Where do you find design inspiration?
My environment and anything in it that I find inspiring! I draw from nature, art, fashion, other designers and even the newest form of automobiles. Shapes and aesthetics are constantly evolving, giving me a constant stream of ideas.

How do you approach the design process?
By listening closely to my clients. The foundation of my design work is based on their story - how their particular household functions and lives and moves throughout their day. My measure of success is creating the perfect functional space for my clients to enhance their lives through their homes.

What is the great value you provide your client?
I curate: my job is to reduce their selections to only the options that will work for them functionally, aesthetically, and within their budget, achieving an ultimate finished space that they are proud to call home.

What is your biggest challenge as a designer/architect?
Being a pragmatist. I never want to be the bearer of bad news when a client's dreams don't correspond with the reality of the space we are working with. Fortunately, my biggest challenge is also my biggest opportunity because it gives me a chance to open up the world of what is possible and show them the many wonderful alternatives that I can come up with.

What does the Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest mean to you?
It is a tremendous honor to be recognized along with other designers whom I have respected and followed throughout my career. Winning this award is humbling and rejuvenating. My clients' praise is reward enough for the work I do, but this level of recognition reminds me of how inspirational this work can really be. Sub Zero and Wolf products set the bar for luxury appliances, and it's always a pleasure to design a kitchen around them.

What are some of the current design trends?
I think the most important trend is one that reflects our modern lifestyle: the open (what I like to call "living") kitchen - a centralized location that flows with the aesthetic of the home and relates to the home architecturally, where friends and family are comfortable and near the chef, but not in the way.