Portrait photography by Christiaan Blok Caroline Tyler DeCesare

CAROLINE TYLER DECESARE

Age: 37

Profession: Interior designer
Company: DeCesare Design Group Inc., Mesa, Arizona

How did you get into this line of work?
My mother is a very talented decorator who had her own furnishings store in Mesa, and as a young girl I spent many nights rearranging the furniture in my room. I started college as a physical therapy major, but after helping a friend run her interior fabrics store one summer, I found my passion. I was very fortunate to start my career at Wiseman & Gale under the tutelage of Anne Gale. Here, I also had the opportunity to work for Donna Vallone and was part of the team that helped her start her own design firm.

What inspires you?
The inherent beauty of very functional objects such as clocks, typewriters and old machinery inspires me. Perhaps growing up watching my father custom-build horse trailers made me appreciate how things are crafted—the many connections that combine to create a whole.

What is your design philosophy?
Interiors should be authentic to the people who live in them. The home should tell the story of its inhabitants—both in its design and decoration.

What is your biggest design accomplishment to date?
To date, it is having the courage to leave a very well-established firm to start my own design firm. As a new small business that provides a luxury service, I am proud to say that we are not only surviving, we are thriving. I get to do what I love every day, and that is truly a blessing.

What’s on the horizon?
Our upcoming projects include working on both new homes and remodels in the Phoenix area and in California.

“Powder rooms are great spaces to do something dramatic and a little bit over the top,” remarks Caroline DeCesare. Here, she upholstered walls in a hand-painted fabric, retrofitted a red chest into a vanity and added an antique rug.

The designer created visual interest in this bedroom with furnishings in a mix of materials and textures, including a velvet sofa, leather ottoman and mirrored nightstands.

Designed by DeCesare for a family with young children, this breakfast nook features chairs with “numbered” backs so that each child can claim a seat; chairs 1 and 2 have arms and are designated for the parents. She says this technique “adds visual whimsy to more Traditional chairs.” Bold and colorful striped draperies complete the look.

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