Revival House Design Company
Meet Haley Alberstett, the visionary force behind Revival House Design Company. Embarking on her design journey in 2014, Haley began her career at LOCD Design Group, where she acquired invaluable knowledge and mentorship. This experience not only honed her design skills but also instilled in her a strong foundation of ethical standards and best practices. Today, Haley leverages her rich background to create stunning, thoughtful spaces at Revival House Design Company.
Get a glimpse into one of Haley's latest designs in this EFL Designer Q&A!
Q: What inspired your journey into interior design, and how has your style evolved over the years?
Haley Alberstett: I am not sure anything (in particular) ever inspired me to move into interior design. My grandmother was an artist and we really bonded over that. But as a little girl I would deny my neighbor friends playdates because I wanted to stay at home to clean and then rearrange my bedroom. I would do this every couple of weeks. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was trying to find the most functional and most balanced layouts. Then I convinced my parents that a canopy was too trendy and that I would drape a tapestry over my bed and have it run down my wall to “act” as a canopy. It was so chic.
Q: Who do you offer your design services to?
Haley Alberstett: I offer my design and furniture/ finish sales to residential remodel, residential new construction, commercial/ hospitality remodel, and commercial/ hospitality new construction. So ANYONE 😊
Q: What is your design aesthetic? What unique elements define your style, and how do you incorporate them into your projects?
Haley Alberstett: My personal design aesthetic is a little all over the place. I love a moody, colored drenched, masculine style mixed with a bit of an old English equestrian country club feel. But what I would like to point out is that I was initially trained to design for demographics when I started out in model home merchandising. So honestly, I can and will design for anyone. I would say my signature element is throwing plaid into a design because it has such a cozy feel without being overbearing, incorporating multiple funky patterns into a space warms it up and makes it feel like home. I am also a big fan of hidden storage solutions and multifunctional space plans.
Q: Who is this space for and how did their needs and preferences influence your design choices?
Haley Alberstett: The White Oak new construction project is for a family of five, soon to be six. The household consists of a husband and wife with three young children, all under the age of six. They frequently host their extensive extended family, necessitating creative storage solutions and ample seating. I joined the project after the overall house floor plan was finalized. My clients expressed a desire for a custom-designed kitchen, tailored specifically to their needs, rather than a standard builder-grade layout. To address their concerns about maintenance, I recommended extending the countertop material up the backsplash to reduce the number of grout lines and simplify cleaning. Throughout the project, we faced various similar design decisions. Additionally, we adhered to the builder's budget constraints, with only one or two categories where we chose to splurge beyond the allocated budget.
Q: Take us through the timeline of creating this space. How long did it take from conception to completion, and were there any particularly challenging or rewarding moments along the way?
Haley Alberstett: For this new construction project, I was brought on board at an early stage, diving into the design process immediately. My work began with the kitchen design after the spatial layout of the rooms was established and the electrical framework was completed. The homeowners were keen on having a kitchen tailored to their specific needs, avoiding the generic layouts often provided by builders.
One of the more challenging aspects of the project was aligning the builder with the vision my clients and I developed. Builders sometimes find it difficult to relinquish control when a designer steps in with new ideas and changes. Additionally, convincing my clients to invest in furniture they hadn’t physically experienced posed a bit of a challenge. However, through transparent communication and my commitment to advocating for them, they trusted the quality of my choices.
The entire project spanned from May to December, culminating in a home that perfectly reflected my clients’ desires and lifestyle.
Q: Is there a specific element in this space that stands out as your favorite?
Haley Alberstett: I really love the fun powder room, we did a Cambria quartz and the most beautiful York wall covering. I also really love the island cabinet hardware. My clients really loved a subtle old English look so to bring some character to a newly built home, we added vintage brass door knocker pulls to the island drawers and drink rails to the bookcase shelves and wet bar in the basement.
Q: What fuels your creativity? Are there specific places, experiences, or artists that consistently inspire your work?
Haley Alberstett: There isn't one designer that inspires my creativity, but ART. Art and color and composition gets me really excited to challenge myself with storage and spatial changes. I am also really inspired by my client and their story. Their passions for their kids, their careers, or their hobbies.
Q: If you could collaborate with any other designer, living or historical, who would it be and why?
Haley Alberstett: I would collaborate with Jean Stoffer given the chance. Her ability to think outside of the box and accept and take in other designers' thoughts and ideas is wonderful. I also think that her ability to be historical, eclectic, and still stay “on trend” for the clients that like the trendy looks is effortless and I hope that I am the same or even half as great!