We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Sims and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After working as an MFA-educated studio artist and arts educator for over a decade, I began taking on interior design projects to indulge a long-standing passion. These projects were initially for friends and family who knew and liked my taste and wanted something special. After a few years working on such projects, I realized that having an artist’s eye and training was valuable to clients who wanted interiors that were unique, timeless, and that honored their home’s place in the west coast’s design heritage and landscape. My background in art, and my knowledge of design and architecture, enabled me to apply an artist’s sensibility in elevating every space.

In 2015 I founded CALAFIA Home Design. I realized that I thrived as an independent entrepreneur, loved my clients and projects, and enjoyed being able to balance design work and my art career. Each discipline continues to feed and make room for the other, bringing me both creative fulfillment and balance.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The name CALAFIA comes from the name of a mythical island imagined by early Spanish explorers to encompass the west coast before its geography was understood. As described in a 17th century Spanish novel, this island was ruled by Queen Calafia, who provided the origin of the area’s eventual name. I love the romantic mythology of California, and it’s diverse cultural roots. Using the name CALAFIA for my business seemed like a beautiful way to evoke and celebrate those things.

My mission is to create living spaces that tell my clients’ own California stories, celebrating their place within this history and landscape.

I approach every project as a unique work of art—I am excited by the inspiration and challenge present in every unique project, and craft all of our designs with sensitivity to the special history of each home and the style (and practical needs) of its owners. Our projects are personal, custom, and timeless.

My gratitude to my clients cannot be understated—they are the reason I get to do the work I love. It’s an honor to be invited into a client’s home and to collaborate together on realizing a dream project. For this reason, it’s my privilege to go above and beyond for our clients. I am committed to being accessible, transparent, and doing everything I can to bring joy and ease to the design process.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Landscape and design are really entwined here in the Bay Area, so my ideal itinerary would allow for seeing both. Starting in the East Bay where CALAFIA is based (in Berkeley), I would recommend walking the hills for all the hidden gardens and architectural gems the area has to discover. I find lots of inspiration in the scattered Julia Morgan buildings, the Berkeley Horticultural Society and Botanical Gardens, and even on the Cal campus. Drinks at the gracious old Claremont Hotel with views of the Bay are a wonderful way to end the day.

In San Francisco, Minnesota Street Projects is a great place to see a lot of wonderful galleries in one place. I also love the Coit Tower murals, Frank Lloyd Wright’s shell-inspired Xanadu Gallery, and the modern landmark, St. Mary’s Cathedral.

To complete a Bay Area trip, I’d encourage a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to view the houseboats of Sausalito and the heritage Heath ceramic studio before heading out to the coast for a hike in the headlands.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I really owe a debt of gratitude to my father and grandfather who, together, ran a small business distributing produce from farms to grocery stores. I learned from them a tireless work ethic, growth mindset, and the thrill of building an enterprise on your own. They also demonstrated a regard for everyone in their industry that exceeded what they might or might not have in common. They cultivated warm, respectful relationships that made their business meaningful.

I have also been deeply inspired by the interest in design that my family members cultivated in their homes. My parents hung a collection of early California watercolors in our small beach house, while my aunt and uncle’s home celebrated my uncle’s Mexican heritage. My grandmother loved design, and subscribed to Architectural Digest, which I loved to leaf through even as a child. I learned from all of them an appreciation of the diverse array of influences that make up California’s rich design heritage, and most importantly, how a home can celebrate a family’s unique story.

Website: www.calafiahomedesign.com

Instagram: @calafiahomedesign

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/calafia-home-design-berkeley

Image Credits
images 1-3 CALAFIA Home Design, photo: Kathryn MacDonald images 4-6 CALAFIA Home Design, photo: Margot Hartford image 7 photo: Aya Brackett

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