People who visit an Avonlea show home are usually struck by two things: our well-designed floor plans and the tasteful interior design choices used to make our houses feel like homes.

All of the credit for the interior design choices goes to Jennifer McCarthy. Our Interior Designer has a keen instinct for colour, texture and design trends. She blends that with her extensive training and passion for beautiful things. The result is a fearless style that sets a whole new benchmark for interior design and sets Avonlea Homes in a class of its own.

We sat down with her recently to find out about what inspires her, drives her forward and makes her love her job.

What is your role with Avonlea?
Pretty much anything you see on the inside or the outside of the house is my responsibility.  I alter floor plans, create new plans, work with clients as well as trades and suppliers. I do on site problem solving and stay on top of product development to make sure that Avonlea is leading edge.

When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
In grad 10 I was fascinated with architecture.  After job shadowing with an architectural firm, I decided that 7 years of university wasn't for me.  That's when I started researching interior Design and found that being very closely related, it was a better fit for my life.

What is it about interior design that keeps you so interested?
Design is like a puzzle. I take what needs to be there, in this case spaces and rooms, and fit them together to make a home that flows, is functional and beautiful. The greatest reward of course, is seeing a blank slate turned in to a masterpiece at the end of the project.

Do you have a favorite room that you like to design?
Kitchens are my favourite challenge. This is where layout and function comes into play. I think about how someone will work in the space, how they'll move from work station to work station, how many steps they'll take and how I can create an easy flow in all of that.  Also, the materials and colours chosen in the kitchen normally set the tone for the rest of the house. Kitchens inspire a lot of creativity in me.

Do you go for a different "feeling" in each of the homes you design?
Even if they share the same floor plan, every home I design is different.  I like to leave my mark as a designer with little touches. When I'm working with a client, I make design choices that make their space an extension of their personalities and a reflection of their lives.

What inspires your design in a certain house?
It really depends on the house. It may be a curved staircase, or the way some of the walls meet that gives me a "jumping off point".  From there, it's all about visualizing. I can just see what it is supposed to look like and I set about making it happen.  It's hard to explain ... but it works.

Any favourite rooms?
Of course! My current favourites are:

Bathroom
The 2008 STARS home with the floor to ceiling tiled walls and the huge shower with body sprays.

Bedroom
Definitely 2009 STARS master bedroom. The floor to ceiling draperies, the large wall mirror, the fireplace, the upholstered headboard and the red bench at the end of the bed.  I achieved that "AHHHHHH, relax" feeling in this room.

Living space
I LOVE the living space at 24 Mt. Sundance. Maybe it's because my first home was a Rockville. I chose to really deck this one out. The result is a fun, funky, and is a place I would want to hang in out all the time.

Kitchen
This is tricky. I love so many of them. My personal favourite is the Marydel at 406 Gateway Cres.

Anything in nature that inspires you as a designer?
Trees. I love the endless shades of green and am awed by how they grow.

How would you say that you push the envelope as an interior designer?
As a designer I always want to be the first to do something. I like to mix certain elements that wouldn't normally be placed together. I also make sure there is at least one object in all my houses that is totally unique, that doesn't really fit, but definitely works.

What appeals to you the most about the work you do with Avonlea?
No two days - or houses - are ever the same and I love that. I also appreciate the respect and creative leeway I'm given. I just do my thing to make Avonlea the best it can be.