MEET THE DESIGNER

 
 
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Mark Haynes, Allied ASID

 
 

My interest in people precedes my interest in design. It’s a subtle but important difference allowing me to create nourishing spaces that complement the unique lifestyle of each client.

Intuition & Thoughtful Design

Thoughtfulness and intuition are key to my process. Rather than diving directly into space planning and sourcing, I first uncover the needs, preferences, aspirations and personality of each client. Taking this time to listen gives me the tools to design homes that promote well-being at every moment.

Alignment of the Elements

Residential interior design is my passion because I deeply appreciate the personal nature of designing homes. The potential to align the aesthetic with the emotional, and the form with the function creates a home that supports and cares for those who live there.

A Streamlined Experience

Beyond designing beautiful spaces, my expertise is project management. Over the years, I have finely tuned the process so it is smooth, organized, and efficient. I focus on not just the creative aspects, but also the important and often overlooked business of timing, budgets and installation. Because I am selective about projects, I ensure that the entire design experience complements, rather than detracts from, clients’ long-term experience.

 
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“Mark was wonderful to work with. He was very easy-going and he brought us great ideas with style and grace. At the same time, he kept the project moving when we would have otherwise stalled because of decision burn-out and general life distractions. His attention to detail is superb. ”
— Downtown Denver Resident, November 2017
 
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MY STORY

It all started when…

 

My design career started early at the age of 10 while living in the wilds of West Texas. A family friend built me a 7x7-foot deer blind that I turned into a fort. I loved being there. There was a sense of warmth and a feeling of security that came with the solitude. I ate, played and, to my mom’s dismay, even slept out there sometimes.

I “borrowed” change from my mom’s purse and my dad’s coin jar and perused garage sales for dishes, drapes, chairs, lighting...anything that would make my fort feel more like home. When I finally ran out of change, I browsed back alleys for discarded items and garage sale leftovers.

The fort grew to five rooms.

But when I started a second story, the neighbors grew concerned, and that was the end of the fun. I reluctantly disassembled the fort.

Fast forward many years, I see now that this fort was the beginning of a life full of creative pursuits. I started my career in advertising, working on campaigns for some of the biggest brands in the U.S. After 15 years, I woke up one day and realized my passion for the ad business was gone.

Not quite sure of what I wanted to come next, I took a month sabbatical driving throughout Mexico to reflect on the next chapter of my career . My mind kept returning to that fort. There was so much joy during that time in my life, and I realized quickly that I wanted to translate that same joy into my work.

I enrolled in design school in Santa Fe and worked with a firm for six years, learning all of the trade practices, systems and secrets. At 47, I had gone from the corner office of a big ad agency, to an intern working with great designers who were much younger than me. Needless to say, it was a shock to the system, but the time spent there was extremely valuable to my growth as a designer and I am very grateful for the experience.

In 2012, my partner Kevin and I moved to Denver where I decided to take the leap and open my own firm, even though I only had one small carry over client from Santa Fe and knew no one in town.

Looking back, I realize that my whole life was leading to interior design, and the only thing I regret is not starting sooner. That said, all of my life experiences play a big role in my approach to the work. All of the systems I learned in the advertising world helped me create streamlined operations for my design clients. All of that time spent in the deer blind, established a space for my young mind to be creative.

Today, I am thrilled that I get to spend every day doing what I love, and helping others to feel as comfortable, secure and inspired as I did sitting in my little fort in West Texas.

 
 
 
 

Winner of the ASID Colorado Crystal Award

A statewide competition judged by design professionals from across the U.S.

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Now tell me about you!