009 NKBA Design Competition Best Overall Award – Bathroom/Powder Room 2008 SunWest/Viking Life of the Kitchen Design Contest People’s Choice – Best Indoor Kitchen
NATIONAL TV
HGTV “Dream House” HGTV “Before & After Spaces”
2007 International Kitchen & Bath Business Review Industry Award, London – Finalist 2006 National Kitchen & Bath Association Pinnacle of Design – Open Plan Kitchen 2005 ASID Design Excellence Awards Best of Show/First Place – Residential Over 3,500 Square Feet 2005 National Kitchen & Bath Association First Place – Powder Rooms 2004 ASID Design Excellence Awards Best of Show/ First Place – Residential Over 3,500 Square Feet 2000 ASID Design Excellence Awards Best of Show/ First Place – Residential Under 3,500 Square Feet
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS American Society of Interior Designers
Architectural Digest
International Interior Design Association
Chicago Tribune
National Kitchen & Bath Association
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Dedication to Community Lori Carroll Lends Her Expertise
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By Tara Kirkpatrick When the Tucson Soccer Academy wanted to turn an old building into a clubhouse for players at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, President Ted Schmidt asked Lori Carroll if she could help. The interior designer took over the entire project and completed it for free. “She not only designed it, she did all of the work contacting the vendors and got most of them to donate the materials to us – the tile, the kitchen appliances, the countertops,” said Schmidt, a local attorney whose academy is now called FC Tucson Youth Soccer Club. “It certainly wouldn’t have happened in the way it did if it hadn’t been for Lori. She saved us tens of thousands of dollars.” It’s just one example of Carroll’s philanthropy over the years to a region where she and her design firm, Lori Carroll & Associates, have become purveyors of elegant, timeless design. Just as she runs her company with a dogged work ethic and meticulous devotion to detail, so does she extend her compassion and service to numerous organizations. The Ann Kathryn Schmidt Kickin’ It Clubhouse, named in honor of Schmidt’s late wife, features a kitchen, office space, a weight room and physical therapy room. It has served not only as a place for overnight team stays and soccer club www.BizTucson.com
trainings, but as precious meeting space for community groups. “She put her heart and soul into it,” he said. “It’s a remarkable facility.” “When they reached out to me to see if I could help, I said I will do whatever I can,” recalled Carroll, whose two kids had played in the soccer academy. “This was something I was really proud of. It just really warmed my heart to be able to assist with this project.” Carroll’s generosity has also touched other organizations. As a member of the Silver & Turquoise Board of Hostesses, Carroll funded the cost of a new website for the 70-year-old organization whose annual ball proceeds currently support the San Xavier Mission.
Back row from left – Lori Carroll, Valerie Samoy-Alvarado and Ted Schmidt. Front row from left – Jon Fenton and George Kuck
“Since joining S&T in 2010, Lori has been a valued member of a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve Tucson’s historical and cultural heritage – most recently as a benefactor for the San Xavier Mission,” said 2022 S&T Ball Chair Amy Bhola. “S&T has benefitted from Lori’s vision to bring us into the modern era by helping to underwrite our first website, which has become an important communication tool for members and the community.” Bhola added, “She has graciously agreed to serve as Ball Chair for the 71st Silver & Turquoise Ball in 2023.” Carroll also is a trustee for the Tucson Museum of Art – a position that speaks to her love of art and design. “I love collaborating with all of these welltraveled trustees,” she said. “It’s so wonderful. Art is such a personal expression of an artist.” “Lori is not only an exemplary trustee,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the museum’s Jon and Linda Ender director and CEO. “She is an ambassador to the impact and transformative power of art. Whether supporting the museum through her work on various committees, touring the galleries with her staff, clients and friends or promoting TMA on her media channels, Lori goes above and beyond to amplify the museum’s work.” Biz Fall 2021
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Lori Carroll A Visionary in Interior Design
For Lori Carroll, there was never a question of what she would do with her life. That fate was sealed as a child growing up in Iowa, helping her dad in his lumberyard. “I had access to construction materials, I watched meetings with contractors, I helped my father with inventory, I learned at a young age to mix paint. It was my comfort zone,” she said. “By 7th grade, I knew what I was going to do in my life and that doesn’t happen for a lot of people,” said the renowned Southern Arizona interior designer and owner of Lori Carroll & Associates. “There was no wasted time. I reflect on how long I’ve been doing this, and I don’t feel like its work. It’s my passion and my love.” continued on page 146 >>> www.BizTucson.com
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By Tara Kirkpatrick
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often said to me, ‘I want you to love your house!’ She lives by that motto.”
