With over a decade of experience in successful, high-end residential design, Kari McIntosh Dawdy has fostered strong relationships with happy clients in San Francisco, Piedmont, Hillsborough, Santa Barbara, and beyond. Through travel, hands-on experience, and education, Kari developed a love for many forms of design, developing her own unique blend of “California cool” that deftly blends high and low, new and old. All of her interiors focus on attention to detail, craftsmanship, proportion, glamour,comfort, and unique touches for every room. An expert at creating bespoke, vibrant homes that channel our clients’ diverse personalities to result in dynamic spaces with many purposes and an emphasis on form, function, and beauty. Her work has been called, “charming, fresh, and beautifully detailed.”

A creative with an innate eye for design, Kari spent her childhood developing her design skills through art, drafting classes, and creative pursuits. After pursuing her passion through California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s Architecture program, she quickly realized her preference for interiors and shifted her path accordingly to Business Administration with the intent to continue into the field of Interior Design. After seven years honing her business skills in the corporate world, she then continued her design studies through the UC Berkeley Interior Design & Interior Architecture post-baccalaureate program, graduating with distinction.

Kari McIntosh Design is a bespoke design firm specializing in residential projects emphasizing personal and beautiful spaces as unique as each individual client. From large to small scale projects the firm’s approach focuses on the client; collaborating to create the home of their dreams. KMD’s design philosophy juxtaposes vintage with contemporary, organic elements with streamlined finishes, and custom pieces with the best retail available.

Passionate that good design will enhance your life and time is your most precious commodity; KMD is pleased to offer her experience and services in partnership tocreate and manage your entire project so that you may focus on your life, family, and work. KMD works with business professionals, young families, and empty nesters alike to create spaces representative of them.

In conjunction with her studies, Kari landed internships at two prominent hospitality design firms (in San Rafael and Santa Barbara). Inspired to create and motivated with her can-do, make-it-happen attitude, her eponymous firm, Kari McIntosh Design, opened for business in the Fall of 2008. Kari was invited to design for the 2014 Traditional Home Napa Valley Showcase and was awarded a room at the 2017 San Francisco Decorator Showcase. Kari’s own home remodel was published in Traditional Home Magazine and her work has been published in Traditional Home Magazine, Silicon Valley Magazine, HGTV Magazine, Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine and featured online in, Elle Decor, California Home and Design, Apartment Therapy, Luxe Magazine, Rue Magazine, About.com, Modern Sanctuary, HOUZZ and many more.

Kari is LEED AP certified and is an ASID Allied Member. Kari McIntosh Design is honored with 2017 and 2016 ASID Design Excellence Awards in Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design, Residence (under 3,000 square feet) and Singular Space – Showhouse (for The Traditional Home Napa Valley Showcase) and Singular Space – Nursery.