Designer Spotlight: 6 Questions with Rachel Wood

SHARE

We spoke with Rachel Wood of Alexander Grace Interiors  on her love for Natural Stone and marble for countertops and vanities.

What sparked your interest in Interior Design?

This project is my personal home and is what sparked my interest in interior design.  While designing my home, I spent months and months searching for the perfect stones to include (I’m very particular when it comes to stone).

How would you describe your aesthetic?

I like to describe my design style as classically bold with a touch of whimsy.  I want my designs to invoke a feeling and for people to be able to look at them and feel like they are getting a peek inside the personality of the people living in the home.  To me, design should be a curated collection of things you love.

How do you help clients choose material?

When helping clients select material, I like to understand how the space will be used and what my clients priorities and preferences are.  I always gravitate towards using marble; however, I understand that it’s not the best fit for some people.

The way you use natural stone in this project is very creative and fresh, at what stage in the design process do you consider your natural stone selection?

I love to use a stone that has personality and makes a statement, so I try to have my clients look at stone options first and select other finishes around the stone. Stone is one of the first things I consider when selecting finishes for a project and I will not settle until I’ve found the perfect piece.  I have been known to source stone from various locations across the US and have it brought into AZ, if I can’t find what I’m looking for locally.  I also follow several quarries on Instagram so I will occasionally find a material that’s so inspiring I’ll create an entire palette and finish selections around it.

What is one of the biggest design risks you’ve taken? Would you do it again?

I would say the biggest design risks I’ve taken have been in my own home (although I try to push people to go bold and do something more unexpected).  I mixed two different, pretty bold stones in my kitchen (which lots of people discouraged me from doing) and I think it turned out fantastic.

Is there any Natural Stone from Architectural Surfaces you are dying to use?

I would love to do a really bold island using the Pandora Quartzite!