December 2017 - Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc.

Kelly and I are proud to have been chosen by Modenus to attend KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) in Orlando with BlogTour KBIS 2018.

We are amongst a group of 24 influencers who will be exposed to all the latest and greatest in Kitchen and Bath Design.

BlogTour was started by CEO Veronika Miller in 2011. It is one of the most prestigious sponsored tours in the world and reaches millions. As influencers we explore trade shows and design events, connect with our peers and sponsoring brands and provide coverage through our social media channels and blog.

Meet the team:

Claire Jefford began her Interior Decorating business, Creating Contrast Designs in 2011. This year Creating Contrast Designs was named one of the Top 30 Interior Design firms in Ontario by Point 2 Point Homes and Claire is especially proud to be the highest reviewed design professional in the GTA on the Houzz website, with over 75 reviews.Not one to shy away from Social Media, Claire began her own Youtube channel in January 2016 & has also been featured twice in videos created by local Toronto media company, Buzz Buzz Home. Claire recently created a free Facebook group, Interior Design Business Strategies, a community focusing on the business of design. Her no-nonsense approach sees her sharing marketing ideas, processes for running a successful business and social media strategies to help others in the field to build confidence in how they work. Follow Claire on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest and stay tuned for all of Claire’s Facebook Live and YouTube posts as she is attending as BlogTour’s exclusive videographer.

Nyla Free is the Principal Designer and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of Nyla Free Designs Inc., a company proudly built on relationships with both clients and suppliers, cultivated over the last 25 years. A graduate of the Mount Royal College Interior Design program, Nyla brings extensive knowledge, experience and integrity to each project. Her design approach is always one with a high level of respect for clients needs and budget. With travel an immense source of inspiration and education, Nyla’s bags are always packed and ready for any adventure. Follow Nyla on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Christine Kohut was dubbed the Design Ninja a few years ago by a client and the nickname stuck. She uses her ninja skills to create stylishly comfortable spaces for her clients, believing that there is an art to making a house your home. She is known for her humor as much as her decorating sense, which is showcased in her social media. She loves things that are beautiful yet practical, luxurious yet realistic, tasteful but not too serious. An avid learner of the latest technology and trends in design, she enjoys being able to share her finds as a Modenus Design Hound. Find her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Carla Aston is a Texas based interior designer with a boutique design firm in The Woodlands, a northern suburb of Houston, focusing primarily on remodel design. A BFA in Interior Design and 9 years working in architectural design firms provide her with a strong, practical background. Carla’s design blog, Designed w/Carla Aston, is where she shares her passion for interior design with tips, project reveals, and all kinds of design goodness with her readers. She also writes ebook guides for sale on her website consisting of some of the most common design dilemmas she has encountered through the years. Carla is on social media with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

A design and color expert, Kristie Barnett (aka The Decorologist) has written 1,100+ articles and a top-selling book on home staging. She has been a featured writer for Houzz.com, Everyday Home magazine, and The Tennessean newspaper. Having trained over 150 home stagers, Kristie serves as Regional VP of the Real Estate Staging Association®. She was voted 2017 Redesigner of the Year and 2016 Innovative Product of the Year. Kristie developed exterior color palettes and color education for LPSmartSide®, and her design work has appeared in Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, This Old House, Romantic Homes, Washington Post, etc. Follow Kristie on Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

Erica Islas is the founder and principal designer at EMI Interior Design, Inc., a full service interior design firm in Los Angeles since 2000. A modernist at heart, Erica’s interiors are timeless and fun. “Form follows function” is Erica’s guiding philosophy. She approaches every project from an architectural perspective, never sacrificing usability and comfort. Her interiors are innovative, inviting and ultimately functional. Known for her incredible Kitchens and Bathroom renovations, challenges such as small spaces and children’s rooms are welcome and embraced by Erica and her staff, as they creatively transform some of the smallest most unusable spaces to multi-functional rooms. Erica’s design work has been featured in Dwell Magazine , Real Kitchens, Real Simple Magazine, HGTV magazine and Smalls Rooms Magazine . Erica has also appeared on HGTV design shows and her pro-bono work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times. Find Erica on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

LeAnne Bunnell Interiors is a full-service boutique interior design studio working in Calgary and around western Canada since 2003. LeAnne and her crack team pride themselves on strong relationships and creating spaces that clearly resonate with the clients they work with.

