Born in Oshawa, a suburb just east of Toronto, I discovered my love of design as a young girl watching my older sister go through her schooling as an Architectural Technologist. I remember being fascinated with her drawings, drafted rooms and tiny scale models of the spaces she designed. As I matured, my creativity and love of basic design principles remained, however they took me down a different path in my post secondary career, studying graphic & multi-media design. These studies eventually lead me into a successful tech career where I spent over 15 years as a Web Development Specialist creating engaging user experiences on a variety of web platforms.

An avid renovator in my spare time, my passion for interior design was reignited when I began the full scale tear down & renovation of my 2nd home. I began documenting my DIY adventures on The Dreamhouse Project, my design and lifestyle blog, where I've had the opportunity to partner with many Canadian Brands sharing my renovations, decorating ideas and helpful tips. That passion for design, which subsequently prompted me to return to school and make a career change, is what continues to fuel my love for what I do today.

In launching my own firm, Studio 561 - I am now able to balance both my technical and creative skills which have proven to be an asset whether I'm conceptualizing a space, documenting design drawings or creating 3D renders.

My design philosophy is simple. I believe that when it comes to designing your home, it's important for that space to represent who you are as a person, the things you love to be surrounded by, and how you live and function in your day to day life. I love designing clean, modern spaces with a pop of the unexpected. In doing so, I help homeowners look beyond the norm, to create spaces that are unique representations of their personalities.