Thirty-five years ago Beth Slifer designed a home that started a national trend, transforming ski cabins into stylish mountain homes. She was also a pioneer professionally, as one of few women to start her own business in an era that was dominated by men. Now there are almost 12 million firms owned by women in the United States—a far larger number than in the early ’80s. Now, this creative director oversees a company of 27 employees and encourages growth and leadership from each employee.
The most recent addition to the Slifer Designs team is Lauren Carpenter, who joined the firm as senior designer this February. She brings in-depth experience and foundational knowledge with her, having started her career in Grand Rapids, Mich., (also known as Furniture City). It’s here that she developed a true appreciation for well-designed furniture and became excited about the collaborative process of design, a process she relishes today at Slifer Designs.
Lauren also incorporates her experience into design: her projects have ranged from an edgy downtown bar to custom high-end homes. She has dabbled in corporate design and large-scale commercial projects but realized her true love is custom residential design.
“I have a passion for residential design. Building relationships with my clients, showing them the possibilities, and seeing it all come together in the end down to the details is something that never gets old for me,” Lauren shares.
From the Ground Up
Young designers clamor to become a member of the renowned Slifer Designs team, learning from their peers and using continuing education opportunities to stay on top of trends, techniques and style.
“It’s so important to me personally, and for the company overall, to ensure our designers have access to educational opportunities. Every designer has a design degree, which ensures the best experience for our clients,” Beth says.
Collaboration is key for this women-owned and women-run firm, as well. Each member of the team may have a specialty, but they are happy to collaborate and share their knowledge with each other.
“I have always known I wanted to be an interior designer. I’m so excited to be in this multi-faceted industry,” Lauren says. It’s this passion that each team member at Slifer Designs embraces, and will bring with them to forge the next 35 years of interior design.