If you’re in the market for new homes for sale in Birmingham or Auburn, you’ll likely be looking at a variety of different new home builders. As a new home builder in both markets, one of Harris Doyle’s key differentiators is our unique design process. We proudly offer in-depth, interior design services for our new homeowners with over 6,000 design options to choose from. Once under contract, each new homeowner is paired with one of our three designers to design the house of their dreams! The design process is one of the most fun and enjoyable parts of building a new home. Our designers love helping new homeowners make their visions a realty. We’ll be featuring each designer in our designer spotlight series on the blog. This week, we’ll be featuring our extra fabulous and fun designer, Danielle Maros!

Danielle Maros, ASID

Where did you go to school? 

Wanting a change of pace after high school, I moved south from my home town of Chicago, IL and pursued higher education at the University of Alabama. While I was at Alabama I received a bachelor’s degree in Human and Environmental Sciences with a major in Interior Design.  Also, while I was in school I received a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Business Administration with a major in Business Management.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in interior design?

Interior Design had always been a passion of mine, starting at a very young age, however, I never thought to pursue it as a career until my first semester of college. I remember the idea coming to me as I was sitting in one of my business classes and something about it just felt right. I decided to take some introductory classes and fell in love with the way I could combine my creative side with my more logical, problem solving side – it was a perfect fit!

What makes you excited about being an interior designer?

I love having the ability and freedom to create. Anything I dream up can be made into reality – given that my team and I figure out how to make the engineering, budget and other constraints work. It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work, but when the final product comes together it is beyond rewarding. My favorite part of the job is, hands down, working with clients. I love working with them to design their home and it is something that I take very seriously.  I understand that this is the place where they will have their family gatherings, raise children, and make lasting memories, and I want it to be the best it can be.

What is the most rewarding part of being an interior designer at Harris Doyle?

Without a doubt it is working with my clients. Day in and day out I get to hear their stories and learn what they have envisioned for each space of their home and I get as wrapped up into it as they do!  I love helping them make their vision become a reality!  The best part for me is when they move into their home, and I hear back from them about how much they love it! Working with clients is the reason I wanted to work on the residential side of interior design, and they make it so incredibly rewarding.

Do you have any tips for future homeowners? If so, what are they?

Try to be present during our design meetings and don’t try to rush through the design process.  I completely understand how excited people are to build a home and how much they just want the building to begin. However, by truly being present in your design appointments you will allow yourself to make better decisions and design a home you love. You will also remember what selections we picked and why we picked them, which will cause a lot less stress during the build phase of the process.

Tell us about your favorite Harris Doyle floor plan and why?

This is such a hard question! We have such awesome plan designers that it’s impossible to choose just one, but if I had to pick a top three it would be the Stewart, the Watson or the Sheffield.  I think each of these plans have great use of space with fun details throughout, making each of them stand out from the normal ‘new-build’ mold.

Tell us about your family.

My family is spread out across the U.S. but home base is Chicago, Illinois, where my mom and sister live and where I get back to whenever possible.  I currently am a resident of Tuscaloosa where I enjoy life outside of work with my friends and wonderful boyfriend!

What do you enjoy in your time outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy traveling, reading, drawing and fishing with my boyfriend! I am also a huge Alabama football fan and am lucky enough to call Tuscaloosa home, where I get to cheer on the Crimson Tide!