Designer Profile:
Trisha Williams
Powell Design Group
“Psychology is so important to design. You need to consider the psychology of color, space and proportion and their effect on how people live.”
Business: One of three staff designers for the four-year-old
Education: B.F.A. in interior architecture and B.A. in psychology,
Experience: Four years; member of National Trust for Historic Preservation
Show Home Participation: St. Jude Dream Home, 2005; Homearama 2006
“The bookcases and fireplace mantel display many of the unusual objects the family has collected in their travels. Each item has a story behind it. The challenge was to bring them together into a cohesive unit.”“In addition to the rug, I used several other pieces the client already owned to furnish the room, such as the hammered copper table and the mica-shaded lamp beside the
leather couch. The triangular table and tortoise-shell lamp beside the sofa-size love seat are new.”
“Pillows and throws provide contrast. On the light-colored chenille love seat, the pillows have a bronze geometric design, while the dark leather couch has a light-colored faux leopard throw.”
“For the curtains, I chose a dupioni silk with an iridescent sheen that pulls in some light. Instead of room-darkening honeycomb blinds, I went with bamboo Roman shades. It’s an eclectic juxtaposition of formal and informal and I like the way the bamboo picks up the color of the silk.”
| Project: Hearth Room | “Instead of white trim, I used stained cherry in both the hearth room and adjoining kitchen because it’s warmer and more inviting. The fireplace the builder originally suggested was more ornate. I opted instead for a more streamlined design with traditional lines and picture-frame moldings.” | “The clients had a picture of an old copper hood and wanted the walls to have a similar look. I hired faux painter Gary Bennett, who applied a layer of tissue paper beneath the paint to produce a leather look. Wall sconces showcase the faux finish.” |
| Williams started with a burnt-orange area rug and three caveats from her clients when she designed this hearth room for a new | ![]() |



