Our Experts

Lindsey Britten, Allied ASID, BOWA | Jonas Carnemark, CKD, CLIPP, Carnemark design+build | Tom Gilday, Pinehurst Design Build | Danielle Steele, Marks-Woods Construction Services, LLC

Trade Secrets:
Add Spark to a Boring Fireplace

“The looks are cleaner these days; we’re seeing a lot
of stone or precast profiles with a simple surround.
Nickel gap, tongue-and-groove and shiplap
are go-to materials in oak or white paint.”
—Tom Gilday

“We use different types of steel panels or we’ll install a small mantel
of Dekton with art above it. Dekton and porcelain
withstand heat but quartz surfaces do not.”
—Jonas Carnemark

“We highlight millwork In a vintage home. In a transitional house,
I might point clients to a book-matched,
natural-stone slab wall. This can be a showstopper.”
—Danielle Steele

“The fireplace is a focal point, so I like stone
with a lot of contrast or color that will pop.
A more transitional surround can layer woodwork
with a limewashed surface—but beware of texture
as it can be hard to clean.”
—Lindsey Britten

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Tips For Conjuring Visual
Magic in a Mudroom

“I like an earthy, organic palette in a mudroom,
since it’s a space for transitioning from the outdoors.
Think stone floors—and closed cabinets that keep everything tidy.”
—Lindsey Britten

“We incorporate light through transom windows
placed above a typical mudroom wall
of tall cabinets, cubbies and a bench.
Since they’re so high, the windows
don’t compromise function.”
—Danielle Steele

“We recently installed an Ikonni system
of slatted wall panels that snap together.
Made of MDF with a walnut or oak veneer,
they have an organic look but are durable.”
—Jonas Carnemark

“We like to use heavy, thick Belgian blue
marble floors to create the sense of an older space,
and to differentiate it from the kitchen.”
—Tom Gilday

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How Will Artificial Intelligence
Change the Industry?

“When we punch the parameters of a project
into an AI design program, it will be able
to produce a choice of design options in seconds.
It will be an incredible time-saver.”
—Tom Gilday

“I’d use AI first for code analysis; it can
be a lot of work to decipher whether
a building plan is up to code. AI could
analyze the codes easily.”
—Jonas Carnemark

“AI will speed up proposal turn-around time
and be a tool for project management.
It will never eliminate the human element
of the process.”
—Danielle Steele