From the high fashion showrooms of New York to luxury homes across Seattle, sisters Chantel and Charese Pickering have turned their shared eye for beauty, creativity, and balance into a thriving business. Their interior design company, Experience Design Project, is an amalgamation of creativity, intuition, strategy, and a reflection of how those merge to create a meticulous space that narrates a profound story.
Raised in a home that naturally blended art and construction, creativity runs in their blood. Their father, a builder, and their mother, an artist, filled their childhoods with hands-on lessons in structure and beauty, honing their design eye. "We've been around creativity our whole lives. Our dad taught us how things come together, and our mom taught us how to make it all beautiful," Chantel, CEO and Lead Designer, recalls. "We were always learning, always fueling our imaginations. That foundation made us see spaces differently."
Chantel's journey traversed through architecture and the world of luxury retail, where she trained with high-end brands, mastering visual presentation, color, and placement. Her sister, Charese, COO, Managing Director, and Interior Designer, carved her own path in New York, earning a degree in accessory design and working in product development for some of fashion's biggest names. She traveled to factories, negotiated with designers, and learned how the smallest details can define a piece.
Today, that culmination of lessons translates seamlessly into their interiors venture, balancing elegance with function. "We create balance, meeting client needs while enhancing the character of the home. Every choice has purpose, and every detail matters across all our projects," Charese explains.
Experience Design Project's work spans the spectrum, with high-end home staging, 2D and 3D renderings, mood boards, residential interiors, commercial space remodels, vacation rental home transformations, and high-stakes investment flips through their venture, Lion Sound Investments LLC. Through the breadth of their projects, their philosophy remains simple: spaces must be market-ready, bespoke, and emotionally resonant. "We bring a unique element to the market because we look at the longevity and value of a home, and we make spaces feel intentional and livable," Chantel says.
Each home the sisters touch becomes a story. From the floor plan to the finishing touches, they orchestrate color, texture, and light to highlight what makes a property shine. Kitchens and bathrooms become focal points designed to function as beautifully as they look. "I let the house speak to me," Chantel shares. "I remember every layout, every detail. It's energy, and we translate that energy into something remarkable."
While design holds immense significance in their lives, the sisters gracefully navigate the demands of business and motherhood, raising their children while building a multi-divisional company. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nannies and laptops became part of the workspace, yet creativity never stalled. "We didn't slow down," Charese recalls. "Whenever one area shifted, we leaned into another. It was intense, but it fueled our growth."
Experience Design Project also nurtures other creators. "I want to create a women's investment group that elevates knowledge, builds confidence, and helps women lead in markets where perspectives are often overlooked," says Chantel, highlighting her passion for empowering women through mentorship and investment coaching. "We show that design is both creative and strategic. Teaching others to see spaces as opportunities is a big part of what we do." Charese adds.
At the heart of Experience Design Project remains the bond the sisters share, which translates to the growth they've achieved. "It's rare to have someone who knows you so deeply," says Chantel. "We can challenge each other, push each other creatively, and still know we're on the same team."
Today, Experience Design Project has grown into a brand known for creating spaces that feel elevated, lived in, and loved. Every sofa, every lamp, every 3D render, and every carefully placed mirror reflects the sisters' meticulous eye and the rare alchemy that happens when creativity meets strategy. And with each project, they continue to build a legacy, one room at a time.
