In the great room, the team upholstered a pair of chairs in a crewel-pattern fabric for visual impact. Yellow Mums, an oil on canvas by Jacqueline Rochester, hangs above the fireplace.

A big part of their job is getting to know clients and understand their moods and thoughts.  “Chemistry is so important,” says Foley.  “We listen, listen, listen and everything sort of unveils itself.  If they say they want Spanish Colonial, we want to know their interpretation of that style of architecture.

“We give them magazines and books and have them mark what they like and hate,” remarks Bouton. “From that, we discover a theme or style. We also go through their present home to learn how they live and ask a lot of questions, from whether they want to sit up or lie down on the couch, to where they store their Tupperware.”

With an uncanny knack of being able to make a home warm and intimate, and using designs that are timeless, these Masters of the Southwest say they do not have a signature style.  “There are some similarities, but we like to reinvent the wheel,” comments Foley.  “It would be cheaper to make every home the same, but that’s not us.” The pair often surprises clients with whimsical touches, such as custom tiles strategically placed throughout a house or a custom tile backsplash that reflects a hobby of the homeowner.  Or perhaps there will be a cutout of a cat on the cabinet that houses the litter box. 

“We have such a passion for this,” says Foley.  “We love what we do, but it can be challenging. There are so many details, and there’s always a hiccup.”

“I remind myself that this isn’t heart surgery; we’re going to live,” adds Bouton. “And when the project is complete and the homeowners are delighted, it’s like Christmas morning seeing it all come together.”