Let us introduce you to the Valley’s top design and build professionals. Today, let’s get to know Janet Brooks, ASID, of Janet Brooks Design and find out why she cautions against the ubiquitous, gray-and-white trendy homes of today.
Instagram, Twitter and Facebook handles: Facebook: @JanetBrooksDesign
Instagram: @janetbrooksdesign
How did you get started in the design/build industry? I started as a showroom manager for a design firm in Colorado, whose owner who was a professional ASID designer. She was my mentor and taught me the hands-on practice of interior design.
What is your favorite project in Arizona? After quite a lot of thought, I can’t say I have a favorite project. Each project ends up being satisfying and rewarding in different ways. Sometimes it’s the pure joy we are able to help create for our clients, sometimes it’s executing a specific and exciting design element, sometimes it’s the overall picture…watching everything coming together in a special way.
What inspires you and your work? New products are coming out every day, with new ways to use them in our designs. I am inspired by the opportunities to use new materials in ways no one may have thought of before and create that “WOW!” factor, no matter what the style of the home.
Where do you escape in the summer? I am a mountain girl. I lived in the mountains in Colorado for 11 years before coming to Arizona, and I love to get back up there and breathe the mountain air!
What is something timeless every home should have? Every home should have a centrally located gathering place where family and friends can hang out and interact comfortably. Amenities, such as TV, access to snacks and drinks (which might simply be the kitchen), should also be not too far away.
What is considered trendy in homes at this time? So many new homes, but especially remodels, all look alike now. Gray and white. Quirky light fixtures. Porcelain or engineered wood floors. That look is very trendy, and while we can appreciate it now, it will wear a “date stamp” in the future.
What do you consider your biggest professional accomplishment? Having found a career that fulfills my need for new inspiration and challenge every day, while at the same time creating something that enhances the lives of others.
What advice do you have for young people or students hoping to pursue a design/build career? There are many different directions a design/build career can take you–into commercial design, residential design, retail, hospitality–but also take into consideration that you may be best suited to work the details of design in the background, or you may be more of a ‘salesman’ and want to work the big picture with your face in the public eye. There is something for everyone.
