Stacy McCarthy Design

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Stacy McCarthy Design

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Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer & Certified Interior Designer, providing design solutions.

Stacy McCarthy is a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer, Certified Interior Designer providing design solutions for busy lives. With a background in architecture and disaster restoration, Stacy and the team understand the complexity a chaotic situation holds and bring compassion and decisive skills and design documents to settle the soul. Stacy is also the National Kitchen and Bath Association President for the South Florida Chapter, a national speaker, Brand Ambassador, Philanthropist and an accredited CEU Provider. The team works nationwide remotely and in person in South Florida.

10/29/2026

💬 A little design advice, straight from my Messages.

🫅🏽 Client: Stacy, I'm choosing materials for my kitchen. What should I be thinking about besides how they look?

👩🏼 Stacy: I'm glad you asked! 😉 There are five questions I always recommend asking before making a decision.

🫅🏽 Client:Okay, tell me!

👩🏼 Stacy: First, how will it handle moisture? Kitchens and bathrooms deal with water, humidity, and spills, so the material needs to be suitable for the environment.

🫅🏽 Client: That makes sense. What else?

👩🏼 Stacy: How much maintenance does it need? Some surfaces require regular sealing or special cleaning products. You want to know what you're signing up for before you commit.

🫅🏽 Client: And how do I know if it's right for my space?

👩🏼 Stacy: Think about how you'll use it. A material needs to suit the room, the amount of traffic it receives, and the conditions it will face every day.

🫅🏽 Client: What about durability?

👩🏼 Stacy: Absolutely. Ask how it handles scratches, stains, heat, and everyday wear. Every material has its limitations, and it's better to understand them before installation.

🫅🏽 Client: Last question?

👩🏼 Stacy: Will it still work for your needs in five years? Your routines may change, so think about whether the material will continue to suit your lifestyle over time.

🫅🏽 Client: So it's not just about choosing something beautiful?

👩🏼 Stacy: Exactly! It's about finding materials that look beautiful AND work for the life you actually live.

📌 Save this conversation for your next renovation, and send it to someone who's choosing finishes for their home.

10/28/2026

🎃 A little project prevention can save a lot of project headaches.

One thing I've learned in more than 25 years in design is that some of the most frustrating problems begin with simple misunderstandings. The designer has one version of the plans, the builder is working from another, or a product changes without everyone understanding what that means for the rest of the project.

These are the kinds of issues that can often be addressed through better coordination. Before your next design or construction project moves forward, here are five questions worth asking:

📐 Are we all working from the latest plans and specifications? Make sure revisions reach everyone affected, not just the person who requested the change.

🔧 Have product substitutions been reviewed? A different appliance, finish, or fixture may affect dimensions, installation, or other specifications.

👥 Does everyone know what they're responsible for? Clarify who makes decisions, who approves them, and who needs to be consulted.

📋 Have installation requirements been discussed early enough? The people executing the work may identify practical considerations that aren't immediately apparent in a drawing.

✍️ Are decisions and changes documented? A quick conversation is useful, but a clear written record helps everyone stay aligned.

Of course, not every project problem can be anticipated. But creating space for questions and making sure information reaches the right people can help prevent avoidable surprises.

For the designers, builders, manufacturers, and installers here: What's the one communication habit that has made the biggest difference in your work?

I'd love to hear what has worked for you 💙✨

10/22/2026

Some of life's most meaningful moments happen around a table.

Think about the dinners that lasted longer than expected, the conversations that helped you see a problem differently, or the evenings when laughter made an ordinary day feel special.

Often, we remember these moments long after we have forgotten what was served or how the table was set.

Recently, I found myself reflecting on the importance of making room for these experiences. We spend so much time trying to be productive, accomplish more, and keep up with everything around us that we can forget to nurture the relationships that make our lives richer.

Friendships need time. Community needs participation. And meaningful relationships grow when we make the effort to show up, listen, encourage one another, and celebrate the little things.

I believe this is true in our personal lives and in our professional communities. We all move through different seasons, and sometimes the greatest gift we can offer someone is a listening ear. Other times, it is encouragement, a shared laugh, or simply letting them know they are not alone.

We do not have to wait for a special occasion to bring people together. Sometimes, a simple invitation is enough.

Who is someone you have been meaning to catch up with? Consider this your reminder to reach out and make that conversation happen. 💙✨

Thank you for a wonderful celebration of design and designers at ! ✨

10/22/2026

your home does not need to follow a trend to feel current. It needs to feel like you.

One thing I have been appreciating more and more in design is the freedom to mix influences, honor personal preferences, and create spaces that do not fit neatly into a single category.

Perhaps you love the clean lines of mid century modern furniture but are drawn to the rawness of natural stone. Maybe you appreciate traditional craftsmanship alongside contemporary art, or prefer a home that feels collected over time rather than decorated all at once.

Why should we have to choose just one?

Trends can introduce us to new ideas, but they should never become rules that dictate how we live. The most meaningful interiors often emerge when we give ourselves permission to combine the things we genuinely love.

