HousewarmingTeam-3

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.

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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.

Twyla Stephens

Senior Designer

A member of Seattle's design community since 2012, my passion for design started early when I accompanied my contractor Dad to his job sites. This developed my eye for impeccable craftsmanship and built the foundation for what drives good design. I love helping clients figure out their unique style and helping them combine all of their favorite things into one cohesive plan. I also love educating clients and introducing them to unexpected ideas.

Working with our contractor clients and partners to see the project come to life is so satisfying. Prior to joining Housewarming, I was an Interior Designer with a small boutique design firm in Kirkland, Washinton and prior to that with Shoenfeld Interiors in Seattle. I hold of Bachelor of Art in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Seattle.
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Mayra Zarabia

Interior Designer III & Staging Manager

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!

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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.

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.

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From beginning to end, I enjoy the entire interior design process from selecting paint and finish samples with clients to creating renderings and designing presentation boards, each step brings me so much joy especially when the result is our client falling in love with their space all over again!

Being part of the Housewarming team as a Junior Designer is so rewarding and I am excited to apply my education, experience and technical skills while continuing to grow along the way with such a collaborative and creative group!

Caitlin McClellan

Administrative Assistant

My career has been as varied as the places I've lived, but I've always had an interest in good design. From gilded-age mansions in Rhode Island to Pueblo structures in Taos, NM to coastal modern homes in Seattle, I'm always paying attention to the architecture around me. I grew up in a 1900 farmhouse in Utah, and our family home seemed to always be under renovation. I grew to love design and improvement. As a graduate of Utah State University with a bachelor's degree in Family and Human Development, I have worked in early childhood education, rental and boutique hotel management, and family finance. From the family "junk" drawer to the scheduling calendar, give me an organizing project, and I'm in heaven. I love Alki Beach, volunteering, and life in West Seattle where I live with my artist husband, young daughter, and two cats--one who loves to saunter outside and one who loves to hide under the bed.
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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!  

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