Welcome to The Design Edit
If you’re reading this, that means you’ve stumbled upon the Brooke MT Interiors’ brand new bi-weekly blog, The Design Edit! My name is Brooke Mennen-Talsma, the owner of Brooke MT Interiors, and I’m so glad you’re here.
Before we get into all the details, here’s some fun facts about us:
We are a boutique, full-service interior design firm based in Iowa City, Iowa.
We specialize in new construction homes, large-scale renovations, and full-scale furnishing projects.
Even though we’re based in the Midwest, we work with clients from coast to coast.
We’re dedicated to designing livable, timeless interiors while having the client’s personal connection to their space always front of mind.
Now that we’re acquainted, let’s get into the fun stuff! I don't know about you, but before I became a designer, one of my favorite things about the interior design world was being able to see a designer’s process and the behind-the-scenes of each project.
The purpose of The Design Edit is to update you on our current projects, to keep you in loop on the latest trends in interior design, and to give you a little sneak peek into future projects.
Fingers crossed this blog will be your new go-to source for inspiration and design tips with a little peek into our creative process.
To start off our very first blog, here’s a little update on what’s happening in the Brooke MT Interiors world. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea of whatever your heart desires), and let’s catch up!
430 Auburn Ridge
We’re beyond excited about this one because one, this house will be featured in the 2024 Iowa City Parade of Homes, and two, it’s the only home listed by an interior designer! It’s a new build, spec house we’re currently working on with an investor and contractor and we’re so close to crossing that finish line.
We’re currently finishing up the primary glass shower enclosure and mudroom cut-out details. And we’re excited to announce that we’re working with Dwell Home Furnishings to help stage and style for the Parade of Homes! We can’t wait for you to see it all come together!
Quincy Road
Quincy Road is our custom-built home by Klosterman Construction. It’s a slab-style ranch home, which means it doesn’t have a basement, however, it’s outfitted with a detached barn that features a sports court, office, and a guest bedroom.
We’re currently in the cabinetry installation phase of this build and working on templating for the countertops. Our favorite features of this home are the fact that it focuses on family-oriented living and features some of the most stunning custom details throughout including the interior stone wall, floating island, and gorgeous tile and finishes in every single room.
Oliver Lane Project
One of our new projects, Oliver Lane, is a local project focusing on a couple bathroom renovations. Currently, we’re in the discovery stage, which essentially means we’ve been gathering samples for our presentation and putting together mood boards for the client. The aesthetic of this renovation is traditional and meant to complement the current style of the home. We can’t wait to see these bathrooms come to life!
Carmel Valley
This is one of my more exciting projects because it’s actually located in California! One of the absolute best things about owning your own design firm is that you get to choose the projects you take on—I mean, who would have thought we’d be designing a home in California? This absolute dream home is set to break ground in June 2024.
We’ve had the initial meetings with the client and we’re currently in the midst of making revisions before we finalize the exterior design. The next part of our process is for the client to approve the design and we’ll render it in high-quality and resolution for them! This is one of my favorite ways for client’s to truly see the vision come to life. Once that’s complete, we’ll move on to the interior.
Ellis Mill Road
From one coast to another, the Ellis Mill Road project is a New Jersey new build—another absolute dream project. We’re currently awaiting the architect’s exterior renderings, but in the meantime we’re ordering material and samples for both the client and ourselves. We’re also in the process of putting together mood boards and 3D renderings room by room.
If you can’t tell, we’re pretty busy around here—but the variety of projects is what makes this career so rewarding and challenging. We absolutely can’t wait for you to see more of these projects! Until next time!
XO, Brooke