2025 Year In Review
2025 was not for the faint of heart. It was a year that seemed to fly by and also stretch on forever – a strange duality that only makes sense when you’re living through renovations, running a growing studio, and navigating life’s biggest milestones all at once.
I spent much of the year living out of a proverbial suitcase: at my parents’, my in-laws’, and eventually in the unfinished basement beneath our renovation. It was chaotic, yes – but also full of moments that clarified what I want personally, creatively, and for MCD.
This was the year I made intentional choices about where the studio is headed.
We narrowed our focus, clarified who we serve best, and made changes behind the scenes that will shape the next decade of our work. Writing this annual review has become one of my favourite rituals, not just to reflect, but to acknowledge the growth that often only reveals itself in hindsight.
Q1 ~ Growth From the Ground Up
The year began with something truly magical: a three-week honeymoon across South Africa.
To say it was inspiring is an understatement. The natural landscapes, the layered influences of Dutch and local design, the luxury of being on safari at Kwandwe, and the absolute perfection of Babylonstoren’s gardens – it all reminded me why travel is essential to my creative practice. Colour palettes, materiality, balance…everywhere I looked, there was something to learn.
What made this trip even more meaningful was realizing how seamlessly the MCD team held down the fort in my absence. For the first time, I disconnected almost completely – 99% off – which, for me, is a milestone. It felt like a turning point in stepping fully into a founder role rather than a one-woman show. We’ve worked intentionally to build processes and support systems, and seeing them function without me was both surreal and deeply rewarding.
Back home, I was deep in the design phase of our own house – a process I now understand makes me my own worst client.
Designing on the fly was… character-building.
It reinforced how crucial our internal process is and reminded me why clients hire us in the first place. But it also allowed me to relearn some things I had been taking for granted, and the project as a whole has been such a fun one, as I can take more colour and material risks since it was for myself.
We also shot a favourite long-term project that later appeared in Style at Home. Seeing that home captured so beautifully felt like the final chapter of a story we had lived with for years.
Between travel, studio work, and multiple projects in motion, it was the busiest Q1 of my career – and somehow also one of the most energizing.
Q2 ~ Delivering, Refining, Expanding
Spring brought a wave of project completions – Garden, Crawford, and Unionville among them – several of which we photographed and shared. (Crawford and Roxborough were both featured in Style at Home) It's always a strange mix of pride and nostalgia seeing finished homes captured – so many decisions, conversations, and details distilled into just a handful of images.
We also loaded in the Brunswick project – especially meaningful as it’s the home of our MCD Project Manager Caitlin’s mom – and wrapped several others, including Euclid, which haven’t been photographed but below are a few BTS we thought were fun to share.
Project Unionville Sneak Peek
We welcomed big team news too: Emily, our MCD Associate Designer, announced she was expecting a baby, kicking off months of thoughtful planning to ensure continuity, smooth transitions, and support for her and our clients.
With several projects deep in design and others heading into construction, Q2 was a season of both output and refinement – the kind of momentum that feels productive rather than rushed.
Q3 ~ Inspiration Abroad, Progress at Home
This summer gifted me a design trifecta.
I had the privilege of attending 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen - a city that feels as if it was designed with effortless precision at every scale.
The exhibitions were inspiring, but so were the cafés, the streets, the people. Every corner held a lesson in balance, craftsmanship, or curiosity.
From there, I met my family in Sicily. Island-hopping, working remotely (not a bad office), exploring the architecture, stonework, and the food culture - it all reinforced how much I value experiences that feed my creative lens. The textures, the palettes, the way materials age… Sicily is a masterclass.
And finally, Portugal for a wedding - joyful, sun-drenched, full of beauty.
Somewhere between all of this travel, we wrapped multiple client projects, Emily went on leave, and we loaded in another project, Niagara, which I cannot wait to reveal next year.
Closer to home, we squeezed in a quick trip to Chester and Maine, where the charm of Shaker simplicity fully stole my heart.
Quiet beauty, honest materials, functionality with soul - a design philosophy I want to bring more intentionally into our work.
In our own house, framing and spray foam were completed – real, visible progress. After months of plans and decisions, seeing walls take shape in any project is always a really exciting stage for me.
Q4 ~ Change, Clarity, and New Energy
Fall brought enormous change, both personal and professional.
Caitlin, Emily, Graham, and I
Emily welcomed her beautiful baby boy, Graham. And we welcomed Sam - a talented, experienced new team member who brings a fresh perspective and has jumped right into the deep end.
Behind the scenes, we tackled one of our biggest operational projects to date: transitioning to Materio, our new design software.
After months of exploring different softwares to streamline our entire process, we found this one. Though there is a lot of work and time put in BTS that isn’t always fun when changing a major artery of your business, the payoff is immense. Materio has transformed how we manage and present projects, and ultimately elevates the client experience. This shift represents the next chapter of MCD: refined, streamlined, and elevated.
This was also the quarter we had the honour of contributing design services to the Branksome Hall Mad for Plaid gala – something that felt aligned with our values and our desire to give back (and especially nice for it to be at my alma mater).
On a personal note, Merrick and I got our first puppy, Red, which has been an absolute joy and a welcome dose of chaos.
Our home renovation is nearing the finish line: floors, tile, millwork, counters, and plumbing are complete. Trim, paint, and electrical finishes are up next. After living through so many versions of “almost there,” this feels monumental.
Looking ahead, several of our largest-ever projects - including a Georgian Bay cottage - are in active construction. Designing cottages and rural homes remains one of the most rewarding parts of our work.
And next year, we’ll be moving to a new office, which we will be renovating for the next few months!
In the final stages of our home renovation.
Meet Red! Please note the drywall dust moustache.
Lessons, Gratitude & Looking Forward
2025 was a year of change and reflection - the steady, cumulative kind that reshapes a business from the inside out.
We:
completed seven full-service projects
photographed more work than ever before
refined our service offerings
clarified our value
evolved our internal systems
welcomed new talent
embraced change
and continued building a studio I am deeply proud of
Refining our process this year has strengthened the way we support clients through complex renovations and full-service design projects.
I learned that niching isn’t something you arrive at once – it’s an ongoing practice of clarity and refinement. I learned that process is everything. And I learned, again, that the people you work with - clients, trades, and team members - are what make the work meaningful.
To our clients: thank you for trusting us with your homes, your timelines, and your visions.
To our collaborators: your craft is foundational to every success.
And to the MCD team: you make big dreams feel doable.
As we move into 2026, I feel hopeful, grounded, and energized. The work ahead is exciting, and my focus on our direction has never been more present.
If you’re planning a renovation or new build in 2026 and want a thoughtful, full-service design partner, we’d love to connect.
Our studio takes on a limited number of projects each year, and scope dependent we are currently booking for spring and summer.
