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     Meet Elisabeth "Beth" Foist Whitlinger, ASID, CID, the founder of BWID with a passion for beautiful interiors, architecture and art. Together with her team, they create meaningful interior designs that can transform people's lives.

     I love the interplay of layers, shapes, contrast, and texture. My original major was Studio Art, specializing in Ceramics and Painting. After stumbling on an Architecture course I realized my passion lay in the structure, form, and manipulation of space. I was lost forever to the world of buildings and design.

     I received a dual Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and Business Administration from the Department of Design Sciences in the College of Architecture at Arizona State University. For over a decade I worked for a mix of notable architects and interior designers, in California, Hawaii, and Arizona. My projects included model homes, high-end residential, hotels and restaurants, government offices, corporate facilities, auto dealerships, even the labyrinth of offices at (and under) Disneyland… all sorts of projects all over the world. I learned as much about what not to do as what to do.

     Luckily this exposure allowed me to experience not only all types of projects, but all sorts of genres and styles, from the streamlined minimalism of contemporary environments to the elaborate detailing of traditional interiors. Working in such different locales, each with their own codes, regulations, and idiosyncrasies, forced me to approach project obstacles as challenges to overcome rather than problems. With this attitude I gratefully learned how to remain calm under pressure, a skill that has benefitted me greatly over the years. 

     In 1994, I founded Beth Whitlinger Interior Design. Every previous employer and project shaped my business, the way I treat my employees, and the way we treat our clients. To my surprise I learned that clients who had previously used a designer were actually dreading the process, and architects and contractors were gun-shy about having to deal with a designer 'meddling' in the project. It didn't take long to realize that the problem was that most designers seemed to have brought additional hassle, drama, and stress to a project, rather than remove stress from the client's plate; creating issues and challenges for the related trades people, rather than becoming a seamless and valuable member of the project team. 

     I was dedicated to changing this story, not only for my clients and the project team, but also for the industry at large. I became impassioned about helping to improve the image of designers in the eyes of the associated trades and increase the competency and professionalism of all designers. From this need I developed the Peaceful Design Process™. These tenets were not only created for our clients, but for the firm at large. This philosophy ensures that our office environment is calm and professional so we are able to in turn deal with our projects and clients in a similar manner. In an effort to reach out to other design professionals to assist them in becoming more organized and client focused, I established The Interior Design Coach, a professional consulting firm. Whether consulting or coaching a single designer at a time, or reaching a broader audience with my monthly "Ask a Pro" column on Houzz.com, my primary focus is to leave the profession in better shape than when I entered it.

     Our PDP process takes our projects to another level. Utilizing our ten PDP 'tenets' ensures that each and every client receives a highly specialized experience. Over the years I have been thrilled to receive feedback from our clients, project architects, and various trades on how much easier we make the process. I love hearing how much they appreciate dealing with a firm who handles even the biggest hurdle with calm professionalism and workable solutions, rather than finger pointing.

     The diversity of my projects over the years has allowed me to see the world through the eyes of people from a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds, and interests. I strongly believe that as no two people are alike, no two projects should ever be the same. Along with the desire to provide a drama free experience, I wanted to ensure that we focused on clients as individuals rather than producing the same "look" over and over, as I was seeing happen with many designers. This led directly to one of our main tenets of BWID's Peaceful Design Process™, which is to provide design solutions that are unique to each client. As a result, every project solution at BWID is tailored to each client's individual needs and desires.

     I welcome questions and inquiries. You may contact me directly at beth@bwid.design.