6 minute read.....
It's been a crazy, unexpected, challenging journey the last three and a half years here at Orangetree Interiors. I feel so blessed for the amazing experiences I’ve had and I’m beyond grateful for the overwhelming support and growth that Orangetree Interiors has had since launching our virtual interior design services on September 26, 2017.
Today, I’m SO excited to officially welcome the new team members of Orangetree Interiors!
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The last year has been quite unusual. It has no doubt led to different obstacles and opportunities for many of us. Although running a business with two kiddoes at home has been tough, I was fortunate enough to already have had a streamlined process in place for delivering interior decorating services “online.”
With so many people being forced to work from home and so few being able to travel, freshening up home interiors seems to be the "in" thing to do.
I’ve been amazed with the amount of growth that Orangetree Interiors has had this past year. Although I was sometimes overwhelmed with the schedule that came with the success, I’m SUPER grateful for Every. Single. Client. AND the fact that each project has led me closer to finding an amazing superstar team that I can’t wait to introduce to you!
NEW VIRTUAL INTERIOR DESIGNERS AT ORANGETREE INTERIORS
Our first team member, Brooke Visco, has been such a welcome addition to the team and due to our busy schedule, I’m WAY overdue to introducing her. I feel so lucky and thankful to have had Brooke on our team since November of last year (like I said, this intro is SUPER late). Brooke is….well…..FREAKING AWESOME! I can’t express my gratitude enough for all of her help and trustworthiness over the last seven months – not to mention the special talent that she has brought and continues to bring to Orangetree Interiors.
Next I’d like to welcome Irah Acaban and Alyssa Wright. Both joined Orangetree Interiors originally as a field placement from Conestoga College but they impressed me so much that I had to invite them both to join the team. Irah and Alyssa officially joined the team in April of this year and have been AH-MAZING so far. I can’t believe how quickly they’ve been able to learn our processes and use all of our tools. Although still new, Irah and Alyssa have been exceptional with the help they’ve been able to provide in such a short time. They are both incredibly talented and I’m so excited to see them evolve as designers.
BROOKE, IRAH & ALYSSA SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT THEMSELVES....
Hi, I’m Brooke and I was born and raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia. My fiancé plays professional hockey so we lived in Montreal, QC for three years, Syracuse, NY and now live in Fort Lauderdale, FL! We travel home to British Columbia in the offseason and live in a tiny lake town near my parents.
FUN FACTS ABOUT BROOKE
Designer Influences
Leanne Ford & Becki Owens
Fave Song
Anything James Taylor or Zac Brown Band! I really like all country music I guess.
My family loves boating and the lake! So I love to go out on the boat and go wake surfing. My fiancé and I have a Mini-Goldendoodle, we like to take him for walks or to the park. I'm also a big fan of cozying up on the couch and watching TV or YouTube.
Hello, I’m Irah. I'm originally from the Philippines but I moved to Canada in 2015. Been living here ever since and I love it!.....Not so much the winter though. :)
I love interior design because it allows me to show my creative side. I love that every task and project is completely unique. It keeps things unexpected and interesting. My absolute favourite design styles are Mid-Century Modern, Scandinavian and Contemporary and bonus points for anyone who likes minimalist versions of these design styles!
FUN FACTS ABOUT IRAH
Designer Influences
Karin Bohn (House of Bohn) & Svetlana Tryaskina (Estee Design)
Fave Song
I always have a hard time picking favourite songs because I can think of so many but to sum it up, my absolute favourite artists to listen to are LOONY and Bruno Mars. My favourite songs are Be Cool and Some Kinda Love by LOONY and of course, Leave the Door Open by Bruno Mars. Such great artists!
During my free time and when it's sunny out, I like to rollerblade around town. I also LOVE playing tennis and can get quite competitive. I have also recently taken up hiking so I'm constantly looking for great places to hike to!
Hello, I’m Alyssa. I was born and raised in a very small town in the Kawartha’s in ON, Canada which quite literally had nothing extravagant about it…… not even a Walmart. This was very challenging as a creative since doing interior design was never a great option as a career choice in the area.
As a young kid, I would always watch HGTV as a pastime which sparked my passion and dream for helping others to create a home that feels beautifully authentic to them.
I love all things to do with interiors (and exteriors for that matter), but I definitely have a special love for Classic Contemporary designs that are infused with Rustic, Coastal or Mediterranean elements. So basically……a big mixture of design styles all rolled into one that I like to call Classic Rustic Contemporary.
FUN FACTS ABOUT ALYSSA
Designer Influences
Studio McGee, Aly Morford & Leigh Lincoln (Pure Salt Interiors) and Restoration Hardware
Fave Song
This is one of those questions that I never have an answer to. There are simply too many songs and I feel it’s unfair to pick just one! I’m constantly changing my favourite songs. I often find myself listening to something on repeat until I get sick of it. To answer the question though….. right now I’m really enjoying Afterglow by Ed Sheeran and anything by Rex Orange County. Ask me in a few weeks and my answer will probably change!
One of my favourite pastimes is finding beautiful places and exploring them with my friends, family, or significant other! There is just something so rejuvenating and lively about hiking a trail and finding hidden beauties! I’m also interested in photography and use it as a creative outlet! I use this interest and incorporate into other hobbies like social media and to keep memories with friends and family.
Hey there! If you don’t already know me, I’m Val! I was born and raised in Kitchener, ON, but moved to Wellesley ON in my thirties to build a family in a small town that values family and community. Creativity is my passion...whether interior design, graphic design, writing, music, ideas etc. “Creating” fuels my soul.
I created Orangetree Interiors almost four years ago out of necessity for a CONVENIENT interior decorating solution for busy professionals that desire and appreciate the value of a beautiful home.
Orangetree Interiors was created so that I could offer a virtual interior design experience for busy families that would be easy, enjoyable and convenient while allowing me to be home more with my young family.
While I can appreciate almost any interior design style, I would describe my personal style as Contemporary Coastal with a hint of Farmhouse. I LOVE being at the beach, appreciate minimalism and crave the comfort of familiarity - these three styles encompass exactly that.
FUN FACTS ABOUT VAL
Designer Influences
Studio McGee, Leclair Décor & Joanna Gaines
Fave Song
OMGosh....WAY too many to choose. Depends on my mood….some favourites are....Me & Bobby McGee, Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', Free Fallin,’ We Found Love, Uptown Funk, 80s Mercedes, Tennessee Whiskey, Takin' the Long Road, Could You Be Loved?...I could literally be here all day!
Hanging with friends. Laughing, telling stories and “deep” conversations truly rejuvenate me.
So that’s us - the team at Orangetree Interiors. I'm so proud of the design team we have and I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to work with these wonderful women. I genuinely cannot wait to see how we all grow together!
If your home could use a refresh, check out our Virtual Interior Design Services here. We would LOVE to help you bring your visions to life.
For a limited time only, you can use the code NEWTALENT at the checkout to receive 20% off your virtual interior design service with one of our new designers. For insight into what we can create for you, can check out our portfolio here and testimonials here.
However, if you’re not in the market for an update just yet, join our Design Tribe for helpful interior decorating tips, checklists and guides.
And, for the DIYERs out there, check out our Online Interior Design Course. It teaches the step-by-step process we use to execute beautiful home interiors.
Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know us – now we’d love to get to know and help you. Contact us if you have any questions about the project you'd like to get started.
Certified Interior Decorator, eDesigner & Founder
Orangetree Interiors
