First and foremost, there’s a contractor’s tape measure, sturdy and reliable, always ready to capture the dimensions of a space with precision. A contractor's 25 foot tape measure has more rigidity to it, which allows me to measure rooms and larger spans on my own. Literally never go to a meeting without one......
Next to it, a well-used Benjamin Moore paint deck shows the telltale signs of years of faithful service. The edges are frayed, the favorite, go-to hue are dog-eared colors from countless projects, each shade representing a moment of inspiration. I take one to each meeting, even if we aren't selecting or reviewing paint. It is a great way to reference existing colors in artwork, upholstery, rugs, window treatments in a client's home, and you have the exact color match at your fingertips when you get back to the Design Studio.
Tucked into a side pocket, you’ll find lens cleaning wipes, because there always seems to be a fine haze of drywall dust or spackle compound on the lens of my phone's camera, or on the surface of my iPad.
Next, a Mead Cambridge grid paper spiral notebook—classic and functional, perfect for sketching out ideas on the go. With the gridwork built in, it allows me to sketch quickly and accurately on the job site or during a meeting. I keep them all from meetings, as you never know when you might need to reference a dimension. I have a couple of decades of them at Nest, we just mark them with the "end date" and file them on the shelf behind my desk. It is crazy how many times we refer back!
Beside the notebook, there’s a handful of black Pilot Precise V7 Fine tip pens—the kind that glide across the page effortlessly, making each line crisp and intentional. These are my absolute faves for quick sketching and endless list-making.
And then, of course, there’s the tech—a well-loved iPad loaded with floor plans, inspiration boards, and client notes. Paired with an Apple Pencil, it’s not just a tool; it’s an extension of the designer’s vision. This Apple Pencil is fitted with a fine pen tip, perfect for those delicate strokes that bring ideas to life with the precision of hand-drawn artistry. Creating these drawings quickly, and digitally allows us to share the details with contractors, or our design team before we even leave the meeting or job site.
Painter's tape is also always in my bag - perfect for hanging up paint samples for reviewing, or hanging up a floor plan on a job site, that is short on table surfaces. That allows the contracting team and I to review the plans together when things are in the rough demo stage of a project.
This is more than just a bag; it’s a well-curated collection of essentials that embodies the spirit of thoughtful design—where every detail, every tool, plays a part in creating something truly beautiful.