Mariah Cope: A Personal Journey Through Design

Some people stumble into their careers by chance, but for our Senior Designer, Interior Design has been a calling since childhood. From drawing elaborate house layouts in chalk on the pavement to rearranging bedroom furniture every other week (much to her parents' amusement), design has always been in her DNA. By high school, she knew exactly where her path would lead, and she's been creating beautiful, meaningful spaces ever since.

Today we’d love to introduce you to, Mariah Cope, our HouseHome Senior Designer and most tenured team member.

A Philosophy Rooted in Authenticity

"Great design should feel personal, lived-in, and layered—thoughtfully reflecting the people who live there, their stories, their lifestyle, and the things that make them feel most at home." This philosophy isn't just a professional motto; it's a deeply held belief that guides every project.

Rather than imposing a signature style, she approaches each project as a collaboration, listening closely to clients' goals, preferences, and daily rhythms. Her education and experience then help guide the design toward something both beautiful and functional. It's this balance between professional expertise and personal connection that sets her work apart.

Challenges That Shape Growth

When asked about her most challenging projects, two experiences stand out. The first was a complete remodel of a historic home in Old Town Littleton: a project that required delicate balance between honoring original architecture and creating fresh, livable spaces. The emotional weight of preserving history while meeting modern needs pushed her design sensibilities in new directions.

The second challenge took her across an ocean: designing a 1500s château in France alongside Christine Chalfant of HH. The logistical puzzle of sourcing and ordering everything for a home she'd never seen in person, then spending weeks in France finding special pieces from local markets, became an incredible learning experience that expanded her global design perspective.

Breaking Rules and Embracing Imperfection

Like all great designers, she has strong opinions about design "rules," particularly the ones worth breaking. Her favorite rule to ignore? The dreaded "matchy-matchy" approach. "I think a little imperfection and contrast create a more lived-in, personalized space," she explains. This philosophy of embracing beautiful imperfection runs through all her work, creating spaces that feel authentically human rather than showroom-perfect.

Inspiration from Unexpected Places

Travel serves as her greatest source of inspiration, particularly experiences that push beyond Colorado's typical design aesthetic. Edinburgh, Scotland holds a special place in her heart as one of the most inspirational destinations she's visited. Experiencing different architecture, historic design, and cultural aesthetics challenges her perspective and helps her create more timeless, inspired spaces for clients back home.

The Personal Touch

At home, her favorite space perfectly embodies her design philosophy. The "green room," a hallway between kitchen and office, showcases her love of color, personality, and creative risk-taking. Hand-painted with a pear vine wall inspired by Anthropologie wallpaper, this simple breezeway has been transformed into something magical with floating shelves, abundant plants, vintage furniture, and thoughtful storage. It's visible from the kitchen she and her husband remodeled together, creating a visual connection between spaces that tells their story.

A Creative Life Beyond Design

Musical theater has been a passion since age seven, and this love of performance and storytelling deeply influences her design process. If she weren't creating beautiful interiors, she'd likely be working as a musical director or wedding planner: both careers that allow for bringing people's visions to life in unique, meaningful ways.

Her design superpower lies in hospitality design, creating unique, one-of-a-kind experiences for themed spaces. She loves transforming environments to feel immersive and memorable, making people feel as if they've stepped into another world.

Dreams and Inspirations

Given unlimited budget for one room, she'd create a grand, Beauty and the Beast-inspired library and lounge. Picture tall bookshelves with rolling ladders, herringbone wood flooring, a statement fireplace with ornate marble mantel, spiraling metal staircase, and a baby grand piano. Large windows would flood the space with natural light, while plants and organic pops of color would bring life to this literary sanctuary. "I have a design in my back pocket ready to go whenever someone gives us the opportunity," she says with a smile.

She'd also love to see lowered living rooms make a comeback: those step-down conversation areas popular in mid-century design. "There's something so cozy and intimate about them. They naturally draw people in and create a feeling of togetherness."

The Unexpected Project

When asked about the most unusual object she's incorporated into a design, one project immediately comes to mind: combining baseball and knitting for a client's basement lounge. The challenge was creating a perfectly appointed space that reflected the client's hobby and precious collection of baseball memorabilia alongside her knitting passion. The solution? A beautiful space with tons of storage for knitting supplies and an acrylic coffee table that showcased the baseball collection. "It was such a fun project, and turned out to be such a fun space!"

Life in the Details

Currently navigating life as a new mother, she describes herself as "a night owl, but my baby boy wakes me up at 5am so I'm a permanently exhausted pigeon." Despite the sleep deprivation, her passion for design remains strong. She starts each day with homemade lattes while listening to classical lo-fi or indie acoustic music, finding inspiration in the quiet moments before the creative work begins.

When asked what she'd save in a fire (assuming family and pets were safe), her answer reveals what matters most: a box of letters from her husband, her 8-month-old's baby book, and her computer. "Those are the things that hold all of our memories and personal moments, and I couldn't imagine losing them."

The Heart of Great Design

What emerges from this conversation is a designer who understands that the best spaces aren't just beautiful—they're deeply personal. Her work goes beyond selecting the right furniture or paint colors; it's about creating environments that support how people actually live, love, and make memories.

Whether she's preserving the history of a century-old home, sourcing treasures in French markets, or finding creative ways to display a client's baseball card collection, her approach remains constant: listen, collaborate, and create spaces that feel authentically like home.

In a world of Instagram-perfect interiors that often prioritize style over substance, this designer offers something different: spaces that are beautiful precisely because they're real, lived-in, and lovingly imperfect. And perhaps that's the greatest design philosophy of all.

Would you like to work with Mariah to create your dream space? Reach out today!