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How Curated Nest Interiors Designs With Families in Mind
The New York designers talk about educating their clients and creating living rooms that families can actually live in
Gwendolyn Purdom
January 30, 2020
Lover of architecture, history, dogs, the Chicago Cubs, crowded bookshelves, and homes with a story. Former editor at Preservation mag and Culturess.com.
Lover of architecture, history, dogs, the Chicago Cubs, crowded bookshelves, and... More
This article is part of an editorial series for pros that highlights home professionals in the Houzz community and their work. The photos show a selection of Curated Nest Interiors’ designs. Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Before Lina Galvão and Erin Coren bonded over their shared love of interior design, they bonded over becoming parents at the same time. The two interior designers met in a Brooklyn, New York, new-moms group in 2015 when their first children were only about six weeks old.
“Over nachos, we started talking about design. We became friends first and then decided to work together,” Galvão says.
Galvão and Coren established their firm, Curated Nest Interiors, which specializes in interior design for families with children, in 2016. When Coren moved from Brooklyn to Westchester, New York, the pair used the relocation as a chance to expand their clientele to include suburban families as well.
“We totally hit it off, and we were both in the same time frame as far as having these new little humans living with us and seeing how design changes. The function. The aesthetic. The use. The spit-up on everything. It just changed everything and how you look at it,” Coren says. “We would go to friends’ houses where the only rug they had was a foam play mat, and we’re like, There has to be something better than ‘Oh, one day I’ll invest in my house again.’”
Before Lina Galvão and Erin Coren bonded over their shared love of interior design, they bonded over becoming parents at the same time. The two interior designers met in a Brooklyn, New York, new-moms group in 2015 when their first children were only about six weeks old.
“Over nachos, we started talking about design. We became friends first and then decided to work together,” Galvão says.
Galvão and Coren established their firm, Curated Nest Interiors, which specializes in interior design for families with children, in 2016. When Coren moved from Brooklyn to Westchester, New York, the pair used the relocation as a chance to expand their clientele to include suburban families as well.
“We totally hit it off, and we were both in the same time frame as far as having these new little humans living with us and seeing how design changes. The function. The aesthetic. The use. The spit-up on everything. It just changed everything and how you look at it,” Coren says. “We would go to friends’ houses where the only rug they had was a foam play mat, and we’re like, There has to be something better than ‘Oh, one day I’ll invest in my house again.’”
Designers at a Glance
Who: Lina Galvão, left, and Erin Coren of Curated Nest Interiors
Location: New York City and Westchester, New York
Type of business: Interior design
Specialty: Family-oriented design
Years in business: Four
Number of projects per year: Six to eight
We recently spoke with Galvão and Coren about the unique challenges and rewards of designing for families with kids, the power of inspiration photos and why customer service is more important than ever.
Who: Lina Galvão, left, and Erin Coren of Curated Nest Interiors
Location: New York City and Westchester, New York
Type of business: Interior design
Specialty: Family-oriented design
Years in business: Four
Number of projects per year: Six to eight
We recently spoke with Galvão and Coren about the unique challenges and rewards of designing for families with kids, the power of inspiration photos and why customer service is more important than ever.
What was your path to interior design?
Galvão: Interior design is actually a second career for me. I went to school for biology and public health, and I was doing management consulting for hospitals. I became really interested in how hospital design impacts patient outcomes and wellness in general.
I realized that I actually liked the interior design side of things more than I liked the business side. I decided to go back to school, and studied interior design and started working on my own in New York City.
Coren: Even when I was 5 years old, my mom would hear me upstairs dragging furniture across the floor to the other side of the room, so I always knew this was a path I wanted to take.
I went to college for interior design. I interned at architecture and design firms and I moved [from Atlanta] to New York right before the recession in 2008. I took the leap to start my company and had my own design firm for 10 years before I met Lina.
Galvão: Interior design is actually a second career for me. I went to school for biology and public health, and I was doing management consulting for hospitals. I became really interested in how hospital design impacts patient outcomes and wellness in general.
I realized that I actually liked the interior design side of things more than I liked the business side. I decided to go back to school, and studied interior design and started working on my own in New York City.
Coren: Even when I was 5 years old, my mom would hear me upstairs dragging furniture across the floor to the other side of the room, so I always knew this was a path I wanted to take.
I went to college for interior design. I interned at architecture and design firms and I moved [from Atlanta] to New York right before the recession in 2008. I took the leap to start my company and had my own design firm for 10 years before I met Lina.
How do you approach your projects?
Galvão: We try to do more than one space, because it generally leads to better relationships with clients. When there are multiple spaces, we can look at a higher level of functionality.
When we walk through a client’s house with them, we’re always asking, “How do you use this space? What is your typical weekend? When you get home, where do you put your keys down?” It’s super detailed so we can really customize the design for that family and their needs.
