Faces of Design: Five Years of Celebrating the Industry’s Top Interior Designers, Architects, and Professional Painters

Guided by a room-by-room progression of color, Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett of KOBEL + CO tie their design to how clients want their days to unfold. “Every room can have its own purpose, but the story must feel cohesive,” Robins says. That narrative emerged in a recent project with a Tapestry Gold 2153-30 card room, a custom blue living room, and the “Hostess Hall,” where New London Burgundy HC-61 created a jewel-box effect, using Saint Martin Sand 2164-50 as a soft counterpoint. “We wanted color that felt classic, not trend-driven; vibrant, but with a little grit,” Bennett shares.

Bringing that vision to life required Jonatan Correa, whose command of prep, product, and application translated bold ideas into lasting finishes. “I need to understand the vision so I can choose the products and sheens that deliver the right feeling,” he explains. Together, the united trio proves paint is never just backdrop; when expertly realized, it becomes atmosphere.

Learn more about KOBEL + CO and Jonatan Correa’s work.

Photography by: Jacob Snavely

Guided by a room-by-room progression of color, Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett of KOBEL + CO tie their design to how clients want their days to unfold.

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At Stil James, Natalie Owens and Victoria Armour approach design through how a client wants to live at day’s end. Their human-centered perspective is shaped by creative vision, thoughtful project management, and fluency in people, giving their Halifax studio an intuitive point of view. “We start with understanding the client and what they want,” Armour says. That instinct revealed itself in a recent project, where a black fireplace shifted one room from bright ease to rich drama, leading the partners to pivot from Swiss Coffee OC-45 to Smokey Taupe 983. “We needed the neutral to be very moody yet warm,” Owens shares.

In the dining room, a bold wallcovering inspired a Blue Gaspe 1435 color wash across cabinetry, trim, and baseboards, unifying pattern, art, and millwork. Bringing those layered palettes to life called for Guillaume Tremblay, whose resolute relationship with the designers rests on trust and precision. From careful prep to the interplay of matte walls, satin trim, and flat ceilings, Tremblay understands how product quality shapes the final effect. “Benjamin Moore has been a huge part of my business from day one,” he says. “Their finishes always deliver.”

Learn more about Stil James and Guillaume Tremblay’s work.

Photography by: Carolina Andrade

At Stil James, Natalie Owens and Victoria Armour approach design through how a client wants to live at day’s end. Their human-centered perspective is shaped by creative vision, thoughtful project management, and fluency in people, giving their Halifax studio an intuitive point of view.

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Elegance in Jonathan Savage’s interiors is never about excess, but about knowing where the eye should rest. That signature expertise and discipline bring warmth to a formal Nashville residence, turning grandeur into rooms that feel layered, livable, and considered. “The goal was to make the home more family friendly and inviting,” Savage says. Icicle 2142-70 became part of that transformation, lending the dining space a serene glow that complements its ornate paneling, architecture, and collected furnishings.

Behind that refined effect is Kevin Salyer. From preparation to brushwork to finish, his meticulous hand allows the room’s subtle tones to read with depth and polish. “Jonathan makes his vision very vivid to me,” Salyer says. “Once I see it in my head, I know what to do.” Over five years, the two have developed a creative shorthand rooted in candor, humor, and exacting standards, with Salyer brought in early to help translate ideas into lasting surfaces. For Savage, that partnership is essential: “If Kevin’s on my team, I’ve got nothing to worry about.” Together, they show how paint can soften formality, sharpen architecture, and give a historic room an air of ease.

Learn more about Jonathan Savage and Kevin Salyer’s work.

Photography by: Zeke Ruelas

Elegance in Jonathan Savage’s interiors is never about excess, but about knowing where the eye should rest. That signature expertise and discipline bring warmth to a formal Nashville residence, turning grandeur into rooms that feel layered, livable, and considered.

READ MORE