Early Studies & Influences
Carroll enrolled at the University of Arizona in 1981 to study interior design and had the chance to study at the University of Copenhagen in 1986. “I was in Denmark for a whole summer and the program was set up where we toured around Sweden, Norway and Finland,” she recalled. “Just seeing the attention to detail. They construct their buildings to last hundreds of years. It doesn’t have to be shiny and new to be beautiful.”
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From remodeling our Tucson home to selecting furniture for our Wyoming house, she has always brought a fresh perspective to every project. Her designs are inventive and livable. She often said to me, ‘I want you to love your house!’ She lives by that motto. – Cindy
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Parseghian President Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation & Lori Carroll Client
To this day, she’s still awed by her visit to the famous Louis Poulsen factory, the iconic Danish lighting manufacturer founded in 1874. “In the 1980s, they were using robots to create their products!” she exclaimed.
As a UArizona student, Carroll worked at Contents Furniture, driven to learn as much as she could about each aspect of the industry. “One of the key things I learned there was being able to listen to people’s wants and communicate well,” she said. “And follow-up – follow-up is huge.” “You could tell from an early age that Lori was going to be very successful,” said Eric Castillo, whose family owned a reprographics business that Carroll frequented for her school projects. “She carried herself very professionally and treated our employees and staff as working collaborators. You could tell that she embraced her education and she wanted to excel when she finished school as a working design professional.” After she graduated, Carroll stayed at Contents until 1987. In 1990, she formed the Interline Design Group with partners and eventually became president of what grew to be one of the largest interior design firms in Arizona. In 2000, she launched Lori Carroll & Associates. “There were goals I wanted to achieve before I finished my career and one was to have my own design studio,” she said. “I was a new mom when I started my business. I don’t know how I was able to manage all that was required. You just don’t think about it and you do it.”
A Force in Design
Today, the mom and grandmother has built her company on the foundation of uncompromising hard work and a talented team. An admirer of color and form, Carroll always totes design magazines with her and relishes the discovery of new materials and looks. “I’m like a kid in a candy shop, if I go to a showroom and see a new wall covering or a new tile. I am always on the lookout for something fresh, creative and impactful.” She is a firm and assured voice for her projects at each construction site – something she attributes to playing high school sports and serving as a statistician for her school’s football team. “Having these very large players come up to me on the sideline, asking me for their stats – you have to be able to read continued on page 148 >>> www.BizTucson.com
PHOTOS BY WILLIAM LESCH AND JON MANCUSO
continued from page 145 It’s not hyperbole to say Carroll, who celebrates more than three decades in design, is the region’s most prolific and preeminent source of elegant desert living. Her timeless aesthetic graces residential and commercial projects throughout Arizona and beyond. Over her career, she has received more than 100 regional, national and international awards, has appeared on national TV design shows and has been featured in more than 50 publications. She just released her first book, “Circle Square Balance Hue.” “She’s incredible, not only from her designs but who she is as a person,” said Kelley Taylor Ross, a longtime family friend. “Her courage, work ethic and determination really speak for her and you can see that in her work. She is an incredible woman.” Known for innovative combinations of texture, materials and color, especially in powder rooms and kitchens, Carroll and her team have infused the “wow” factor into projects from remodeling sorority houses to designing luxury foothills homes to renovating medical and office buildings. A tenacious and consummate professional who often answers emails at all hours, she has earned the respect and praise of clients, builders, contractors and vendors alike. Truly, no one outworks her. “Lori and I spent many years building very high-end homes,” said retired builder Jeff Wilmeng. “These homes were the most prestigious homes being built in Tucson, and all ended as beautiful homes with happy clients. While Lori’s design talents are obvious, it takes much attention to the process to work with clients for those long periods of construction. Lori was always professional and fun, and made working on these projects with her very rewarding, for me, the trade people and the clients.” “Lori has worked on several of my projects over the last 20 years,” said Cindy Parseghian, president of the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation. “From remodeling our Tucson home to selecting furniture for our Wyoming house, she has always brought a fresh perspective to every project. Her designs are inventive and livable. She
