We are Concetti,

a Detroit-founded

interior design

strategy studio.

About Us

O

We partner with each client as co-creator to express each person’s genuine self at home, at work, and in community through boldly designed solutions.

We create space that becomes

you

Our Approach

Strategic design for us means really getting to know you, and getting to know who will be using your space. To do this, we ask all kinds of questions, listen intently, and learn what inspires you. We also establish clear goals to assure that your needs are heard. In short, design is a way of problem-solving to improve your entire experience throughout your space.

Our Guiding Principles

We start with a Healthy Respect for everyone we work with, and for the space we’ll create together.

We’ll design your home or work space with solutions that are
True To You.

Because we know that when you can fully be yourself each day, that positive energy expands to others and our Community Thrives.

We Believe

Good design is for everyone

The places where we live and work deeply
impact our well-being

Designs and spaces are about you – the people, the families, the businesses, and the communities who live, work and thrive in your spaces

Well-designed work spaces are
a business advantage

When you can fully be yourself,
the world is better for us all

Meet Our Team

Our commitment to creating spaces where people can be their best selves isn’t just for our clients – it starts with our own team in our own studio. Together we are creative strategic thinkers who respect and support each other individually and as a team. And because everyone at Concetti has space to be our full selves at work, our clients and industry partners trust that we show up fully for them and they are getting our very best, every day.

Rachel A. Nelson

CEO & PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

she/her/hers

“Design is empowering. There is always a solution if we are willing to work together. That is where the magic lies.”

Rachel A. Nelson

Rachel knew ever since she was 16 years old that Interior Design was her calling, and she hasn’t wavered since! She owes her entrepreneurial spirit to her upbringing with three generations of Detroit business owners that encouraged her to express her creativity from a very young age. It’s no surprise, then, that during a trip to Italy, Rachel decided to form her own firm, naming it after the most critical component in design… the concept (Concetti!) behind it all!

It’s this focus on concept that has distinguished Concetti’s process and success from competitors, and it entirely hinges on getting to know each client, their needs and wishes for their space, and conceptualizing how to make it even more than they could have imagined.

Teamwork, creativity, and personal growth are all actively interwoven into Concetti’s process and its business plan. Rachel calls on her years of experience coaching Color Guard, as well as her passionate and driven personality, to inspire her Concetti team to achieve group and personal goals, and to show up fully in everything they do.

When she’s not leading the charge, you’ll find Rachel tending to her kiddos – her dogs, of course, – while maybe sometimes (maybe all the time) crying as she watches people chase their dreams on reality TV. She’s also deeply involved in giving back to the Detroit community, and helping young women find themselves, specifically their own inner strength, grit, and passion. This is also why her favorite part of her job is getting to know her clients- watching them follow their passion and learn how to interpret that into a built environment. She’d love nothing more than to welcome YOU to be a part of that journey.

TAYLOR MORGAN

lead Designer + Head of Marketing

she/her/hers

“Dreaming big with our clients is so fun, but finding creative ways to implement the big ideas into reality is what I really love.”

TAYLOR MORGAN

Taylor first discovered her love of creating spaces from a young age, while she watched her father build her childhood homes. The combination of her vast knowledge and expertise in construction and unique creative vision helps Concetti clientele craft their dream spaces.

Whether Taylor is selecting tiles, designing custom built-ins, or working on-site with the general contractor to troubleshoot, her attention to detail and positive energy keeps every project moving forward with ease. “Communication is key,” says Taylor, who dynamically translates between the client and the builder worlds. “Clients trust that their interests are advocated for and met at every stage.”

In her downtime, Taylor and her fiance are energized by traveling, exploring new restaurants, seeing live music and maintaining their zoo at home – two dogs and two cats.

EMILY BARBER

ASSOCIATE DESIGNER

she/her/hers

“Design is a way of communicating. Communicating with the eyes as you glance around it can tell a story. It can make you go “ooo” and “ahhh” or it can also give you a chance to think how things can function differently.”

EMILY BARBER

Emily’s interior design career practically began even before she finished her degree, when, for a class project, she helped Concetti create a bright and modern loft apartment out of an empty industrial space in Detroit’s Rivertown district. She joined the Concetti team in 2020, just as the studio was finding creative ways to work with clients, and as their projects started gaining wider attention. Perhaps her ease with having her feet in two places at one explains her love of Concetti’s Phase Two- when the materials and furnishing selections are made, and the strategic design solutions start to turn into a reality.

In her role supporting the senior designers, Emily is “the momentum keeper”, bringing her bright ideas and project documentation skills to every single detail of the project. She keeps the energy going as projects transition through Concetti’s three phases – gathering measurements, helping design layout solutions, building 3D concept renderings, gathering quotes and selections, and being on site for deliveries and installations.

Emily credits countless open house visits with her parents as her earliest design inspiration. “I saw how each home reflected the people who lived there, and that there was no one ‘right’ way to create a beautiful home,” she remembers. Emily is very close with her family, and when she’s driving between work sites and family events, odds are she’s got the windows down and music blasting as she sings along with every lyric. And despite the good-natured teasing from her dog-obsessed teammates, Emily is proud to be the studio’s only cat owner, a badge she wears with honor.

