Growing up with a creative Mom and a Dad in engineering, Liz found herself taking on traits from each parent which ultimately lead her to a career in Interior Design. Liz has been in the industry for over 10 years now and her portfolio includes projects from all over the country. Designing in so many different places allows Liz to work with a wide range of styles. She truly adapts to every project, making sure to incorporate the unique style, historic elements, architecture and location of each one. Liz shares her story with us and gives the best advice when it comes to starting a career in design. Keep reading for the full interview.
LIZ: “I have always loved design. I know it’s a cliche for all interior designers but growing up, I loved painting my room and rearranging the furniture as often as I could. I made a mistake with neon green painted walls but quickly corrected it with two-tone pink stripes and a chalkboard accent wall.
When I was in college, I took every 101 class that was offered to figure out which career path I wanted to take. When I took an interior design class I just knew it was the perfect career for me.
When I graduated college I moved to Southern California and was applying for jobs off craigslist (of all places!) and got a job with Denise Morrison Interiors. Denise took me under her wing and mentored me into the designer I am today.”
Architect: Bourque Design, Ron Bourque, Builder: Choice Builders, Nick Biagiotti, Photographer: Joyelle West
After working in California, Liz moved to Texas where she started Liz Marchant Interiors. Now, Liz travels and designs all over the country. In addition to her projects in Austin, Texas, Liz is currently working on projects in Michigan, Boston, D.C, Flordia, and California. She enjoys taking on different styles and loves that it opens up so many doors.
LIZ: “We offer a full-service luxury design experience. I love designing all facets of someone’s home. Starting at the obvious aspect, i.e. design solutions for bathrooms and furniture selection, all the way down to the small details like silverware and table linens. Obviously, there are also the more pragmatic aspects as well such as construction drawings, and any deliverables needed to convey the design to the client and contractor. We also coordinate ordering and installing furniture, window coverings, accessories, art, and anything else you need to create your dream home.”
Architect: Bourque Design, Ron Bourque, Builder: Choice Builders, Nick Biagiotti, Photographer: Joyelle West
We are so impressed by Liz’s portfolio and how she adapts to different design styles based on her clients’ needs or the location of her project. Liz told us all about her design and creative process, where she finds inspiration and trends she is loving right now.
LIZ: “I believe that interiors have to take inspiration from the personality of the people using the space along with the history and architecture surrounding it. I just like good design whether it’s traditional french country or sleek Miami modern, I genuinely love it all. That is why I am in this field, I get to do it all!”
Architect: Bourque Design, Builder: Choice Builders, Photographer: Joyelle West
Architect: Bourque Design, Builder: Choice Builders, Photographer: Joyelle West
Finding Inspiration & The Design Process
LIZ: “It’s so different for every project. The first place I look to for inspiration is the client. I want every space to be a reflection of them and their personality. The best compliment I’ve ever gotten came from a 10 year old, when walking into his newly installed home he said “Our house looks nothing like uncle’s house”. I had done the design for both homes and he was shocked at how different the two spaces looked. I was so happy that I was able to capture each family’s personalities and reflect that in their homes.
I also really like taking inspiration from historic architecture. There are so many historic design features to take influence from. When combined with modern applications, you can really create something fresh and classic at the same time.”
LIZ: “A design trend I’m loving right now is, checkered patterns, I know they are a classic but they seem to be in the spotlight right now and I am all about it.”
Architect: Killette and Associates, Builder: Paragon Construction Group INC, Styling: Limonata Creative, Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
LIZ: “It is all about the client’s priorities, my job is to help define the objectives and allocate the budget accordingly. For example, one client will be passionate about art collecting and we will ensure there is enough budget for art and sculptures, another client may want to prioritize resale value so we focus more of the budget on the kitchen and bathrooms.”
Furniture is a large part of the design process and Liz provided great insight into what she looks for in furniture pieces when designing. She’s not afraid to step outside the box and look for creative pieces that stand out.
LIZ: “There are so many furniture companies out there and it often feels like I see the same designs over and over. I get so excited when I come across a fresh perspective on something that has been around for centuries.”
Architect: Killette and Associates, Builder: Paragon Construction Group INC, Styling: Limonata Creative, Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
LIZ: “A nice set of chairs, specifically lounge chairs are such a good investment. If you plan on moving, two lounge chairs will go wherever you go. You can put them in your bedroom, or living room, they are versatile and can easily be rearranged throughout your home. Chairs are also a great way of adding something sculptural yet functional to the space.”
Architect: Bourque Design, Ron Bourque, Builder: Choice Builders, Nick Biagiotti, Photographer: Joyelle West
LIZ: “The Montgomery Sofa or the Cuddle Chair, both of these pieces are thought out from every aspect. Typically, there is nothing special about the back of a sofa or chair but the detail on these pieces make them special when viewed from all angles.”
When designing and selecting furniture, Liz always considers the architectural style and character of the home. Especially since she is designing in many different locations, Liz also takes into consideration what specific trends and style of homes are prevalent in that area.
LIZ: “I really study the architecture of the house itself. For example, I’m doing a house in Michigan that’s Tudor style and so I will look back at original Tudor style architecture, and design details, and take some of those and make them modern. Tudor architecture is known for square wood paneling on the walls. We will do that but instead of wood tones which is traditional Tudor, we’ll paint it so that it feels fresher but still gives a nod to the architecture of the house.”
LIZ: “The best part about designing in different areas the country is that I get to do a wide variety of projects. For example, I could never translate the design style I did in D.C. into a California project, it just wouldn't work without considering the culture and architecture. I do have a project in Florida, that is a little closer to the California style but still has a bit of that Florida flair to it. I really enjoy taking on different design styles, I love that it opens up so many doors.”
Finally, we asked Liz what her favorite project has been so far and it’s one we had to share! You won’t believe this incredible 25 foot bookshelf she designed. Liz touches on how she came up with this concept and why it is so unique to the space.
LIZ: “I don’t know if I have a favorite one, there are different things I like about each project. I did a project in D.C. that had a see-through two story bookshelf. The glass window made it so you can see through the shelves into a two story living room space. I was so excited that the client was open to such a crazy concept.”
LIZ: “The wall of the client’s bedroom was bordering the second story space to a living room, there were two story windows and they wanted to capture that natural light in their bedroom. We were trying to find a solution to keep the light and privacy from the public space. We ended up doing a full wall of glass on the bedroom side and the other side was the bookshelf. Mind you this was 25 feet! We had to rent scaffolding and it took two to three days to fill the shelves.”
Architect: Michael Rust Architect, Photographer: Kevin Brost
Architect: Michael Rust Architect, Photographer: Kevin Brost