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BizDESIGN continued from page 146 people and I think that is one thing I’ve been able to develop. You encounter all sorts of personalities on a job site.” To that end, Carroll knows when a job has been done poorly and isn’t afraid to ask for a redo, whether it’s an incorrectly assembled custom table or an errant tile design. Yet, she is the first to genuinely thank people for doing things well. “I always send them thank you notes,” she said. “I feel very strongly about that. Some contractors are up at 4 a.m., busting their butts to make things happen. I respect and appreciate what they do.” That respect is the reason Otto Rankin, a window covering specialist, will work all night installing a project for Carroll and be on call for her 24 hours a day. “She will give you an opportunity – but you really have to shine. I was fortunate to get that opportunity to work with her about 12 years ago and I made the cut. I’ve been blessed to work with her ever since.” When Brad and Anita Feder were
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building their expansive home in conjunction with HGTV’s “Dream House” series, they wanted Carroll to design it. “The fact that HGTV had really never featured a house on the West Coast and because of the unique design of the house, they were delighted to film the process in Tucson,” said Anita. “We were thrilled to be working with Lori at the time and to have her be part of the process. “Lori made it such a fun experience and she really was able to make both of us happy even when Brad and I didn’t always agree,” she said. “We enjoyed every interaction with Lori and would work with her again if we ever built another home in Tucson.” Notable UArizona donors Cole and Jeannie Davis also worked with Carroll on their dream home and have since become her close friends. “We essentially lived together for three years as it was being built,” Jeannie said. “I would email thoughts I had to her in the middle of the night and I couldn’t believe it, she would get right
back to me!” she said. “She was just a real force for us. She always sought our input and offered numerous options for everything. Virtually every room in this house has her fingerprints on it.” That includes a distinctive deep purple ceiling in one room that Jeannie initially doubted. “In the end, it was dead-on,” she said. “It’s just so perfect.” “This house is a magnificent piece of work and I credit a lot to Lori for its uniqueness,” Jeannie said. “So many of the things she suggested would never have occurred to us.” After suffering a house fire a few years ago, Ron and Elsie Genova are currently working with Carroll on the renovation. “She and her staff are just so creative and they listen very attentively to the things you like or the things you think you might like and they come up with suggestions and ideas. They are a pleasure to work with and she leads them well,” said Elsie Genova.
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Bill Lesch
Jon Mancuso
One of the greatest assets a designer can have is an incredible photographer. With countless spaces, details and textures to capture, a memorable design can only be truly shown through beautiful images. Showcasing impeccable photography of spaces is necessary for getting awards & prospective clients, but also provides a library of work to look back on. This is why Lori Carroll & her team are blessed to have not one but two exceptional photographers in their arsenal. “Bill Lesch & Jon Mancuso have been a true asset to our success over the past 20 years” says Lori “Their unique styles in photography have allowed us to convey
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all aspects of a space”. By having these talented artists, Lori & her team can show all characteristics of a design - from the entirety of a great room to the singular details in a backsplash or wallcovering - and everything in between.