GABI PETRUCCI

JUNIOR DESIGNER

she/her/hers

“A design should be as functional as it is beautiful, it is more than just a pretty space.”

GABI PETRUCCI

Gabi has always gravitated towards creative fields and has been laser focused on pursuing a career in Interior Design since she was only 14 years old! After graduating from Michigan State University’s interior design program, Gabi joined the Concetti team eager to immerse herself in our unique design process.

Her favorite part of working at Concetti is Phase 2 – Personalize, when the concepts the designers have worked so hard to develop throughout Phase 1 really come to life. Sourcing unique materials and creating beautiful palettes continues to be Gabi’s strong suit in every project she is a part of. She loves the challenge of creating truly immersive spaces that engage all 5 senses. 

When Gabi's not working at Concetti she's in the kitchen. She loves cooking for friends and family especially when it's followed by binging some reality tv. Her love for sourcing carries through her professional and personal life! Gabi loves browsing thrift stores for cool furniture and fashion finds…and she's incredible at it as the entire team is always SO impressed with how effortlessly chic Gabi always presents herself. Although Gabi doesn't have a pup to call her own, she still fits in with the dog-obsessed Concetti crew as she's the self-proclaimed Auntie to her brother’s dog Bokhee. If you're a true Greys Anatomy fan like Gabi you'll catch that reference 😉

WHITNEY SAVAGEAU

JUNIOR DESIGNER

she/her/hers

“Watching someones space develop to show who they are and what they love keeps designing interesting and ever-changing. Nothing is ever the same and that's the best part.“

WHITNEY SAVAGEAU

Whitney came to Concetti with an incredible strength in creative problem solving. As a child she always admired her mothers ability to take something broken and turn it into something beautiful. Interior Design allows her the opportunity to do the same thing, but for her clients spaces. The ability to transform an undesirable space into something beautiful for clients is so rewarding. 

With a strong background in Commercial Interior Design we were so happy to have Whitney join the Concetti team. Concetti felt like the perfect fit for Whitney as she was looking for a work environment that would allow her to grow both professionally and personally, while maintaining the ideal work/life balance. 

Phase 1 – Discover is Whitney's favorite part of the design process at Concetti, specifically the development of Visual Guidelines. Learning about each clients unique aesthetic, and gathering inspiration to create the guiding light for each project’s aesthetic is a welcomed challenge. 

An interesting fact about Whitney is that she spends her free time gaming on Twitch where she's developed a really loyal, supportive fan base. Whitney's biggest fan is her dog Gizmo, who can typically be found under her feet patiently waiting for crumbs or snuggles from his doting Mom.

VICKI NELSON

Operations Manager

she/her/hers

“I view my job here as a support person. To clear the way so the designers can do what they are best at: design.”

VICKI NELSON

Vicki is gets her entrepreneurial spirit from her uncle who opened Al’s Lounge in the Delray neighborhood, and her dad had a neighborhood butcher and grocery store through the 1940sVicki followed in their enterprising footsteps, where her career in medical sales and operations took her all the way to the veep suite! She now flexes her expert chops as Concetti’s Operations Manager, A.K.A. the “Problem Solver”.

Vicki adeptly keeps all the studio’s back-office systems running smoothly and without fuss. Each week is a bustling schedule of processing payments and invoices, tracking shipments and deliveries, capturing the next steps from internal team meetings, and following up on a myriad of details so the designers can focus on their clients and their strategic designs.

Vicki is often the first person many new clients connect with, and her years of sales and customer service shine brightly when connecting with prospective, inquisitive clients. She makes sure that everyone hears back well within the 24-hour window (quite often in just a few short hours!) and personally talks with inquiries when it’s time to set up their first exploratory meeting with Concetti.

Vicki has been a sounding board and a source of unwavering support for, well, as long as Rachel can remember. When she isn’t busy supporting her Concetti family, she’s happily at home making a special batch of Hungarian crackling biscuits, or often, as she confesses, “Teaching my grandkids how to slyly grab fresh cookies from the counter whenever they walk by.” Everyone needs that kind of experience and skill on their team!

MYRANDA JOHNSON

PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

she/her/hers

“Being a part of the backend process of a design is really eye opening to just how much behind the scenes work goes into these projects that isn't necessarily thought of when people think of Interior Design.”

MYRANDA JOHNSON

After working for several years as an Interior Designer, Myranda fell in love with the Procurement process. Her love for processes and problem solving have made her an absolutely invaluable asset to the Concetti team. As the Procurement Specialist, Myranda has the incredible task of being involved in almost every Concetti project behind the scenes. The processes she's established and strategic organizational habits has allowed for the successful implementation of countless projects. 

Myranda's favorite part of working at Concetti is the opportunity to learn so much about the hidden processes necessary in Interior Design. She loves working with a team that supports and uplifts her every single day.

Even when she's not at work Myranda is still working in Interior Design as she's currently renovating her historic 162 year old house with her husband. She loves putting the skills she's obtained at work to use in her own home to create a space that is unique to her growing family. Although it's not a requirement for working at Concetti, we were happy to learn that Myranda is team dog, as two members of Myranda's family have four legs.