Lisa Peck
Partner
Kristen
Mengelkoch
Partner
LuAnne Silvia
Design Associate
Emily Anderson
Design Assistant
It all began…
While Kristen worked toward a business degree, a college friend majoring
in interior design often showed her technical drawings, furniture pictures,
and fabrics. "Which one of these do you think I should do?"
he’d ask her. Kristen thought this looked like fun, but darn, the
business degree was only six months away.
Later, while working in research at a large advertising agency, she kept running across a variety of home magazines. The more she looked at them, the more she thought, "This looks REALLY fun." The idea kept bubbling to the surface, and she couldn’t shake it. She went back to school and got the degree she really wanted.
One of her favorites…
"I worked with a couple a few years ago. Both he and she were commercial
advertising photographers, so I knew I’d be working with a highly
creative pair from the start. I have to admit I was a little more than
curious to see how that would go. They seemed to enjoy the process because
they clearly had some creative ideas of their own and could express them
perhaps better than the average homeowner. But they didn’t know
exactly what they wanted. They wanted advice, consultation, and someone
to execute ideas for them. We could hear what they said, but also read
between the lines and pick up on what they didn’t articulate or
think to ask about. They also had a great sense of humor, and we believe
it’s important for people to have a little something in the house
they can grin about – to be a little tongue in cheek. They told
me, ‘Oh, you’re such a great personal trainer. You know when
to put the brakes on when we’re getting a little too carried away.’"
Tell me more…
Q: What kind of interior design
projects get you most excited?
A: I like to custom design pieces like
cabinets and furniture. I like the process of thinking it through from
the whole piece down to the details. It’s fun to make something
out of nothing.
Q: If you weren’t
an interior designer, what else would you do?
A: The person who names paint colors.
Q: What’s
your favorite room in your own home?
A: My dining room. It’s the place
where I begin and end the day. It’s a place for friends and family.
I have an older home, so it’s the one place to sit and eat. It has
a great view, too. I can look out at the neighbor’s garden as I
sit and read the morning paper.
Q: What’s
the best compliment you’ve ever been given from a client?
A: Some have told me, "You’ve
helped us design it without it looking designed." That’s the
ultimate for me. My ego isn’t tied up in people knowing I was there.
To have people get what they want and not have any mark of me in it –
that’s very enjoyable.
B.S. in Interior Design: University of Minnesota, 1992.
B.S. in Business Administration: University of Minnesota, 1984.
Served on the ASID board and actively participates in numerous committees, including the design awards, nominating, and program committees.
A teacher through the Open U seminar program, on topics including the principles of residential design, finish materials, and furniture plans.