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Lori Carroll’s Principles for Success Lori Carroll has amassed more than three decades of visionary, award-winning interior design throughout Southern Arizona and beyond. Here are some of the guiding principles that have shaped her career: CUSTOMER SERVICE IS #1 “Customer service is essential to our success. Continually striving to provide clients with a positive overall experience during the complete design process. Excellent customer service involves meeting and surpassing expectations.” BE A GREAT COMMUNICATOR “Working in the design field for over 35 years, I have found that continuous communication is key! Not only with clients, but vendors and associates as well. Never assume anything!” SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE BEST “I attribute my success to being able to work with amazing clients, contractors and associates and having the opportunity to collaborate with those who understand and trust my vision year after year.
PAY YOURSELF LAST “Exceptional customer service plays a key role in my success. Achieving that requires a team that includes a variety of businesses and talented vendors. My professional ethic, especially as a small business owner, is understanding that timely payments are essential to the livelihood of others. I believe in paying my vendors promptly as a crucial element of doing business. SAY THANK YOU “Thank you notes are so important to me. I raised my children to have this value, and, to this day, they practice this in their own lives. It is being respectful and appreciative for those who go above and beyond no matter what. A simple thank you goes a long way.” www.BizTucson.com
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STAY FOCUSED “When arriving at job sites, it is important to stay focused on the questions that are immediate and provide answers in order for the projects to continue moving forward and getting to the finish line.”
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Work from Home A Designer’s Thoughts for Hybrid Spaces By Tara Kirkpatrick If the last 18 months of managing the COVID-19 pandemic have offered one lesson, it’s the importance of a functional and desirable home office. “When working from home versus the office, it is important to include the functional amenities that inspire productivity while considering the sanctity of your home,” said designer Lori Carroll, who for decades has been creating award-winning spaces. “Contemplate a space that won’t impede the normal traffic flow of your home or current lifestyle. Limit yourself to one central area to contain workrelated material.” “Without a dedicated room for a home office, with some creativity and space planning you can fit a desk and storage options just about anywhere,” she said. The following is Carroll’s playbook on designing this hybrid workspace. How to select an area for a home office: Bedrooms are typically more secluded, away from the distractions of more active family spaces. While a bedroom office has drawbacks, the biggest plus is you are mere steps from work in the morning. continued on page 154 >>> www.BizTucson.com
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“
When working from home versus the office, it is important to include the functional amenities that inspire productivity while considering the sanctity of your home.
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Lori Carroll Owner Lori Carroll & Associates –
continued from page 153 Family Rooms can be the perfect space for a home office with the addition of some practical furnishings that blend with the aesthetic of your home. A simple room divider can add additional privacy when working from a more family-oriented area. Living or Dining Rooms can become a practical place to set up a home office either in a convenient corner, behind existing furnishings or in a dining room cabinet where paperwork can be easily stowed. Kitchens are already equipped with a table, countertops and vertical surfaces that are convenient for setting up work spaces; the drawback being having to move work-related materials for food preparation and eating. Designate a less used section of the kitchen, then invest in a comfortable, movable chair. Laundry Rooms can be converted into a home office by utilizing or adding a surface that can be used as a desk or folding station. Most laundry rooms already have built-in storage and a door. Closets can become a smaller scale home office, offering a little separation from the work space and the rest of the room. By removing the doors and adding a desk and shelves inside the alcove, a closet can be an ideal place to work.
How to Furnish a Home Office •
A home office should reflect the style, décor, and comfort of the home. Select furnishings that are functional yet beautiful.
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Depending on space and budget, for a more permanent home office set-up, built-ins can include cabinetry, floating shelves, desks and bookcases.
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Evaluate just how a home office will be used when designing the space. If work requires being able to spread out, choose an area for a larger desk.
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Color is an important element in a home office design; opt for shades that echo your work ethic; start with neutrals and add cool accents to calm and brighten your mood or warmer, vivid tones to improve energy levels.