Beyond our own personal experiences — and actually we both have two kids now, so that experience has doubled — we also talked to our friends. We’ve interviewed them and learned how they live with kids, what their pain points are, what are their issues in the city versus in the suburbs. We’ve made a big effort to inform ourselves about how people live today.
Galvão: We try to do more than one space, because it generally leads to better relationships with clients. When there are multiple spaces, we can look at a higher level of functionality.
When we walk through a client’s house with them, we’re always asking, “How do you use this space? What is your typical weekend? When you get home, where do you put your keys down?” It’s super detailed so we can really customize the design for that family and their needs.
Beyond our own personal experiences — and actually we both have two kids now, so that experience has doubled — we also talked to our friends. We’ve interviewed them and learned how they live with kids, what their pain points are, what are their issues in the city versus in the suburbs. We’ve made a big effort to inform ourselves about how people live today.
What are some of those differentiators that come up again and again with families?
Galvão: One huge thing, especially in the city, is dealing with smaller spaces. We’ve definitely had to do a lot of work around improving storage for kids of all ages, for families with all sorts of different needs.
Beyond storage, it’s also organization. Not just having a place to put things: It’s also putting them away in a manner that’s smart and accessible and actually integrates with day-to-day life.
Coren: And it’s a different ballgame in the suburbs, where you have a lot more options as far as space planning.
We want to make it a place that our clients are proud of, a place where they can have light colors and not be worried. It’s important that everything has a place to go, and it’ll grow with you as the family grows. As older millennials, our clients are OK with investing in their homes, but they want livable luxury.
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Galvão: One huge thing, especially in the city, is dealing with smaller spaces. We’ve definitely had to do a lot of work around improving storage for kids of all ages, for families with all sorts of different needs.
Beyond storage, it’s also organization. Not just having a place to put things: It’s also putting them away in a manner that’s smart and accessible and actually integrates with day-to-day life.
Coren: And it’s a different ballgame in the suburbs, where you have a lot more options as far as space planning.
We want to make it a place that our clients are proud of, a place where they can have light colors and not be worried. It’s important that everything has a place to go, and it’ll grow with you as the family grows. As older millennials, our clients are OK with investing in their homes, but they want livable luxury.
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When people say you can’t have nice things and have a space be kid-friendly, what’s your response?
Coren: You can when you design smart.
Galvão: I would also say in kid’s spaces, most parents want a more adult aesthetic, so they’re willing to invest a little more upfront to buy furniture or products that either grow with their child or match the aesthetic of the rest of their house.
People are a lot more design-conscious these days, and they tend not to buy nursery sets or kids’ bedroom sets. They want a more elevated look. That’s what we really specialize in.
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Coren: You can when you design smart.
Galvão: I would also say in kid’s spaces, most parents want a more adult aesthetic, so they’re willing to invest a little more upfront to buy furniture or products that either grow with their child or match the aesthetic of the rest of their house.
People are a lot more design-conscious these days, and they tend not to buy nursery sets or kids’ bedroom sets. They want a more elevated look. That’s what we really specialize in.
How to Expand or Switch Your Design Specialty
What are each of your favorite rooms in the house to work on?
Coren: I would say living room, because I like that it’s a space for the whole family. Everyone is so scared to actually design their living room, thinking that it’s going to look like their parents’ living room, which no one was allowed to go into.
I love educating clients and creating a space they never thought they’d be able to have. So many times we go into people’s houses and their living room is just empty for the down-the-road design, and we’re like, “Don’t feel that way — embrace it and make it work for you today!”
Galvão: Also, the cool thing about living rooms is, you can incorporate a little bit of everything from a design standpoint. There’s upholstery, there are case goods, there are rugs, there’s art — there’s a nice mix, and you can really get to know your client that way.
Coren: I would say living room, because I like that it’s a space for the whole family. Everyone is so scared to actually design their living room, thinking that it’s going to look like their parents’ living room, which no one was allowed to go into.
I love educating clients and creating a space they never thought they’d be able to have. So many times we go into people’s houses and their living room is just empty for the down-the-road design, and we’re like, “Don’t feel that way — embrace it and make it work for you today!”
Galvão: Also, the cool thing about living rooms is, you can incorporate a little bit of everything from a design standpoint. There’s upholstery, there are case goods, there are rugs, there’s art — there’s a nice mix, and you can really get to know your client that way.
What advice do you have for fellow pros working with kids?
Coren: It’s wonderful to involve kids in the creative portion of the design. But once you show your kids a picture they love, you can’t take it back. So we work with the parents first to make sure it’s a style they feel comfortable investing in, that they’re not going to get tired of. Then we show the kids a few options to make them a part of the decision-making process. And we also create different areas to allow them to express themselves. That could be an art wall for their own artwork. It could be a reading corner.
Galvão: The other thing we do is not make rooms overly theme-y. For example, we had a kid who really liked dinosaurs. There is some dinosaur decor in his room but it’s easily changeable, so the main fabrics in the space are neutrals or solids. Or simple patterns. So that as the child grows up and grows out of dinosaurs, they can replace it with more mature decor and accessories without changing the whole design. It’s important that our client’s investment lasts and that rooms grow with children.
