Janis DiFiore

Mies van der Rohe once said “God is in the details.” Whether you agree with his modernist approach or not, his statement bears true. Details create the uniqueness in all things, whether in a human being, a golden retriever, or our humble abode. And it is this uniqueness, the infinite number of possibilities, that initially intrigued me and has continued to captivate me in the world of interior design.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1981. I began my career working for a commercial firm designing golf and country clubs. As commercial clients became residential clients, I started my own practice in 1986. For thirty years I have had the immeasurable pleasure of creating beauty where there was none, finding solutions despite the obstacles, and discovering the uniqueness inherent in each client.

I find our built and natural environments an endless source of inspiration and appreciation, a multi dimensional palette to choose from, whether I’m designing architectural elements or selecting color schemes. Traveling the world with my husband has enriched all of my senses – the thrill of riding a thoroughbred through the foothills of the Andes Mountains, experiencing the color of the floating markets in Thailand, viewing the dry, arid beauty of Morocco from a camel’s back, or simply standing in utter awe at the mosaic ceiling of the Duomo in Florence. All of these memories impart a humble awareness of the power of beauty and its ability to transform who we are.

For me, one of life’s simple but great pleasures is encountering unexpected beauty in the mundane or commonplace thing – the soft rainbow of colors in ancient roof tiles, or the stainless and glass piece of art that is the butter dish designed for MOMA, or the juxtaposition of a Dale Chihuly sculpture hanging in the midst of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Life is enriched and transformed through the enjoyment of beauty. And I am passionate about being a part of that transformation for our clients.