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To add interest to the space, cover an accent wall with a contemporary wallcovering, cork board or even magnetic chalkboard paint to save notes and display ideas, drawings and photos.
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Use the desk or bookcases as room dividers and extra storage. Movable, dual purpose furnishings can also be used.
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Custom storage can be added to any space, optimizing efficiency. Use ordinary furniture pieces like a storage ottoman to keep office essentials, too.
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A floating desk leaves room for necessary items underneath, while fold down desks can be closed to make space in the room and hide any clutter.
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Add a sofa or comfortable chair to sit and reflect on the tasks at hand.
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Add a feeling of luxury with an area rug.
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Position the desk so there isn’t a glare on the computer monitor from either the window or overhead light.
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Personalize the space regardless of the size. Candles, plants and art are great options.
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A pleasing scent can boost concentration and enthusiasm.
If a view isn’t possible, face the door instead of a blank wall. If a wall is the only option, hang a beautiful piece of artwork above the desk.
Choose a distinctive office chair that is ergonomic, relaxing and adds interest to the space.
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BizDESIGN
Circle Square Balance Hue Lori Carroll’s New Look Book
PHOTOS BY JON MANCUSO
By Tara Kirkpatrick Circle. Square. Balance. Hue. These four simple words ingeniously define Lori Carroll’s design legacy; hence, the perfect title for her first book. “As the title of this book, created during an evening spent with close friends, it has a much deeper meaning, one that represents my philosophies, abilities and attitude toward interior design and life,” the Southern Arizona designer explained in the book’s introduction. “Circle Square Balance Hue” is a comprehensive portfolio of Carroll’s
body of work across the Sonoran Desert and beyond. Meticulously created over four years, the 94-page book is filled with vibrant photographs of her richly designed spaces and projects over the last two decades – many of which have garnered international and national awards. A dazzling sculptural lighting fixture. A fiery, illuminated glass bathroom countertop. An opulently tiled shower. A curved kitchen counter that gives way to a resplendent desert view. They are
all captured in luxurious detail in “Circle Square Balance Hue.” “As I’m getting older, I wanted to document the scope of my work,” Carroll said. “It’s an expression of my work, showing each of my projects and all the detail that went into creating each space. There is so much that goes into each of these projects.” The book begins with the dynamic living rooms Carroll has designed for clients and then highlights her designs of kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, continued on page 158 >>>
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BizDESIGN continued from page 157 bedroom suites, outdoor spaces, specialty rooms such as home theaters and showroom garages, and, finally, custom product designs. The collection of images is also a lookbook of the work of many artisans and vendors Carroll has partnered with over the years. “I feel very fortunate that, throughout my career in Tucson, I have worked with so many very talented vendors,” she said. “I think my success is not about me, it’s about my contractors and team – everyone who has been so dedicated over the years.” In each chapter, Carroll pairs the pictures with her design philosophies and personal commentary. “Bathrooms may be one of the most private spaces of a home, but that certainly doesn’t mean they cannot thrill with captivating design elements or the relaxing cadence of a spa-inspired haven,” Carroll wrote in the chapter Bathroom Bliss. “I love focusing on this smaller, but significant area of the home and working through the design challenges that demand the space to be
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at once comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, but also highly functional.” Regarding bedroom suites, “although the bed is generally the focal point, I like to look to other key areas in a bedroom to accentuate,” she wrote. “Maybe it’s the warmth of a statement fireplace surrounded by a composed seating vignette, or the wonder of a spectacular view that beautifully invades the room, acting as its own artwork.” “There is a lot of attention to detail in this book,” Carroll said. “The more you look, the more you see. Sometimes, people have a hard time mixing materials and textures, but what you’ll see is that it makes for very personalized spaces.” The book has already sold out of its first press run and for Carroll, it’s now the perfect calling card for her new clients. “It’s the best way of presenting what I’m about.”
Contact Lori Carroll & Associates if interested in purchasing a copy of Circle Square Balance Hue 520.886.3443
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