We recently connected with Stacey McGeein Natasha Afana and have shared our conversation below.

Stacey McGeein, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

We are a women-owned, tech-forward, boutique interior and architectural design firm serving Denver, Colorado and beyond.

In our experience, there are two pronounced misconceptions about interior design that we consistently come across. One regarding the confusion about interior design versus interior decoration, and the other concerning the critical nature of interior design integration early in the architectural design process.

While interior decoration helps round out, soften and bring a finished space to life, interior design is rooted in the complex technicalities and detailing required to establish the built environment itself. Interior design establishes both the form and function, as well as the look and feel for all interior spaces within the core and shell that the architect defines.

Oftentimes in the residential design industry, interior design is brought into the conversation after architecture is complete and a general contractor has been selected, ultimately doing a disservice to the client. Approaching the process this way inherently positions interior design as a superficial afterthought, rather than an influential component of the process. Aspects of interior design impact the documentation needed as early as the framing stage of construction. As such, it is most advantageous to incorporate interiors into architecture’s design process prior to the conceptual phase.

Due to this gap in the process we saw an opportunity to expand our interior design business and bring architectural services in-house, allowing us to work seamlessly and synergistically as one unified team at project inception. This nets a more streamlined process, successful design, realistic pulse on budget throughout…and subsequently more satisfied clients.

Stacey McGeein, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

PRINCIPAL DESIGNER, CO-FOUNDER Natasha Afana

Natasha is a Nebraska native, Colorado transplant who brings the Midwestern heart of gold, trustworthiness and unbeatable work ethic to every partnership and project. Combine these notable characteristics with her passion, creativity and astute construction knowledge and there simply isn’t a better client advocate for your design project.

Natasha founded Sonderlust to be a different type of design studio, an interior design firm with a design-centric construction focus. Her accredited design degree combined with experience with custom home builders, cabinetry manufacturers and design-build construction companies make her a well-rounded and respected design professional with a unique skillset and project perspective. Contractors repeatedly say, “She gets it!”

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER
Stacey McGeein

Stacey is a California native with Colorado roots, who recently made her way back to the Mile High City. For the last 15 years, she has worked as a brand and identity consultant. From defining her clients’ vision, voice and experience, to the design of the virtual and physical spaces they occupy, she has helped countless clients bring their brand to life.

In addition to being an identity guru, Stacey’s parallel calling in property management, investment, staging and interior design, has allowed her to flex her creative muscle and passion for real estate.

The intersection of these careers led her to co-founding Sonderlust, where she hopes to help clients translate concepts into tangible experiences and designs.

Of all the roles she holds, it is that of a wife and mother to two kids, two dogs and five chickens that has fueled her commitment to creating fluid and functional spaces.

OUR DESIGN ETHOS
Sonderlust believes in authentic, holistic design presented with restraint and simplicity. Our collaborative approach and impeccable intuition reveal each client’s unique lifestyle and personality. We expand our minds and resources to infuse a global perspective and then curate with thoughtful intention. The result is inspired design that creates powerful connections between people and spaces—approachable, distinctive environments.
Simply put, spaces that look and feel good.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Natasha and I were introduced by a mutual friend who leaned into her otherworldly intuition and knew we had to meet. It wasn’t the most obvious pairing given our diverse but complementary backgrounds, and that is exactly what made it all work so beautifully. Stars aligned, we took the plunge and quietly launched our business a few months later and more publicly 5 months after that. The rest is history.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Our reputation was built on a killer work ethic, diverse backgrounds and skillsets, commitment to systems and processes, and listening to our intuition to take strategic but uncomfortable leaps. We have earned the respect of industry partners as a result of our relentless pursuit of perfection and delivering unrivaled documentation that exceeds expectations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sonderlust.design
• Instagram: @sonderlustdesign
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonderlustdesign

Image Credits
Project photos = Sonderlust Brand photos = Mountain Muse