How did you end up in the design industry?
I have always worked in art and design, beginning in the art gallery business in the early 1990s after graduating with a BA in Art History. I then transitioned into graphic design after realizing you need to be independently wealthy to make it in the art world. After my husband and I opened our family plumbing business and flipped several houses ourselves, it dawned on me that I loved interior architecture. I went back to school for my MFA in Interior Architecture & Design and opened Kamber Mason Design in 2014.
What does your team look like?
Currently, I am the only designer, and I have a bookkeeper, accountant, and a newly added intern who happens to be a past client. She fell in love with the process during her remodel and has now entered the same Interior Architecture & Design program I completed. She has an extensive background in corporate operations and administration and is helping me draft the future of KMD.
Tell us about the project you're sharing.
The Aerie is my favorite project to date. It began when the homeowner, an acquaintance through our children, once told her husband that her dream was to have one of my kitchens. After he tragically passed away at 53, she reached out, hoping to honor him and bring their shared dream to life. From the start, I designed with both of them in mind. He loved fantasy, like Dungeons & Dragons and Lord of the Rings, so I wove elements of his imagination into her refined sensibility. Every decision, from layout to materials, balanced their yin and yang.
In the original plan, the primary bedroom opened directly into the kitchen and dining room, an unforgivable design faux pas. I reconfigured it to include a small hallway, wallpapered in House of Hackney’s Plantasia, a woodland scene I nicknamed “Narnia.” It became a secret passage between realms, just as he would have loved.
The Aerie, built in 1981, still had its original finishes, including a brown penny-tile bathroom, but its cedar paneling and strong bones shone through. The homeowner had wisely preserved the wood through the “paint it white” years, giving us an authentic foundation to build upon.
What was involved in this project?
Set high atop a mountain in West Marin, the 2,500-square-foot, three-story home was reimagined from concept through completion to improve flow, function, and connection between rooms. The remodel encompassed the kitchen, dining, living, primary suite, powder, and guest spaces, with light furnishings added at the end. A favorite detail is the dining room’s bespoke window seat and Kintsugi-inspired wall treatment. It is a serene focal point celebrating the beauty in restoration and imperfection. I designed the motif digitally and collaborated with a local artisan to apply it by hand in black plaster and gold leaf, creating a luminous, one-of-a-kind work of art. The Aerie remains my benchmark project. It was born from love, loss, and trust and serves as a reminder of the magic that happens when clients say “yes” and dream without limits.
What's something you were really excited about creating for this project?
I was really excited to create the “Narnia” hallway.
Is there anything you changed about your business or processes as a result of this project?
This project has given me the desire to do more projects with this much creative freedom. This client was a dream. She was what I call a “Yes” client, and she has now become the model for my ideal client.
What was your biggest learning from this project?
Dreams cost real dollars and it is very important to establish a thorough budget early to keep everyone’s feet on the ground.
Is there a tool, tip, or business resource from Hot Young Designers Club that you use in your business?
Manifestation! I love how much you guys and your speakers talk about the power to manifest your dreams.
Thank you, Kamber Mason, for sharing more about your business and sharing this beautiful home with us! You can visit Kamber Mason Design on their website or Instagram.
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Photography: David Duncan Livingston, @davidlivingston
Headshot: Jeff at S72 Business Portraits, @s72businessportraits
