It’s always a treat when we get to introduce you to a new member of our team here at The Black Goose Design! Today, that’s someone is Karaden Lodder. She comes to us with years of experience, a passion for design, lots of tips for making your next design project a great one.
Get to Know Karaden Q&A
Q. Tell us a bit about your design background.
A. I’ve been doing design work for more than a decade now, with much of my background in new home construction. I also attended interior design school in Scottsdale, AZ, and managed a well-known home décor store.
Q. What is it about this kind of work that appeals to you?
A. Above all else, I love that being a designer allows me to work with people. I like getting to know my clients and discovering what it is that’s most important to them. Connecting in this way is key to a successful design experience, but it also makes everything I do feel that much more meaningful.
Q: What can a client expect when they start working with you?
A. Besides a personal connection, we’ll spend time up front identifying your style. You might not even know what your style is, and that’s okay. We can discover this together. This could be from looking at your photos or a favorite décor piece, or it could be through exploring an inspiration/Pinterest board together. We’ll have fun capturing your style and taking it to the next level … putting our own unique and custom spin on an idea.
Q. How do you put a custom spin on a design project?
A. For me, it’s all about creating little moments in a home. A beautiful way to approach this is with a sentimental item or family heirloom. For example, how can we take Grandma’s old table and weave it into a modern project in a way that feels natural and thoughtful? It’s fun to achieve this goal and watch as old pieces are given new life! Every home has a story to tell. The story of those who live there. Every home should feel like a sanctuary. These are what we focus on when bringing a concept to fruition.
Q. What is your favorite space in a home to design?
A. The main living spaces, because they revolve around family and entertaining and making memories. Homes are a wonderful way to tell your story and much of that story happens in the main living areas where people gather.
Q. How would you define your personal design style?
A. I’m very eclectic! I love how timeless transitional is, but I’m also drawn to French and coastal and whimsical. With French, it’s classy and timeless. Plus, I just adore florals, which are a significant aspect of French design.
A. (continued) What draws me to coastal is the calm it creates. People often think coastal means blue and white and shells and palms, but it can be so much more than this. In fact, I just sold this chair to a client and love how, when paired with this rug, it immediately pulls coastal and creates a relaxing mood. It’s also a common misconception that coastal = vacation home. This isn’t true. At least not entirely. You can create a coastal getaway right here in landlocked Utah. Why not bring that beachy vibe home and enjoy its soothing impact? You don’t have to be overtly “beach” to take advantage of the soothing effects.
A. (continued) I also have a blast decorating children’s rooms because they are a great space to play with whimsical. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and prints and vibrant colors.
Q. You mentioned flowers. What are some of your other go-to design favs?
A. Texture is another must when working on a space. Incorporate different finishes to add interest and personality to a space.
A. (continued) Did I happen to mention we just got these AMAZING artificial peonies in? Flowers are a beautiful way to add texture, and artificial flowers are extra nice as we’re heading into the winter months.
Q. What is your favorite color scheme?
A. I’ve always been drawn to blues and pairing various blue shades. There’s just something special about the way blues can cast an immediate calm over a space. Whether it’s gray blues or warm tones, the colors are timeless and never go out of style.
Q. You used to work with new home builds, helping clients select their home fixtures. That can be an overwhelming process. Do you have any advice for someone embarking on a build?
A. Don’t rush to get it all selected. This seems counterintuitive, but it actually helps to finish up some of your selections after the home is done. Live in the space a while. See how you really use it. Let it marinate. You might even want to design one room at a time. Put simply, avoid rash decisions and ditch the idea that it has to all be “done” on move-in day. It’s okay to go slow and build that relationship and understanding first. If that isn’t an option (or even if it is), it’s also always helpful to seek design help from an expert.
Q. Do you have any design takeaways to leave us with today?
A. Less is often more! With that, it can sometimes help to start fresh. If you’re ready for a new look, try taking everything out of a room and slowly adding it back. While you’re at it, don’t be afraid to move stuff around from time to time. See what different placement does. I move stuff around in my home all the time. I love how it gives the area a whole new look. You don’t necessarily need new pieces to create a new feel. Of course, weaving in a few new items from time to time is always fun!
Thank you for the great suggestions, Karaden! It’s clear you know what it’s like to work on new construction as well as updates to an existing space. We love your people/story-first approach and how much heart you put into everything you work on.
Stop by The Black Goose Design and get to know Karaden even more. You’re sure to gain additional valuable insights and have fun exploring your many creative options.
