Prior to working in interiors, Dawn acquired a master's degree in business and spent her days as a marketing director. Just before opening her studio, Dawn Cook Design, she added a degree in Interior Design. Linda specialized in Human Resource management before working in interiors. Eventually, her creativity won and she pursued a degree in Interior Design; she then went on to found Blulens Design.

After collaborating throughout their careers, the duo was inspired by the idea of moving their independent practices into one business. With two historic locations—one in the Cleveland neighborhood of Shaker Heights, Ohio and one in Detroit, Michigan—our studios are the home base for our team of designers and managers.

our team

Linda Mauck Smith has spent her career finding balance—blending aesthetics and seeking out unique materials to personalize every space she touches.

She is an outside-the-box thinker devoted to the details. Always on the move, her bold, original designs take her all over the U.S.

True to her travel-loving nature, Linda's work embodies a sense of exploration. She is inspired by spaces and the people that occupy them. She believes thoughtful materials can change the experience of a place, and works closely with clients to build and curate spaces to fit their everyday.

Linda is currently tackling a Michigan lake house overhaul for her family. Linda has two adult children and three adorable dogs. In addition to designing homes in Cleveland and the Greater Detroit area, she spends much of the year taking on projects in south Florida, Atlanta, New York and other metropolitan cities.

linda@blulensdesign.com

Dawn Cook is an award-winning small business owner, and has been recognized far and wide for her work on high-end, modern luxury interiors.

While restoring and transforming historic homes, she strives to inspire and help clients elevate their home’s beauty, comfort and functionality. Along with her team, Dawn takes a hands-on approach for every project, with no job too daunting and no detail too small.

Dawn has the ability to see grand, comfortably orchestrating the evolution of a home—blending new with old and custom with found. She is inspired by luxurious textiles and beautiful light. She knows just when to add drama and the moment to use restraint. Utilizing her years of business experience, she is able to call upon makers and trade partners of all disciplines to help bring customized spaces to life.

Dawn enjoys living in one of the beloved neighborhoods in which she works, along with her teenaged children, two cats, and fluffy white Samoyed. She has been featured on the cover of Cleveland Magazine three times, awarded Best Design & Customer Services over five times, and is a proud recipient of a multitude of awards from ASID and NKBA.

dawn@dawncookdesign.com

Contributing a diverse background in visual merchandising and customer service, Debbie keeps the studio on track, managing operational support and outreach.

Debbie has spent over sixteen years working alongside interior designers. She is inspired by working in a creative atmosphere, and looks forward to every day being a fresh start with a new to-do list to tackle.

debbie@bldcdesignstudio.com

Sadie began her career at bldc design thirteen years ago and has assisted Linda and Dawn on award-winning, press-featured projects. In 2021, Sadie began to manage her own clients and projects under bldc as a lead designer.

An expert communicator, forward thinker and talented project manager, she tackles every project with her positive, optimistic attitude. She excels in problem solving with grace, and loves being a part of the design process from beginning to end, always keeping the whole home in mind and doing whatever it takes to make clients’ dreams a reality.

Sadie’s design style leans modern while being rooted in classic timelessness, and she appreciates an element of the unexpected. She also loves working within different design tastes and prides herself on flexibility. Sadie eats, sleeps and breathes design, constantly striving to better her process, seeking new sources of inspiration, and studying the latest and greatest in the field.

Sadie graduated with an Associate’s degree in Interior Design from Cuyahoga Community College. While serving clients in all areas of Cleveland (and beyond!), she lives on the west side with her husband Scott and their two young children.

sadie@bldcdesignstudio.com

Megan joined the team in early 2019 to assist with procurement, and now works full-time in design. When she’s not drawing, designing and executing studio projects, Megan is curating samples and meeting with clients to guide them through the creative process. She has a keen eye for transitional design and enjoys neutral palettes with pops of color—drawing upon nature and her travels for inspiration.

Megan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Furman University, and recently received an Associate’s Degree in Applied Business in Interior Design from North Coast College.

megan@bldcdesignstudio.com

Michal spent her first few years with bldc as a design intern and formally joined the team after graduation in the class of 2020. She currently spends her days assisting the team with design projects of all shapes and sizes. Michal’s love for modern spaces and appreciation for joy inspires her work daily. She brings a fresh take on design trends with an eye for unique, unexpected interiors and fine art. She enjoys fashion and loves cats dearly—she used her college thesis to design the interior of a cat cafe!

Michal graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a concentration in Interior Design from Miami University. She also holds a minor in jewelry and metals.

michal@bldcdesignstudio.com

Dominic brings over 15 years of experience in interior design to his role. He is involved in every aspect of the design process, from coordinating initial meetings and measurements to drawings and design execution. Inspired by contemporary aesthetics, Dominic works to balance form and function in every project he takes on. His approach is driven by his enthusiasm for visual art and commitment to mastering his craft. His thoughtful eye is equally as influenced by film set design as it is by the beauty of nature.

He enjoys spending free time with his wife, daughter, and son, soaking up the landscapes of Northeast Ohio on their scenic outings. He is an avid DIYer and is currently updating his 1960s home, facing daily challenges that allow him to dive deeper into the understanding of construction and design.

Dominic graduated with an Associate’s degree in Interior Design, along with an Associate of Arts degree.

dominic@bldcdesignstudio.com

Kacie joined bldc in May 2024 following an internship with the studio the summer prior. As the studio assistant, she handles day-to-day project tasks including pricing, vendor communication and order updates. Kacie loves having the opportunity to learn from everyone in the studio, and dreamt of working in the interior design field since she was small. In her downtime, she loves hanging out with her beautiful pup Bonnie.

Kacie graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Kent State University.

kacie@bldcdesignstudio.com

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