Angelica Henry
F
or those that don’t know me very well, my design career actually started on the commercial side after graduating from Arizona State University. I worked on restaurant, retail and tenant improvement projects and never imagined I would focus on residential design. Yet, almost twenty years later, here I am! I love working with residential clients. I love the relationships and friendships that develop and am blessed to be involved in a variety of projects that keep me excited about being a designer every day. Although I have not specifically sought out work outside of Arizona over the years, I have had the opportunity to work both out of the state and out of the country. The majority of this work has come from repeat clientele who want to bring us in on something new. Working with a client for a second time is really one of my favorite types of projects. I worked with them on a second home and now they’re ready to tackle their main residence or vice versa. Either way, it is fun to have a second opportunity.You already know each other and, as a designer, you are already familiar with their likes and dislikes, tendencies and what makes them tick.You can dive right into the heart of the design. This is also the easiest way to start working out of your region. So, if you aren’t sure where to get started, talk to your existing clients and see if there is something you might be able to help them with! We have also gotten some of our out-of-region work from social media. Be sure to let your clientele and followers know you are ready to hit the road for the right project. I have worked on spec homes in Hawaii, residences in North Carolina, Colorado, Michigan, Tennessee, a two-story closet in Texas, a yacht in Newport Beach and a residence clubhouse in Los Cabos San Lucas. As with any other project, they all come with new possibilities and new challenges. I think one key to a successful remote project is understanding the aesthetic and the culture in the area so the project can speak to it. For example, at our Memphis project, our clients were near Beale Street and the heart of the music scene, so in the foyer we created fun guitar artwork as a nod to the area. In our Los Cabos project, we really tried to capture the spirit of the culture and source local vendors and craftsman that would infuse authenticity into the aesthetic. One challenge when working out of your area is not having “go to” vendors to depend on. I have found amazing new sources as a result and have also had some challenging experiences. Where possible I have tried to get referrals from local designers who have worked in the area or contacted the local ASID chapter. Often times that has been a success. We also have had to familiarize ourselves with local codes. Sometimes, you are just on your own and have to do the best you can to be your client’s advocate despite any challenges you might face! Another issue is not always being able to visit the job site as often as you would like or even at all after the initial walk through and scope of work is set. It is critical to take an overabundance of photos, video and dimensions; anything you think you might need, and then some. Overall, I have really enjoyed and learned from each and every project outside of Arizona and look forward to whatever the next adventure might be!
Angelica Henry, ASID President Angelica Henry Design
22 D ES ERT D ES I G N S PRI NG/S UMMER 2020