Wednesday Oct 18 2023 by Stacey Beyer
It’s always a treat when we get to introduce you to a new member of our team here at The Black Goose Design! Today, that’s someone is Karaden Lodder. She comes to us with years of experience, a passion for design, lots of tips for making your next design project a great one.
Get to Know Karaden Q&A
Q. Tell us a bit about your design background.
A. I’ve been doing design work for more than a decade now, with much of my background in new home construction. I also attended interior design school in Scottsdale, AZ, and managed a well-known home décor store.
Q. What is it about this kind of work that appeals to you?
A. Above all else, I love that being a designer allows me to work with people. I like getting to know my clients and discovering what it is that’s most important to them. Connecting in this way is key to a successful design experience, but it also makes everything I do feel that much more meaningful.
Q: What can a client expect when they start working with you?
A. Besides a personal connection, we’ll spend time up front identifying your style. You might not even know what your style is, and that’s okay. We can discover this together. This could be from looking at your photos or a favorite décor piece, or it could be through exploring an inspiration/Pinterest board together. We’ll have fun capturing your style and taking it to the next level … putting our own unique and custom spin on an idea.
Q. How do you put a custom spin on a design project?
A. For me, it’s all about creating little moments in a home. A beautiful way to approach this is with a sentimental item or family heirloom. For example, how can we take Grandma’s old table and weave it into a modern project in a way that feels natural and thoughtful? It’s fun to achieve this goal and watch as old pieces are given new life! Every home has a story to tell. The story of those who live there. Every home should feel like a sanctuary. These are what we focus on when bringing a concept to fruition.
Q. What is your favorite space in a home to design?
A. The main living spaces, because they revolve around family and entertaining and making memories. Homes are a wonderful way to tell your story and much of that story happens in the main living areas where people gather.
Q. How would you define your personal design style?
A. I’m very eclectic! I love how timeless transitional is, but I’m also drawn to French and coastal and whimsical. With French, it’s classy and timeless. Plus, I just adore florals, which are a significant aspect of French design.
A. (continued) What draws me to coastal is the calm it creates. People often think coastal means blue and white and shells and palms, but it can be so much more than this. In fact, I just sold this chair to a client and love how, when paired with this rug, it immediately pulls coastal and creates a relaxing mood. It’s also a common misconception that coastal = vacation home. This isn’t true. At least not entirely. You can create a coastal getaway right here in landlocked Utah. Why not bring that beachy vibe home and enjoy its soothing impact? You don’t have to be overtly “beach” to take advantage of the soothing effects.
A. (continued) I also have a blast decorating children’s rooms because they are a great space to play with whimsical. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and prints and vibrant colors.
Q. You mentioned flowers. What are some of your other go-to design favs?
A. Texture is another must when working on a space. Incorporate different finishes to add interest and personality to a space.
A. (continued) Did I happen to mention we just got these AMAZING artificial peonies in? Flowers are a beautiful way to add texture, and artificial flowers are extra nice as we’re heading into the winter months.
Q. What is your favorite color scheme?
A. I’ve always been drawn to blues and pairing various blue shades. There’s just something special about the way blues can cast an immediate calm over a space. Whether it’s gray blues or warm tones, the colors are timeless and never go out of style.
Q. You used to work with new home builds, helping clients select their home fixtures. That can be an overwhelming process. Do you have any advice for someone embarking on a build?
A. Don’t rush to get it all selected. This seems counterintuitive, but it actually helps to finish up some of your selections after the home is done. Live in the space a while. See how you really use it. Let it marinate. You might even want to design one room at a time. Put simply, avoid rash decisions and ditch the idea that it has to all be “done” on move-in day. It’s okay to go slow and build that relationship and understanding first. If that isn’t an option (or even if it is), it’s also always helpful to seek design help from an expert.
Q. Do you have any design takeaways to leave us with today?
A. Less is often more! With that, it can sometimes help to start fresh. If you’re ready for a new look, try taking everything out of a room and slowly adding it back. While you’re at it, don’t be afraid to move stuff around from time to time. See what different placement does. I move stuff around in my home all the time. I love how it gives the area a whole new look. You don’t necessarily need new pieces to create a new feel. Of course, weaving in a few new items from time to time is always fun!
Thank you for the great suggestions, Karaden! It’s clear you know what it’s like to work on new construction as well as updates to an existing space. We love your people/story-first approach and how much heart you put into everything you work on.
Stop by The Black Goose Design and get to know Karaden even more. You’re sure to gain additional valuable insights and have fun exploring your many creative options.