‘We believe you should love where you live everyday. We believe you shape your home and, in turn, your home shapes you. We believe in luxury and indulgence and that means different things to different people. We believe that it’s never wrong if you love it. We believe in candlelight, fresh flowers and pillows.’ Follow Leanne on social – Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

Sharon McCormick, principal of Sharon McCormick Design, LLC, is known nationally as “The Senior Executive’s Designer”. Her work is classic, colorful, and curated.

Sharon’s background as a CFO and CPA has uniquely qualified her to understand the time demands placed on senior executives. Her clients trust her team to execute their luxury interior design projects from beginning to end, while staying on budget, and with minimum disruption to their schedules.

Sharon McCormick Design has won two Greater Washington, D.C. Great American Living Awards, and the firm’s projects have been published in national and international magazines, as well as several books. Find Sharon on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Whether in the process of building a new home, tackling a renovation or transforming a living space, Jennifer Stoner provides high-level services to manage project details and effectively execute a plan of action. She takes a team approach to these “Conception to Completion” projects, by being involved from the blue-print stage through installing the final piece of artwork. Jennifer believes that the collaborative efforts of the architect, builder and interior designer will ultimately lead to the best finished product. She achieved immediate success when she began working in the design industry over 18 years ago, by working on a vast array of projects, with varying degrees of scale and style. Her projects have been featured on HGTV and TLC, as well as been published in several shelf magazines including Traditional Home Magazine, Home & Design Magazine, and Richmond Magazine, among others. Follow her on Social Media on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn.

Educated in Paris and New York in architectural design and interior design, Mary Douglas Drysdale is one of America’s most published designers as well as, being a frequent NKBA award winner. Her work has graced the covers of Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, K+BB, Kitchen Trends, Veranda, Southern Home and many other magazines. She was voted this year by her mid-Atlantic group to the Interior Design Hall of Fame, won regional NKBA first place for large bath, was a top ten finisher in the Modenus Top Design Influencer competition, and has been selected by High Point Market as a Style Spotter for 2018. In 2016 Drysdale was given the first ever ELEVATE award for the nation’s top designer working in the realm of traditional design. She is known for her strong ability with architectural detail and an original and memorable use of color. Her client base is from Boston to Miami and she works as a cross over designer, designing the total renovation of a house with a specialty in both kitchen and bath, as well as, the decorative elements required to furnish and decorate the entire house. Drysdale is a firm that is well recognized for its work, over a period of over 25 years. Mary Douglas Drysdale is a hands on designer maintaining the direction of design and details for every project she takes on. Mary is on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Passionately living at the intersection of beautiful design and innovative technologies, Carmen Maria Natschke melds her love of art, architecture, interiors and travel with digital publishing platforms – her own at The Decorating Diva, and for premium design and lifestyle brands and media.

As an award-winning retail visual merchandiser with a whirlwind stint as a software engineer on NASA’s Space Shuttle program, Carmen delights in bringing a fresh perspective on design and lifestyle topics to her international audience as well as to her diverse business clients that rely on Carmen’s style aesthetic, and editorial artistry combined with her savvy analytical abilities and social and digital media expertise. Join Carmen online at: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest or her website.

Sheri Bruneau is an Interior Design Professional from Calgary, Alberta. Sheri’s company, Get It Together, offers full service renovations for her clients. Whether it is a bathroom, kitchen, basement or full-home renovation, there is no space too small or too large for Sheri.

