Meet Natalie Maxwell, Interior Designer & Founder of Refined Designs
I am an interior designer based in Prescott, Arizona, working with homeowners across Northern Arizona on custom new construction and substantial remodels. My background is in construction as much as design, and that shapes how I work: I start with the home itself, long before finish selections.
Natalie at a glance
- Role
Owner and Principal Designer
- Background
Before founding Refined Designs, I spent eight years working with Veritas Fine Homes, a custom home builder in Durango, Colorado. That experience gave me an invaluable understanding of the construction process, from architectural plans and design development to material selections, builder coordination, and the details that bring a custom home together.
Today, I combine that hands-on construction knowledge with a creative approach to interior design, helping clients envision the possibilities and carry a cohesive design through construction.
- Education
Business Management degree, Fort Lewis College, and Residential Interior Design certification, New York Institute of Art and Design.
- Focus
Custom new construction, luxury whole-home remodels and finish-outs across Northern Arizona.
From construction sites to interior design
My fascination with homes began as a child in Castle Rock, Colorado, riding my horse through construction sites, studying homes as they went up and picturing how each one would be laid out. That curiosity about architecture never left.
After earning a degree in Business Management from Fort Lewis College in 2005 and a Residential Interior Design certification through the New York Institute of Art and Design, I joined Veritas Fine Homes, a custom home builder in Durango, Colorado. I spent eight years there in design support, client liaison, billing, marketing and office management.
That construction-industry experience taught me how plans become homes, and how one decision affects the next. A window location changes a cabinet run, which changes a lighting plan, which changes how a room feels at night. It eventually inspired me to found Refined Designs.
“My favorite part of design is seeing what is not there yet.”
My design philosophy
My work begins before finish selections, with space planning, cabinetry, lighting, architectural details and the relationship between the interior, the exterior and the setting. My real passion is creating harmony between inside and out, so a home feels connected to the land it sits on.
I do not impose one style. I look for what suits the architecture, the setting and the people who will live there. I love discovering new materials and exploring different styles, and I keep taking professional courses in hand sketching and visualization so clients can see a space before it exists.
A new chapter in Prescott
In 2023 I moved to Prescott, Arizona, to be with my fiancé and begin a new chapter. Today I work with homeowners, builders and architects throughout Northern Arizona, with open and direct communication at the center of every project.
Outside of work you will find me outside: snowboarding, paddleboarding, yoga, gardening and traveling, rain or shine.
“Natalie has a quiet confidence and a versatility that is rare. She is loyal, hard working, and coordinates well with everyone involved in a project.”
Tile and Light Art of Durango
“Design is Intelligence made Visible”
Planning a custom home or major renovation?
Send the location, the type of project and where you are in the process. If it is a fit, we will talk through what the design work would look like.