Grace Bird of Bird of Paradise Design joins the Elmwood Strip with the opening of her new design studio located near the corner of Elmwood and Allen. Bird to embraced her passions as an interior design consultant and truly spread her wings by making the Queen City better one design project at a time.
With a bachelor’s degree in architecture followed by a master’s degree in real estate development, home design comes as second nature to Bird. While working in architectural firms that specialized in bars, nightclubs and even boutique hotels, a common theme began to lay the foundation for a passion that would soon turn into a professional venture.
“The thing is, when I was working for those firms, what jumped out at me the most, even though my background was architecture and design, was the interior design piece.
So, I knew that that’s what I wanted to do moving forward and that’s what I’m doing now.”
The building that is soon to house her growing design consulting business is owned by Ernst Valery, a majority owner of SAA | EVI, a national development firm. With offices extending throughout the upstairs levels of the building, Bird is currently working on design work for those floors.
Bird’s experience extends far beyond just paint and color matching by integrating her excellence in architecture into every design project.
“Once I’m called to a project, I go personally meet with the client to assess what their needs are. Then I personally will take measurements of the space and then I will draw it on AutoCAD or Pro Kitchen. I will select products if they are needed, so essentially it’s design, procurement and project management.”
Apart from the technical components of her work, Bird builds a personal relationship with each client, a part of the process that is essential in giving the best work possible. By being there every step of the way, this gives Bird the power to completely customize her work to the desires and wants of the client.
“You’re going through the entire process with me the whole time. I do want to offer a very intimate experience where what you say matters and what you’re looking for matters. This is not my vision; this is me facilitating your vision. So, it’s a very individualized process and ultimately it’s a partnership with myself and the clients.”
As the next steps of her business begin to come to fruition, Bird is thrilled to announce that she is now a Masterbrand kitchen and bath dealer. By offering brand favorites like Mantra, Urban Effects, and UltraCraft, Bird of Paradise Design is a one-stop shop that is sure to make all your design dreams come true. For more information visit birdofparadisedesign.com or Instagram @birdofparadiseinteriors