Our Mission
Our Approach
Our goal is simple: make you happy! To exceed your expectations, and fulfill your dreams in optimizing your space—for life and work. We blend practical function and safety considerations with inspiring solutions that help you fall in love all over again with your home or office. Be it design, staging or transition support, our collaborative approach is tailored to invite you into the process without overwhelming you.
Meet the Team
With more than three decades of experience in business, real estate and residential organizing, staging and styling, founder and owner Karen Pfeiffer Bush leads with undeniable passion and integrity. Her dynamic and equally passionate team of experts are committed to elevating your experience and vision of what's possible.
Karen Pfeiffer Bush
Chief Executive Officer
Client happiness is our top priority, but having happy, motivated and empowered employees is my mission because I know that when my team loves their work, our clients will reap the rewards. Many companies view employees as there to support the CEO and leadership team. My view is that I am there to support my employees and make sure that our entire team has everything they need to stay inspired and motivated so our clients get the best possible service and product.
My career has taken some interesting twists and turns, but each step of my journey led me to my beloved Housewarming. In my early career, I was a magazine editor and wrote a weekly real estate column, which sparked a lifelong obsession with home and interior design. Next, I turned to project management in the book publishing world in mid-town Manhattan, an experience that honed my ability to manage multiple projects and tasks. I moved to Seattle in 1993 and joined a high-end commercial printing company with headquarters in Los Angeles. I started their customer service department, and then moved on to sales and marketing. That was a whirlwind of 24-hour-a-day schedules and hopping on airplanes a little too often over an 11-year period. It was an exciting job, but home was calling and my voyeur-like obsession with homes and design drove me to a five-year stint selling real estate. During that period, I started staging my own listings and helping clients with the downsizing and moving process, and voila….Housewarming, was born!
Each client that we serve enlightens and expands our breadth of services because when you’re in service to others as we are, no client or project or day is ever the same. That’s why all these years later, Housewarming continues to grow and expand. When someone asks us for help, even if we’ve never encountered their request, we say “Yes, we can!” and we figure it out and take care of them. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to have helped so many people over the years through good times and difficult times, and promise that Housewarming and its fabulous, happy, motivated team will be here for many years to come to help many more people through life’s transitions.
Mayra Zarabia
Interior Designer III & Staging Manager
What I love most about being an interior designer is the opportunity to elevate someone’s well-being through thoughtful, functional, and beautiful design. I believe design should enhance the way people live and feel, and for me, it’s always about the end user, their experience, comfort, and joy in the spaces we create together.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Bellevue College and bring over six years of experience in the field. Prior to pursuing design, I worked in the senior care industry supporting sales and marketing operations. That background gave me a deep understanding of the needs of aging populations, which now informs my design work. As a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, I apply ADA standards and universal design principles to create safe, accessible spaces for seniors, individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and anyone looking to age comfortably in their home.
I enjoy every phase of the design process from space planning to helping you choose the perfect backsplash tile. I’m proficient in drafting programs including AutoCAD and Chief Architect and have hands-on experience managing both STFI and Full Plan Review permitting processes. I’ve successfully permitted projects throughout King and Snohomish Counties. My working knowledge of local codes and building regulations allows me to guide projects seamlessly from concept to completion.
Functionality is just as important as aesthetics in my work. I prioritize sourcing materials and fixtures that are as practical as they are beautiful, because if it doesn’t work, beauty alone isn’t enough. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I’m also a strong advocate for sustainable design and green home solutions to help keep our homes and environment healthy and resilient.
As part of your design team, you can count on me to be a thoughtful, intentional collaborator, committed to bringing your vision to life in a way that’s both inspiring and deeply personal.
Swayzie Zolghadri
Junior Interior Designer
As an interior designer, my goal is to curate spaces that not only captivate the eye but also allow connection with the natural world and enhance the quality of life for our clients. In addition to completing the interior design program at Heritage School of Interior Design, I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a Minor in Psychological Sciences from Northern Arizona University. I am committed to designing homes that not only look beautiful and inviting, but that also inspire a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, bring sustainable practices to the forefront, and positively influence each client's mind, soul, and overall productivity starting with the well-being of their home. While working with us, we will prioritize your mental health, values, hobbies and daily routines as we create a home that truly reflects you.
From beginning to end, I enjoy each step in the interior design process from intentionally selecting finish samples such as tile, cabinetry, or flooring that match the client's needs and unique style to formulating a sign off excel spreadsheet listing every single line item in detail and scheduling a meeting to go over the specifications with the client. Once the client has agreed and the selections have been signed off, the construction process begins. I produce detailed construction documentation that supports the scope of work including as-built plans, demolition plans, floor plans, electrical and lighting plans, and elevations. Additionally, I curate renderings that allow the client to visualize the space as well as precise elevations to help guide the contractors on the accurate location of each finish and fixture. Each step brings me so much joy, especially when the results allow the clients to fall in love with their space all over again!
As a Junior Designer at Housewarming, I am excited to expand my education, experience, and technical skills while continuing to grow along the way with the team and our partners and clients.
Caitlin McClellan
Administrative Assistant
Whiskey
PERMANENT EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH & MORALE BOOSTER
Hi, I’m Whiskey, part Siberian Husky, mostly cat. As part of the Housewarming team my biggest responsibility is making sure everyone’s serotonin levels stay high. Afterall sad designers are bad designers. It’s a tough task, but someone’s got to do it. My favorite part of the job is getting to nap all day with a few occasional pets in between of course. I also enjoy lunch time and trying to get people to feed me (doesn’t work too often). I get to attend all our team meetings and make sure everyone stays on track. Even though my team is very talented, I still make all the design decisions around here. If you visit our office I might pay attention to you, you’re welcome to try and pet me, but don’t be offended if I don’t seem interested (again I’m part cat). Major perk of hiring us...you might get to see me!
