My love of design and decor started when I was about seven years old, as a young girl in El Paso, Texas. I remember how badly I wanted the Barbie Dream House, but my family couldn't afford it at the time. Undeterred, I had to get creative to make my own Barbie Dream House. I scoured the inside and outside of our home for whatever I could find. From those found items, I would make the most beautiful furnishings. I designed the best encyclopedia beds with washcloth pillows and duvets you have ever seen and built wooden headboards out of twigs I gathered from the backyard and glued together. A few of my mother's old silk scarves were sacrificed as well, but it was in the name of good design.  I learned during that time how much I loved decor and fashion and, with the right amount of creativity and imagination, I could make anything look amazing without having to spend much money. I also saw that nature can play a part in design and should inspire us.

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The love of all things design took me down an alternative route through my education. I worked in home stores and clothing stores while attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Although it was hard managing stores full-time while going to school, it was one of the best times in my life, and I loved the creative process. Following graduation, I went right to work in Visual Merchandising and Space Design. I worked for Macy's, Hallmark, and an independent design company that did all types of design from stores to homes to Christmas decor. This experience allowed me to meet with all kinds of people and understand the customers' needs as well as gain valuable skills in working within so many different facets of visual design. After a few years, I had the opportunity to work in the Television and Feature Films Industry and fell in love with it. It was an enjoyable learning experience in dealing with all types of creative people, and it kept me busy for over 25 years. Although I loved my work, my heart longed for something more serene, and it brought me to the Lake Resort town of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The beauty is intoxicating, and the natural surroundings made me fall in love with design all over again.​

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I took that nature-inspired love of design, and I decided to get new certifications in Interior Decorating, Staging, and Virtual Design, which led me to start my own business, Leaf And Lake Design. I can now share my experience, knowledge, and passion with others and help create interiors inspired by nature for their homes just as that little girl who created headboards out of twigs did.