I delight in delight, as a matter of fact I can’t live without it. In everything we do here at KAD, we are looking to surprise and delight our clients. I truly believe that our environments can make our lives better. When we surround ourselves with things that light us up, inspire us, support us, spark and energize us or calm and soothe us, we are in the best possible frame of mind to be our very best selves, to live our very best lives. Interior design is much more than creating functional spaces although it must be built on that. Interior design can be a radical act of self care, a lavish and generous gift of love that we give to ourselves, our families and anyone we invite into our spaces. Beauty is practical because beauty is inspirational. When we are inspired, we are our best. 

I grew up living in Canada, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. In junior high, we settled in Annapolis Maryland until college, solidifying an east coast way of thinking-straightforward, truth-y. The experience of living internationally, learning other languages and fully integrating into other cultures is what made me. It has given me a comfort and craving for the out-of-the-ordinary. It is the foundation of how I think and how I design. 

Perhaps because of this, I have always loved old houses and the way our homes tell our stories. My grandparents lived all over the world, my grandfather an army colonel, my grandmother–his Icelandic war bride, their home, and subsequently my parents home, were and is full of lovely, interesting things from everywhere they’ve been. A brass mongol from Turkey as a side table–an enormous, heavy, dark wood, carved dining table and chairs with stretched leather seats made for them in Venezuela, oil paintings from Iceland, bone china with seagulls from Denmark which now fill my own china cabinet. I want this for every client project–a sense of story, a sense of wonder, a home filled with personal, intriguing, beautiful things. Things that are uniquely “us”.

Kristin holds a B.F.A. in Interior Planning and Design, with minors in Architecture and Art, and has been creating carefully crafted joyful spaces for happy clients since 1994. Before founding Kristin Alvarado Design, she honed her expertise with local interiors firms developing a sharp eye for detail, function, and personal expression. Today, Kristin’s client-centered approach brings decades of experience and a passionate commitment to blending beauty, charm, and unexpected delight into every project, ensuring each beautifully curated space feels unmistakably personal.