THE TRADE EXCLUSIVE
Kathy Kuo Home Trade Member Spotlight: Leslie Tunney Interiors
Hi cuties! I am so excited to kick off our first Kathy Kuo Home Trade Spotlight of 2024 with Leslie Tunney of Leslie Tunney Interiors. As you may know, this content series is one of my very favorites because it shines a light on such a thriving branch of the KKH ecosystem but it also lets me introduce my Kuotes community to new friends in the design world.
I can’t wait for you all to learn more about the lovely Leslie Tunney! The Baltimore-based Leslie been in business for over 30 years, and has been with the KKH Trade Program for about 5 years. She specializes in both commercial and residential design and architecture, and though she primarily works in the Baltimore and Washington, DC ares, she takes on projects further afield from time to time as well.
“What I enjoy about working with Kathy Kuo Home is their vast array of upscale and hard to find objects and furniture as well as their helpful trade specialists.” -Leslie Tunney
When Leslie’s not hard at work on her latest interior design project, you can find her spending quality time with her three grown children (and their kids and pets) and playing tennis and pickleball. Read on to learn more about her business and how she helps her clients “realize the possibilities within their homes that they had never seen possible!”
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Do you have a favorite interior design style to work with on projects?
I love architecture! My favorite design style is when I can open up spaces and sight lines to bring the outdoors in. This helps to bring the proper light and energy into a space. After that, I love the use of art, carefully placed throughout the home and paired with comfortable inviting furnishings, to help create the feeling of serenity and peace each time the owner walks in the door.
How would you describe the style of your own home? What’s your favorite piece of furniture or decor that you own?
My current home is a very old Williamsburg whitewashed brick Cape that I fully renovated. It has 8-ft doors and windows on the entire first floor where there seems to be no barrier between the inside and out. The floors in my house set the tone for everything.
I have black slate in the mudroom, kitchen dinning area as well as dark ebony stained wood-floors everywhere else. Most of my rooms are painted glossy white. The interiors consist of deep comfortable seating, great art and some very special pieces given to me by my late grandfather Hans Petersen from Denmark.
“I would say my favorite piece of furniture is an iconic danish Hans Wegner chair given to me by my grandfather. This chair stands out and works in any design setting imaginable”
Tell us about a notable project from the past few years.
A very notable and super fun and rewarding project from the past few years would be a very old home full renovation that I recently completed. My clients had been busy working and raising their two daughters and literally had no time to do anything during this time. They had initially called me to renovate their bathroom.
After meeting with them, the first thing I noticed was the abundance of stuff that they had accumulated throughout the years. I suggested that they might want to consider getting rid of a lot of things before putting any money into their home. I honestly thought redoing a bathroom would be a waste of their money if they did not consider the overall feel of the house first.
The next day they were sending me pictures of all of the items they had donated and were selling! I have never in my 30 years career seen anyone work so quickly. After that, we commenced on re-working, re-thinking and re-doing every room in the house.
“I feel like not only was I able to help them feel a wonderful sense of peace and harmony in their home but have forged such a special friendship with them as well.”
What have been some of the biggest joys and challenges you’ve faced in your career in the design industry?
I would say hands down the friendships and bonds I have formed with my clients along the way! Letting people into your home and lives is a very intimate, private and personal thing of which I do not take for granted!
The challenges that I see in today’s design industry would be what I have always seen—getting your client to see and understand a creative, outside the box solution-driven design and help them to realize that we do not need to follow a trend to make their home a truly unique, inviting and special place to live in.
Are there any design trends you see on the horizon for the season to come? Any trends on their way out?
Again I really do not believe in trends. I believe all design should be functional, comfortable with the integrity to last the test of time. Editing in a world that has limitless choices can be a daunting task for anyone and my job is to help formulate what belongs in a space and what does not.
What advice would you give someone who wants to work with an interior designer on their home, but they feel intimidated or hesitant? For someone who’s never worked with a designer, what’s the major upside?
Choosing a designer is like dating. It needs to feel easy and organic. Communication is key! I feel that finding a designer who has a great understanding of architecture and how to compose every room so that they relate and communicate to one another is something hard to understand until you have been a part of it.
“Each project should generate its own light and energy and have its own identity.”
Speaking to fellow design pros: what advice do you have about working a challenging client or overcoming unforeseen obstacles on a design project?
My advice would be to initially listen very hard and ask a lot of questions to gain a full understanding of each client’s vision, thoughts and needs.If obstacles arise – be solutions driven and always over communicate to your client so that they feel complete trust that you are handling things in every way possible.
Where do you draw the most inspiration from as a designer?
I am continually reading and educating myself and my eye. Observing my surrounding world and the curiosity and desire I have for all things design never stops no matter where I go. I am obsessed with measuring size and scale of furniture, architecture, lighting you name it—especially when traveling abroad. It is so important to get out and see other styles and ways of living to keep the eye fresh.
The Kathy Kuo Home Trade Program
Feeling inspired by Maggie Griffin Design? If you’re an interior designer or architect you can apply to our Trade Program to enjoy a wide array of professional benefits, as well as access to a thriving community of interior design pros. You can learn all about it HERE, but in brief, KKH Trade members receive: Competitive Trade Pricing, Free Shipping, Low Storage Fees, Dedicated Trade Specialist to Coordinate Orders from Start to Finish.
