Judy has always had a love for design and, after finishing her degree in English Literature at the University of Western Ontario, decided to see if her passion could become her career. The answer, after just her first semester at the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Toronto, was a resounding “Yes”!

Graduating in the middle of the recession of the early 1990s meant Judy had to employ some inventive thinking to get her career off the ground. She and her partner Scott Steele (now her husband), began honing their skills any way possible. They hand painted floor cloths, faux finished walls, and did every small design job that came their way. Gradually they found their way to larger and more involved jobs, and Scott’s career as a fine artist became a full time job. Judy took over the design part of the business.

Over the past 18 years, Judy has done a wide range of design jobs, from helping choose paint colours, to designing and decorating full additions and renovations, to designing newly built houses — and every aspect of design and project management in between.

“Design is 5% of the job,” says Judy, “Schlepping is the other 95%!” But the thrill of designing a space has never diminished for Judy, nor have the experience and opportunity to meet many wonderful clients and collaborators who often become cherished friends.

“I have a straightforward and practical approach to design. You need to be able to live in a space, love it, and be able to use it. You should never be worried that you can’t touch it — or that it has broken your budget. A designer can see your space in a fresh way that you may never have considered. A designer can also help you make a plan for the future, suggest areas where money is worth spending, and identify what will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

Design does not happen overnight; you need excellent planning, good resources, PATIENCE, and a good sense of humour! But in the end, any decorating or renovating project should be a very rewarding experience.”