See more kids’ room inspiration photos
Coren: It’s wonderful to involve kids in the creative portion of the design. But once you show your kids a picture they love, you can’t take it back. So we work with the parents first to make sure it’s a style they feel comfortable investing in, that they’re not going to get tired of. Then we show the kids a few options to make them a part of the decision-making process. And we also create different areas to allow them to express themselves. That could be an art wall for their own artwork. It could be a reading corner.
Galvão: The other thing we do is not make rooms overly theme-y. For example, we had a kid who really liked dinosaurs. There is some dinosaur decor in his room but it’s easily changeable, so the main fabrics in the space are neutrals or solids. Or simple patterns. So that as the child grows up and grows out of dinosaurs, they can replace it with more mature decor and accessories without changing the whole design. It’s important that our client’s investment lasts and that rooms grow with children.
See more kids’ room inspiration photos
Where do you look for inspiration?
Coren: I would say Houzz and other sites, but we also go to trade shows to see what’s new and what’s next. We have our clients work with us to do homework, as we call it, to pull up inspiration images. We’re very big on talking visually as opposed to talking terminology, because one person’s idea of traditional might be another person’s transitional, so we really work with visuals to make sure we’re getting the right aesthetic, the right flow.
We have ideabooks for every client, and we work from the very beginning collaborating on those visuals.
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Coren: I would say Houzz and other sites, but we also go to trade shows to see what’s new and what’s next. We have our clients work with us to do homework, as we call it, to pull up inspiration images. We’re very big on talking visually as opposed to talking terminology, because one person’s idea of traditional might be another person’s transitional, so we really work with visuals to make sure we’re getting the right aesthetic, the right flow.
We have ideabooks for every client, and we work from the very beginning collaborating on those visuals.
How to Make the Most of Industry Events in 2020
What’s one thing you do every day that leads to success in your business?
Galvão: Coffee! And looking at inspirational photos is really important. Our business is so creative that I feel like that feeds my soul. Looking at images and going to design events — doing a little bit of something like that every single day really keeps me motivated.
Coren: I think for me it’s the process. Should a problem arise, we’re taking care of it before our client even knows about it. Having your process down pat leads to more efficiency and ultimately having a happier client, because everything is very streamlined.
Galvão: Coffee! And looking at inspirational photos is really important. Our business is so creative that I feel like that feeds my soul. Looking at images and going to design events — doing a little bit of something like that every single day really keeps me motivated.
Coren: I think for me it’s the process. Should a problem arise, we’re taking care of it before our client even knows about it. Having your process down pat leads to more efficiency and ultimately having a happier client, because everything is very streamlined.
What challenges is the interior design industry facing?
Galvão: The internet?
Coren: That’s exactly what I was thinking. You really have to explain to clients the value you’re adding. They’re not hiring a designer to get the lowest price; they’re hiring a designer for a smart design. That the products are going to hold up to their family and their lifestyle. It’s also about building a long-term relationship with them.
Galvão: It’s educating the clients on the value we provide and having them realize that as many ideabooks as they make, that doesn’t mean they can implement it themselves.
Also, because design has become so much more democratized — people can get e-design services and can get so many ideas online — we have to step it up and deliver something that is special and really worth our clients’ money. We have to provide an exceptional experience. Which I believe we do, but that means that customer service has to be off the charts.
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Galvão: The internet?
Coren: That’s exactly what I was thinking. You really have to explain to clients the value you’re adding. They’re not hiring a designer to get the lowest price; they’re hiring a designer for a smart design. That the products are going to hold up to their family and their lifestyle. It’s also about building a long-term relationship with them.
Galvão: It’s educating the clients on the value we provide and having them realize that as many ideabooks as they make, that doesn’t mean they can implement it themselves.
Also, because design has become so much more democratized — people can get e-design services and can get so many ideas online — we have to step it up and deliver something that is special and really worth our clients’ money. We have to provide an exceptional experience. Which I believe we do, but that means that customer service has to be off the charts.
How to Communicate Your Value to Potential Clients
What would you say having that specialty adds to your business?
Coren: There’s no lack of interior designers. We feel that we’re giving a service that’s incredibly unique but underserved. How many people have kids but don’t realize that this exists?
We really want to educate new families out there that you don’t have to just have plastic on everything. You don’t have to wait until your kids are older to have a beautiful house. That’s really the big thing. We want to get the message out there that you can have livable luxury without having to sacrifice.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
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Coren: There’s no lack of interior designers. We feel that we’re giving a service that’s incredibly unique but underserved. How many people have kids but don’t realize that this exists?
We really want to educate new families out there that you don’t have to just have plastic on everything. You don’t have to wait until your kids are older to have a beautiful house. That’s really the big thing. We want to get the message out there that you can have livable luxury without having to sacrifice.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
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