10/17/2026
Last month I had the privilege of attending the Interior Design Society’s National Conference at the beautiful Bellagio Las Vegas in Las Vegas, and I’m still processing everything I brought home. Thank you Interior Design Society for days full of inspiration!
Roger Thomas, the design mastermind behind the Bellagio and Wynn, put words to so many beliefs I practice every day:
* Be authentic.
* Create spaces that make people feel their best.
* Always bring in natural light.
* Never specify anything you haven’t experienced yourself. (Exactly why I’m writing this on a plane to High Point Market.)
* Be a problem solver. (Most of my clients never know what keeps me up at night, and that’s the point.)
Day 2 took us through Las Vegas Market, with showrooms open only to IDS members. It’s amazing what you discover when the floors aren’t packed: a vintage rug grab at Feizy, plus Bernhardt, Global Views, Surya, Highland House, Theodore Alexander, and my lighting favorite, Hubbardton Forge.
Jaye Anna Mize Wendy Katrinia Locke shared where living is headed, and so much of it is already part of every HBI project:
* Your home should be a healthy place that resets you.
* Lighting creates mood, and it goes far beyond the ceiling. (Layering light is something I teach my students every semester.)
* Hide what you don’t want to see. Hello, built-in storage.
* A return to classical proportion, symmetry, and timeless design.
* Craftsmanship and local pieces made to last.
* Phase projects toward a long-term vision instead of chasing trends.
* Bedrooms for sleep, bathrooms for quiet rituals, kitchens for gathering.
Christopher Todd welcomed us all into his home for delicious food, cocktails, and so many fun design moments, including a designer emergency tool bar where we built our own survival kits.
Day 3 closed with Katie Decker-Erickson on running your business and Elizabeth Lord Levitt on improving the construction process, then the Designer of the Year Awards, where IDSOC/LA brought home some hardware! Congratulations to every winner.
Whether you own or rent, design is about making your home worth living in now. So tell me, what do you love most about your home?