Designer Spotlight: Shophouse Design

Continuing our series in which we spotlight some of our favorite interior designers, today we are featuring Betsy Helm and Kiley Baun. The talented ladies, with backgrounds in interior architecture and fashion, run the Philadelphia based boutique interior design firm Shophouse Design. Read on for a Q&A with them and inspiring photos of their work.

Q: How would you describe your design sense/style/aesthetic?

A: Classic Modern is a term we frequently use to describe our aesthetic. We loosely define that as traditional with modern elements and a little quirk thrown in for good measure.

Q: How did you get into design?

A: We went to high school together...and then design school together - it was always the plan to start this business, we just needed to make it happen.

Q: What’s your design philosophy?

A: We strive to respect the architecture of the spaces we are designing. Most times we are working with very classic old Philadelphia homes, so we love creating the juxtaposition of the formality and grandeur of the spaces, with the way modern way families actually live today. It creates a beautiful balance.

Q: What’s a typical day like for you?

A: We wear a lot of hats.... no day is the same. Some days we are in the office on the floor surrounded with fabrics and carpets, some spent with headphones and Autocad, drawing for projects. Others we are doing site visits, client meetings and climbing around construction sites.

Q: What’s your favorite part about being a designer?

A: Coming up with the perfect design schematic. When it comes together, and 'clicks' it is such a rewarding feeling. That and final install, of course.

Q: What do you do when you have a creative block?

A: Move on, there is always another task that may not require as much brain power

Q: What keeps you sane?

A: Each other. The beauty of this partnership is that one of us brings a different mindset towards projects, and running the business in general. It's a wonderful balance and keeps us relatively sane.

Q: What helps you stay organized?

A: We use spreadsheets and Ivy, but nothing beats our paper list of our clients and our checklist. We keep it in front of us at all times, and reference it all day long to keep projects moving.

Q: No home is complete without...

A: A roll arm sofa

Q: What's a color you never tire of?

A: This may or may not be considered a color, but we always need a little black and white in our designs, it always seems to add that extra layer we are looking for.