Get to know these Naples-based talents who are making waves.
Carrie Brigham
While born and raised in Naples, Carrie Brigham proudly steers away from the area’s expected aesthetic. “We’re one of the few firms here that really don’t do coastal,” she says, “although we reference it abstractly.” Instead, the interior designer—with a 3,000-square-foot studio in Midtown Naples—focuses on starting from scratch with every project. “We almost refuse to use the same fabric or the same details twice,” she explains. “It’s completely new each time.” Further setting herself apart, Brigham incorporates a professional color analysis of her clients to inform the unique home’s palette. “When the owners’ personal style syncs with the interiors, it creates another level of coordination where everything feels aligned—from their wardrobe to their interiors—and ultimately flatters them the most,” she reflects.
Jett Thompson
A longtime presence in Naples with a namesake design firm and home store, Jett Thompson brings a consistently fresh perspective to every project—never relying on a formula. Each home is a reflection of her clients, using thoughtful details to tell their story. And while her aesthetic evolves from one project to the next, Thompson has become known for her fearless use of color, texture and pattern. “Right now, we’re working with many shades of green, from bright chartreuse to deep tones,” she shares. “We recently did a green-velvet sofa with white-lacquered legs and brass casters.” Travel also plays a key role in shaping Thompson’s design sensibility and store curation. “No matter where I am, I’m always hunting and scouting to add a different flavor to the store,” Thompson says of her home shop, which is filled with a careful mix of new and antique pieces.
Wendy Berry
Founder and principal of W Design in Naples and Cleveland, Ohio, Wendy Berry focuses primarily on luxury residential projects, but her team also takes on select boutique hospitality work, from acclaimed restaurants to the prestigious Old Collier Golf Club. Regardless of the project type, Berry is known for infusing each space with a touch of whimsy. “Whether it’s a fun wallcovering in a jewel-box powder room or an end table shaped like a dog, we always incorporate conversation pieces that feel like treasures,” she says. Building depth is another hallmark of Berry’s approach. “It’s all about layering color in unexpected ways, paired with rich textures like linen, bouclé and velvet,” the designer explains. Despite her playful flourishes, Berry stays rooted in timelessness. “Our work is made to last,” she says. “When we revisit homes we designed a decade ago, they still feel current today.”
Kelli Esposito
“Defiant in design”—that’s how Kelli Esposito, owner and principal designer of Harper Haus Interiors in North Naples, defines her company’s ethos. “We say we ‘Harper-Haus’d it,’ ” she muses. “It’s our way of reinterpreting something in a way you don’t typically see.” A self-taught designer with a background in corporate fashion, Esposito still draws on that artistic and visual education, now through a home lens. “I still use what I was trained in, but in a different way,” she says. The designer gravitates toward natural stone and organic materials that are genuine to Southwest Florida, often whitewashing or coating spaces in plaster. “We love working with these earthy materials, then pairing them with high-gloss or metallic elements for juxtaposition,” she explains. Esposito also favors applying bold wallcoverings in unexpected ways—on ceilings, built-ins, doors and even furniture. “It’s an interesting way to bring in both color and texture,” she notes. Recently, Esposito has focused her attention on Marco Island, recognizing it as an emerging design destination ripe with possibility. “It’s such a gem,” she observes. “There’s so much opportunity for a refresh, and people are starting to see that.”
Catharine Willmer
Naples-based interior designer Catharine Willmer crafts spaces with an innate sense of place, drawing inspiration from a home’s architecture and its natural surroundings. “My design ethos is elegant but also relaxed,” she shares. “I believe every room should be used and enjoyed—nothing should feel too precious.” Willmer favors natural materials and fibers such as rattan, cane and jute, often paired with unlacquered brass accents, from light fixtures to hardware. Art is another signature element of her work—“whether its commissioning new pieces or sourcing vintage finds, then mixing them together,” the designer says. When it comes to color, Southwest Florida is Willmer’s muse: “I often pull from nature, using lots of blues and greens,” she says. “I’m also inspired by our sunsets, with their soft pinks and purples, and the sandy tones of the beach.”
Angela Rodriguez
Interior designer Angela Rodriguez, whose firm has offices in Sarasota and Naples, draws on her hospitality background to shape her residential projects. “I got my start designing for resorts and spas,” Rodriguez says, “and those roots still influence my work—especially in Southwest Florida, where there’s a strong interest in bringing resort-style living into the home.” A key differentiator for Rodriguez is her team’s understanding of interior architecture. “For us, it’s about the detailing and application of the materials,” she says. The firm also specializes in creative ceiling design, using full-length drapery or wall paneling to lead the eye upward. “We then add gorgeous details above—like woodwork, wallcoverings, or integrated lighting—so the design doesn’t stop at the walls,” she adds.