You can often hear Sheri talk about how function is number one on her priority list and once that functional design has been finalized, then Sheri takes that function and makes it pretty. Utilizing technology, Sheri creates 3D design renderings that allow her clients to virtually see their space prior to any hammer being swung. Sheri prides herself on her processes that allow clients to fully be involved throughout the process. Through the budgeting stage right through to the construction calendar, Sheri’s clients are always informed with the renovation progress. Follow updates from Sheri on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Elizabeth Scruggs (Superior Construction and Design) is a general contractor, interior decorator, and real estate stager. Focusing on kitchens and baths, she has been recognized as Wilson County’s Best Decorator four consecutive years, and finalist for Best Building Contractor those same years. In 2017, she released her first book which she co-authored with other industry experts. Elizabeth is on the Board of Directors of the Nashville Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction, Tennessee State President of the Real Estate Staging Association, and a member of NKBA and IDS. Elizabeth resides in Tennessee with her husband of 26 years, twin girls and young son. Catch Elizabeth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Voted one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Residential Interior Designers by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Kandrac & Kole has been featured on HGTV as well as in The New York Times, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Southern Lady Magazine, Atlanta Home Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Home Magazine. Kandrac & Kole has established a reputation well known for their approachable, dynamic personalities, their signature use of color, and their one of a kind, custom designs.

Popular bloggers, Joann Kandrac & Kelly Kole have been sharing upbeat and entertaining narratives regarding their design projects, travels and personal stories since 2009. Joann and Kelly’s love and commitment to the power of interior design also extends towards their charity work throughout the U.S. and Guatemala. Follow Kandrac & Kole on social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

As the principal of Lisa Mende Design in for over two decades, Lisa is known for her bold, modern interiors rooted in tradition. Her portfolio includes a vast range of projects that include everything from historic preservation to new construction. A member of Thermador and DXV by American Standards Design Councils, Lisa is an Allied Member of ASID, WithIt, and NKBA. She has been published in local, regional and national magazines such as Traditional Home, Atlanta Home and Lifestyles, and Southern Cottages. In 2009 Lisa founded her blog which is read by peer designers and consumer home enthusiasts throughout the US in major design cities like Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and countries around the world. As a tastemaker, readers look to Lisa’s blog for the latest in trends, and market finds. She has been privileged to serve on Modenus Blogtour London, Frankfurt, and Los Vegas KBIS. Follow her Designhound adventures on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

Luxury grounded in tradition and punctuated by on-trend style is interior designer Liza Jones’ hallmark. Since 2000, her Northern Virginia-based firm, Liza Jane Interiors, has transformed how her clients experience living in their homes, bringing them joy by creating environments that offer beauty, functionality, and comfort.

Working both in new construction, as well as homes that have stood for generations, Liza yields truly timeless designs, blurring the lines of past and present with thoughtful mixes of antiques and current styles. Her editorial-worthy spaces feel intrinsically home-y to her clients as she expertly brings together the universal principles of good design and deeply personal items, such as original artwork that moves their very souls.

Liza’s blog, Inspired Living, is in itself a study in luxury as she unpacks the worlds of design, art, travel, and fine living for her readers around the globe.

Because we believe the design process is as important as the results, we are a reliable, service-driven company with the highest standards of quality, integrity, and honesty. Our clients’ satisfaction is our first priority. Learn more about Liza on her website, Facebook or Instagram.

Phoebe Oldrey; is an interior designer, blogger and the founder of Smartstyle Interiors . She is on a serious mission to create spaces that look great, function beautifully, and feel fantastic for the people who live and work in them. We call this holistic interior design and it means that all the different parts of a client’s interiors and lifestyle are connected to create stunning thoughtful places just right for them. This ethos is at the core of everything Phoebe and Smartstyle Interiors stands for. Last summer Phoebe share her passion in her TED X talk “It’s not about the beanbag – The hidden power of Interior Design!” Check out Phoebe’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more.