I believe the return to traditional materials, natural textures, and enduring forms reflects a desire for something more personal. We want spaces that grow with us, accommodate the different seasons of our lives, and remain meaningful long after a particular trend has passed.

When I help someone think through their home, I want the result to do more than look beautiful. I want it to make sense for their routines, their relationships, and the way they want to feel when they walk through the door.

Tell me, are you drawn to one particular design style, or do you love mixing different influences to create something uniquely yours? 💙✨

In this video, the amazing Bernhardt showroom ✨

10/20/2026

What if the future of design is asking us to slow down?

After a weekend at High Point Market, I found myself thinking about the things that make a house feel like home. Not the latest trend or the newest technology, but the natural textures we love to touch, the familiar rituals that bring comfort, and the spaces where we gather with the people who matter most.

I was especially drawn to the renewed appreciation for raw wood, organic shapes, traditional craftsmanship, and materials that reconnect us with nature. I love seeing design move beyond the pressure to follow one particular style and embrace the freedom to create spaces that feel personal, meaningful, and timeless.

However, beautiful materials are only part of the story.

A kitchen becomes more than a room when it brings a family together around a meal. A dining table becomes more than furniture when it holds conversations that stay with us long after dinner. A home becomes more than a collection of rooms when it gives us a place to rest, recharge, and feel safe.

These everyday moments are worth designing for.

As The Emergency Designer, I know that a home is never just a building. It is where we find our footing after difficult seasons, rebuild familiar routines, and begin again. Thoughtful design can help make room for all of that.

Perhaps the most meaningful question we can ask is not simply, What will our homes look like in the future? It is, How do we want to feel in them?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. What makes a space feel truly like home to you? 💙✨

10/15/2026

High Point Market is just around the corner, and I'm looking forward to another opportunity to explore what's happening across the design industry!

One of my favorite things about these events is getting to see the products up close, learn about the thinking behind new collections, and reconnect with the people who bring so much creativity and expertise to this industry. There is always something new to discover, whether it's an unexpected material, an innovative detail, or a conversation that makes you look at a familiar product differently.

For me, the excitement isn't just about seeing what's new. It's also about the people, ideas, and shared experiences that make our industry such an interesting place to work.

Will you be attending High Point Market this weekend? Let me know! I'd love to see familiar faces and meet some new ones along the way. 💙✨

10/13/2026

Some of the most important work in a design project happens in places you might not notice at first glance.

A small change to an entrance, a better material choice, or a detail that makes a space easier to use can have a significant impact on the finished project. These decisions may not be the most glamorous part of design, but they are often the ones that make everything else work better.

As the M Project continues to take shape, I'm reminded how important it is to look beyond appearances and pay attention to how a space actually functions. Beautiful design is wonderful, but thoughtful problem solving is what helps bring the entire project together.

More progress to come! I'm excited to share the finished result with you.

10/08/2026

We entered this profession because we love design.

We love the transformation, the materials, the problem solving and the moment when all the individual decisions finally come together. But somewhere between the beautiful concept and the finished project, there is another side of the profession that we cannot afford to ignore: the business.

Understanding profitability, contracts, purchasing, project timelines, cash flow and the true cost of our time may not be the most exciting part of being a designer, but it determines whether we can continue doing the work we love.

One of the things I wish more designers understood is that being good at design and being good at running a design business are two different skill sets.

You can be extraordinarily talented and still undercharge. You can have a full project schedule and still not be profitable. You can be busy every day and still be building a business that is not sustainable.

None of that means you are not a good designer. It means there are parts of the business you still need to learn.

The good news is that business skills can be developed. You don't need to become an accountant or a financial expert. However, you do need to understand your numbers well enough to know what your time is worth, what your projects actually cost and whether the decisions you are making today are helping you build the practice you want tomorrow.

Creativity may be what brings people to your door. A healthy business is what allows you to keep opening it.

If you are a designer, what is one business skill you wish you had learned earlier in your career?

Share it in the comments. You may help another designer who is learning the same lesson right now 💙✨

10/07/2026

How do you keep your own voice as a designer without making every project look like you?

It is a question I think many experienced designers eventually face. We spend years developing our eye and building a recognizable point of view, but our clients don't hire us to recreate our portfolio. They hire us to help them create a home that reflects their lives.

The challenge is finding the space between those two things: bringing our expertise, perspective and creative conviction to the project while leaving enough room for the client to recognize themselves in the finished design.

I explored that balance in my latest article, "Designing in Your Own Voice Without Drowning Out Your Client’s”( You can check it out here 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-mccarthy/ )

Your signature doesn't have to be a particular aesthetic. It can be the way you listen, the questions you ask, the problems you anticipate and the way you turn a client's needs into possibilities.

Sometimes, the best design is the one where your influence is felt without being the loudest voice in the room.

Read the full article and let me know: How do you protect your design voice while making space for your client's?

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Palm Beach, FL
33480

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https://www.stacymccarthy.design/

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