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 two 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.
Amanda Kratochvil
Managing Director & Senior Designer
Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS)
I love my job especially when I can find solutions to the problems that my clients have with their homes. I find joy in solving the puzzle that each client brings me, and I love to see the satisfaction on their faces when they see the result of our work.
I’ve grown with Housewarming, starting as a stager to become Housewarming’s Managing Director and Senior Interior Designer. While I am very much still involved in the daily operations and business strategy, I now spend most of my time focused on our interior design clients and the continued development of our residential division.
My success lies in my constant search for solutions to existing challenges and my never-ending passion for improving efficiency. I’m not satisfied with mediocrity and I’m continually pushing to improve the world around me. My career has been the most rewarding, and humbling experience of my life. I adore having an impact on the way others live and enjoy their homes. I strive to solve my clients’ problems first and foremost, before even considering aesthetic. I work hard to facilitate solutions in ways that don’t make my clients feel like they are settling for anything.
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design and an unparalleled passion for creating functional and beautiful spaces for life and work. I love Housewarming and our amazing team of caring, fun and talented people. I am inspired by design, but I am equally inspired by my Housewarming team.
I live my passion every day and am very proud of my career accomplishments to date. I am even more proud of how I have helped Housewarming to grow and become a leader in the boutique interior design world in the Seattle area and beyond.
Mayra Zarabia
Interior Designer & Stager
As an interior designer, I know that what I do has the potential to elevate a person’s state of well-being. In helping design spaces that not only function properly, I hope I also help people live better lives physically and emotionally. I receive a real sense of satisfaction in my role at Housewarming and it feels good!
I enjoy all aspects of the design process from researching components of a project (building codes, fixtures, finishes and design trends) to space planning. I always strive to source materials and fixtures that are not only amazing to look at, but also function and work properly. After all if it does not work, it doesn’t matter how beautiful it is!
As part of the Housewarming team I get to help support interior design and styling projects. I have a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Bellevue College and have supported sales and marketing operations in previous jobs. The Housewarming team is truly one of a kind and it is a pleasure getting to work alongside people who are passionate about design and about helping others.
Alex Starr
Junior Interior Designer
After leaving a ten+ year career in Social Work, I opted to follow my heart and pursue my passion for interior design. I attended Heritage School of Interior Design and received my Masters Certificate in 2023. During school, I continued my work as a social worker, which allowed me to apply and strengthen my interpersonal skills.
I believe that the design of a space greatly impacts the way people feel and interact within it, and I strive to create environments that inspire and uplift. I love working with clients to understand their vision and translate it into a space that truly reflects their personality and style.
My design approach combines creativity with practicality, ensuring that every project I undertake is not only visually stunning but also highly functional. I pay great attention to the flow of a space, maximizing its potential and optimizing the use of every square inch.
I feel so lucky to be part of the Housewarming team, and I love coming to work every day working alongside creative minds.
Nikole gormley
CLIENT CONCIERGE & DESIGN ASSISTANT
As Client Concierge with Housewarming, my primary goal is to ensure that our clients have a positive experience with our company from their first phone call through their final invoice. I answer questions, address concerns and coordinate staging services. In addition to my client concierge work in the office, I also have the opportunity to use my creativity to stage homes and model units. I love helping our clients showcase their properties so they can get the best return on their investment. I love the team of people I work with and sincerely enjoy ensuring that our clients have the best experience possible when they connect with Housewarming.
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!