Jana Donohoe has been practicing interior design for over 13 years in North Carolina, the last 4 of which have been at the helm of Jana Donohoe Designs. Known for her signature design aesthetic of “casually tailored living”, Jana specializes in blending luxury and practicality to deliver sophisticated residential living that stands up to the rigors of everyday life. She has been featured in numerous publications both locally and nationally, and has left an imprint on her community while heading the design team of a non-profit foundation comprised of internationally recognized personalities and Fortune 500 companies committed to creating a therapeutic retreat for military families. A consummate design professional, Jana is a member of ASID. When Jana is not designing interiors she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, baking and trying all things chocolate and coffee. Follow Jana on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Laurel Bern is an award-winning New York Interior Designer, blogger, brand ambassador and keynote speaker. Laurel’s design work has been featured in national as well as Westchester County shelter magazines. She is known for a having a young-traditional aesthetic and is one to buck many of the current trends unless, they happen to be classic favorites.

However, after 21 years as the principal designer in her firm Laurel Bern Interiors, she has turned her focus to blogging as a full-time occupation. Her award-winning blog, Laurel Home has drawn a large following due to her candid style of writing, useful information and warm community of readers.

In addition to designing and blogging, Laurel has authored three helpful online interior design guides, for professionals and design enthusiasts alike. Keep up with the latest on Laurel’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

As a freelance interiors trade show reporter, you’ll find Mary Middleton at some of the biggest European interiors trade shows such as Maison & Objet, London Design Festival and Milan Design Week – you might even have seen her contributions in Interior Design Magazine (Sandow publishing), The Milan Report and Metro. Mary writes weekly on her blog hellopeagreen.com where she uses her background as a trained interior designer to shed some light on trends in décor, new to market products and promote the use of colour in our homes. She’s an avid world traveller, a Pinterest addict and a lover of form, function and colour. Follow Mary for more on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Maria Killam is an internationally sought-after colour expert as well as the CEO and founder of Understanding Undertones.

Her experience as a design blogger (Colour Me Happy Blog), author, trainer and decorator has shown her arguably to be the most influential colour specialist of her day.

Her groundbreaking and innovative colour classifications transform how design enthusiasts and professionals alike learn how to accurately diagnose and describe colour and then how to apply colour successfully in all aspects of interior design and decoration.

Her proprietary system of Understanding Undertones is the cornerstone of her work in the world of colour, unlocking the secret of managing often-mysterious neutrals and their undertones.

Maria has been published in Style at Home, Canadian Living, Better Homes and Gardens and Dabble, her work has also been featured in Apartment Therapy, HGTV and House Beautiful, among other publications.

She has also been nominated for the 2015 WithIt Education Award and her blog has been featured, five times, in The Washington Post. Maria’s work has won the Best of Houzz awards for design and service in 2014 – 2017

Follow Maria for more inspiration on her Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Heather Jenkinson is an Interior Designer, working on high end residential and commercial projects, in London. Following her training, at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, she set up her own design practice in 2006. Her favourite aspect of the design process, is working closely with her clients, creating stylish homes that reflect the people they are, and with an enhanced and organised approach of living. Being a modernist, at heart, Heather’s design style is recognised for it’s carefully considered proportions, and quiet, understated interiors. Aside from running a busy practice, she travels widely, on a neverending search for inspired colour work and beautiful lighting. Heather is active on social media, you can follow along with her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

Sarah Wilson has had a love of interior design for as long as she can remember. After a 10-year career in IT, she returned to school in 2013. She attended Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in LA and received an AA, Interior Design, Professional Designation.

Sarah opened her business, Chansaerae Designs, shortly after graduation, March 2015. Her first client was in June of 2105 with a kitchen remodel and she’s been working on spaces for clients ever since then.

She has worked really hard on her visibility and also getting referral from old clients. She loves what she does and she loves working with people to transform their houses into homes. Check out more on Sarah’s Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

We are looking forward to seeing the best products the kitchen and bath industry has to show and thank our sponsors for the opportunity: