Home Design Profiles

2021 PROFILES in HOME DESIGN

SPECIAL FEATURE

PRESENTED BY

WORDS Dwain Hebda and Catherine Frederick

some interviews have been edited for length and clarity

Do South® is proud to recognize the talents and contributions of select interior designers, decorators, architects, and home builders in our community. They are trendsetters, setting the bar for excellence and are committed to providing their clientele the very best. Join us as we salute the passion they share for their profession!

Katherine Spicer

KATHERINE SPICER Interior Design

Katherine Spicer’s designs offer a continental flair with a hometown touch. Born in Russia and relocating to the U.S. in 1998, she studied design at the renowned Sheffield School of Interior Design in New York, graduating in 2012. Since opening her own design firm in Fort Smith, she’s become a soughtafter designer for her expertise and client-first mentality.

“Every client is unique, and every home should reflect their owners' personality and their way of life,” she says. “My first priority is to create an environment that not only represents who my clients are and their way of life, but one that is comfortable as well as beautiful. To me, comfort and beauty are inseparable. My job brings me many a happy moment when I am able to create a room that my clients truly love and can enjoy for many years to come.”

Katherine’s clients, both residential and commercial, rave about her eye and attention to detail, be it a large project or small. “You do not have to commit to a project or spend a lot of money to get advice from an interior designer,” she says. “Sometimes all you need is a helping hand or an expert eye while working on a project."

"If you are not sure which accent chair to buy, where to place a new sofa or what to do with that empty wall, just ask! Usually, a one- to two-hour consultation is enough to get you going in the right direction.”

Chasen Garrett

Chasen Garrett Architects

Since 2007, the team at Chasen Garrett Architects has focused on providing their clients with outstanding architecture services. Now focused on the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas, over the last twelve years their projects have ranged from Chicago to Louisiana and from Washington D.C. to Oregon.

Chasen’s team serves a diverse range of discerning residential, commercial, multi-family, institutional and retail clients. “Clients today are seeking a tailored approach to architectural services,” he says. “Ultimately, we want our clients to have a positive design and construction experience. In order to achieve that, we must first understand their goals, then implement strategies to achieve them successfully.”

“As a consultant to our clients, we need to be there to give them the good news as well as the bad,” he continued. “Not everything goes as expected or planned in a construction project; in fact, dealing with the unexpected is something that’s exciting about this business. I enjoy working in a diverse panacea; our days are never mundane, and you get to work with some amazing people.”

“We have long focused on the quality of service to our clients,” he says. “Human relationships, accuracy of our drawings and communicating our designs through 3D visualizations all help our clients see value in our service.”

Chasen’s love of construction came at an early age, and his roots in design come from both sides of his family. “One of the things I really enjoyed growing up was visiting my grandfather’s construction sites,” he says. “I loved the smell of lumber, fresh dirt and new paint. My father was an engineer, and my mother was an interior designer, so being an architect falls somewhere in the middle. My father passed away when I was quite young, so although there was no overt influence, genetic disposition must have been at play.”

“Interestingly, my father’s firm provided engineering services for much of Fort Smith including the development of Ben Geren Park and the Massard area in the 1970’s. Further city development to the east was blocked by Fort Chaffee prior to reaching what is now Chaffee Crossing. We are blessed to be able to help carry city development into the former Fort Chaffee area through our involvement with Heritage, the Arkansas College of Health Education’s walkable community located on over 500 acres surrounding ACHE’s campus.”

terri glasco

T. Glasco designs

A design professional incorporates all concepts of interior design to create a space that is not only a reflection of the individual but also fits their lifestyle. That’s the philosophy of Terri Glasco, who for the past thirty-two years has created beautiful, functional spaces for clients in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida.

“Residential and commercial interior design trends continually evolve to keep up with personal taste, the economy, technology and environmental changes,” Terri says. “This is what I love about being an interior designer.” Founded in 1995 as Vintage Gallery & Interiors in the historic Belle Grove district in Fort Smith, Terri’s business has grown with her reputation. Today, she is a sought-after, award-winning designer whose work has been recognized in magazines and by the American Society of Interior Designers.

“I don't select the client; they select me,” she says. “Most times, new clients know someone I have worked with, and they have been referred to me.” Once connected, Terri spends time getting to know her clients, an essential step for creating the perfect interior design. “It is important that I understand how the clients use their surroundings, so I have a clear vision of what needs to get accomplished and how we can work together. I want each project to be a reflection of the client and not of myself,” she says. “I work very hard to keep each project classic, whether it is traditional or modern. Trends are great in fashion, but you don't change your environment around as often as you change your wardrobe. This is what keeps the job so interesting and makes each project different.”

TIM MAYS

Tim mays homebuilder

You can’t put a price on experience and longevity and that’s exactly what Tim Mays Homebuilder brings to every project. A third-generation local homebuilder, Tim took over the family firm started by his grandfather in 1958.

“The original Mays construction company was founded in 1958 by my grandfather J.L. Mays,” Tim says. “My dad joined him in 1960, and together they were J.L. Mays and Son Construction for twenty years. I joined the business in 1985, to team up with my dad as Larry Mays and Son Homebuilders.”

Times, tastes and technologies may have changed in that time, but the company’s commitment to quality workmanship and fair dealing have remained firmly in place. You don’t build the number of homes that Tim has over so many years without being known for doing the job right. “Working with my dad gave me twenty years of learning from the best,” Tim says. “We built well over four hundred homes in Crawford and Sebastian Counties in that time. After my father retired, I carried on that tradition of quality design, workmanship and customer service, building three hundred more homes, ranging from $130,000 to over $900,000.”

In addition to all those homes, Tim has also built a company culture that is second to none. And, with son Colten by his side, he’s excited that this family business will continue through a fourth generation. “Our family has been dedicated to building fine quality homes in the Fort Smith area for more than sixty years now,” he says. “The excellent reputation we have built over that time is proof that hard work and pride are presented in every project that we build. If you're looking for a fine quality house that you and your family can make into a home, we’re the one to call.”