Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2025 - 36

HOT T OPIC
2024: A Year in Review
Industry
experts
reveal
lessons
learned,
innovative
solutions
and goals
moving
forward
Rima Nasser, Owner & Principal Designer
Tew Design Studio, Apex, N.C.
The pandemic forced us to rethink our approach when lead times
became unmanageable. Tapping into the potential of local craftsmanship,
we discovered that our artisans and manufacturers
could deliver exceptional quality, often rivaling major brands and
exceeding expectations with more complex builds. This realization
sparked the idea for an in-house furniture line, TEWlines. Furniture
making and design are part of my family's legacy; I'm thrilled to see
this vision take shape and can't wait to share it with the world in
early 2025. Photo credit: Allie Mullin Photography
Claire Jefford, Owner, Claire Jefford Inc., Ontario
This past year and as I approach the big 5-0, I'm reminded of the
importance of being intentional in everything we do. With so much
happening, all the noise around us and the feeling of being pulled
in so many directions all the time, my greatest lesson has been
about rediscovering and leaning into what I love most. What I feel
is most important right now is to continue making meaningful
connections and creating trusting relationships. Experiences and
human interaction are everything. Photo credit: Romy Riley Photography
Left to Right: Rima Nasser,
Claire Jefford, Brenda
Helms, Teresa Mack Novel
and Patrick Cunningham
Brenda Helms, Owner, Edmond
Kitchen Bath Home, Edmond, Okla.
We have been blessed with a backlog of business and a large
portfolio of projects with 22 years under our belt, but we have not
done a good job of keeping up with our showroom displays over
the past 15 years. Because of this and regardless of any concerns,
we are happily motivated to pull the trigger on two new displays
(and vendor partnerships, which are important too!) in the fi rst
quarter of 2025. Photo credit: David Cobb
Teresa Mack Noval, Principal Owner
A Design Company, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
In 2024, I learned the importance of introducing stronger design
elements into kitchens and bathrooms - spaces that traditionally
focus on functionality but are now evolving into areas for creative
expression. Thanks to advances in materials and cutting-edge
appliances, these rooms are more versatile, water resistant, organized
and durable than ever. My message to fellow designers:
Embrace these innovations and let design fl ourish! Don't shy away
from bold choices, such as wallcovering on the ceiling or using fl at
paint on the walls. Enjoy the idea of having a fi replace at the kitchen
island or in the bathroom by the tub. Photo credit: A Design Company
Patrick Cunningham, AIA, C&C Partners
Redondo Beach, Calif.
One of the most valuable lessons we continue to learn as a team
each year is the value of open dialogue with our clients. In the
design-build world, homeowners come to us with their aspirations
for their dream home, but translating that into reality - against the
constraints of budgets and timelines - requires a shared understanding.
There are a million-and-one decisions when it comes to
designing and building a custom home, and if we do not have clear
communication or are not transparent and honest, we cannot foster
trust and confi dence when discrepancies or hard decisions arise.
Photo credit: C&C Partners
Sheryl Steinberg, LEED GA, President
Sheryl Steinberg Interior Design, Bethesda, Md.
I was at a pivotal point in my interior architectural design business.
I wanted professional guidance, focused direction and clarity to
realign and redefi ne my design fi rm in an evolving industry. So, I
36 JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2025
Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2025
