Katherine Mueller has spent the tenure of her career working in many facets of the design industry including small and large-scale residential and commercial projects. While Katherine’s experience encompasses many design styles, she exhibits a specialty in an organic, contemporary southwest aesthetic.
Katherine, a native of Arizona, was born and raised in Flagstaff. During her adolescence, she spent her time hiking and biking in the beautiful mountainous surroundings as well as many weekends at Lake Powell with her family.
Katherine is a graduate of Northern Arizona University where she obtained her Bachelors of Art in Art History and Bachelors of Science in Interior Design with a minor in French. While at NAU, she served as president of the Beta Omega Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority and participated in multiple campus organizations. To expand her knowledge in French studies, Katherine attended Institute de Touraine, in Tour, France, Laval University, in Quebec, Canada, and University of Lyon, in Lyon, France. Her final year at NAU included a summer in China where she studied culture and art history at Nanjing, Qufu, and Xi’an Universities.
She is also a graduate of Arizona State University where she completed her Masters of Science in Design with a Certificate in Museum Studies. During her time at ASU, she interned at the Phoenix Art Museum, and published her master’s thesis, Riordan Mansion: An Arts and Crafts Duplex, 2010. As a result of her passion for higher education, Katherine regularly instructs design classes at local colleges.
Katherine is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), is NCIDQ certified (No. 28198), and active among many local and regional professional and academic interior design networks. Her award winning work has been featured in Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine, Luxe Magazine and Interior’s Scottsdale.
In addition to her work in Arizona, Katherine has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Asia, Western Europe, and the United Kingdom, which is evident in her ability to reference and incorporate multiple design elements into her vision. In her spare time, Katherine enjoys traveling, museums, cycling, reading, and spending time with her husband, Aaron, son, Weslee, her daughter Emilee, and miniature dachshunds, Lola and Ollie.
Aaron Mueller
Co-Owner & Director of Operations
Aaron has a very diverse background working in agriculture, automotive, commercial construction, photovoltaics, and franchising. He brings with him 15 years of commercial construction experience at a management level providing a solid understanding of the construction industry along with skills to support Katherine Mueller Design and its growth.
Aaron grew up working on a small date farm in Southern California where he became a mechanic and heavy equipment operator by the time he was 18 years of age. After graduating from Northern Arizona University with degrees in Construction Management and Business Administration, he began his career working for a commercial general contractor in Flagstaff and eventually transferred to Phoenix as the company expanded. In 2011 Aaron acquired his LEED AP BD+C certification furthering his understanding of sustainable construction practices. He’s worked in many different aspects of the construction industry from the director of design and construction for a national franchise to managing the design of utility-scale photovoltaic projects constructed throughout Arizona. He is a very process-driven individual that takes pride in everything he does.
Aaron is the father of Weslee and Emilee Mueller, and Katherine Mueller’s husband. As a child, he helped his father work on cars and farm equipment and developed a passion for anything with an engine. In 2015 he obtained his Airman’s Certificate and looks forward to getting in the air any chance he gets. You’ll typically catch him at a local car show on the weekends if he’s not with his family
Meridyth Patrick
Controller
Meridyth holds a Master’s of Science in Accountancy from Aurora University in Illinois. She worked as an accountant with a CPA firm in the River North neighborhood of Chicago before trading in the jazz and opera of Chicago for the Seussian beauty of the Sonoran Desert.
The mother of two wild homo sapiens, Meridyth oversees everything accounting for Katherine Mueller Design and her sister company CeTerra Accents and Interiors. When not analyzing, reporting, and documenting the financial data of both companies Meridyth spends as much time as possible exploring the single-track trails of the American Southwest with her husband, two children, and their giant schnoodle.
Erika Johnson
Office Coordinator & Order Coordinator
Growing up in Southern California, Erika developed a strong work ethic early on while working in her family’s business. There, she gained invaluable experience in managing daily operations, providing exceptional customer service, and solving problems efficiently. In 2005, she and her husband relocated to Scottsdale, where they raised their two children.
Erika’s career success stems from hands-on experience, strategic thinking, and a results-driven approach. As a highly organized and detail-oriented Office & Order Coordinator, she excels in overseeing administrative operations, managing order processing, and facilitating cross-functional communication to ensure efficiency. With a strong focus on logistics and client satisfaction, Erika works closely with vendors to keep projects on track, coordinating timelines and ensuring timely, accurate deliveries. Her dedication and attention to detail contribute to smooth operations and outstanding results, keeping clients happy and projects running seamlessly.
Now that her children are in college, Erika enjoys traveling, spending time with her husband, and doting on their beloved dog, Archie.
Lauren McGill
Senior Furniture Design Specialist
Lauren was born and raised in Scottsdale. Her love of textiles and furnishings started at a young age doing tablescapes for family functions, holidays and her involvement in her mother’s Tea Society. She started her career in the wedding industry designing weddings, but her passion has always been Interior Design. Following a career change, Lauren graduated from the American Institute of Interior Design, Fountain Hills.
With Lauren’s extensive experience in the design industry, she has found her niche in sourcing fabrics, textiles, furnishings, art and CAD furniture layouts for Katherine Mueller Design. Her love of furniture and fabrics (especially velvet) shines through in her selections curating beautiful and unique spaces.
In her free time, Lauren loves to spend time with her husband, son and their rescue dog Juliet.
Shelby Butler
Senior Interior Designer & Project Manager
Creative expression is a natural passion of Shelby’s. Of all the career paths she explored at the collegiate level, she felt most compatible with creating unique community centered environments for all walks of life. While studying at Northern Arizona University, Shelby traveled abroad in Turkey and Greece where she found a love for global design and cultural arts. After graduating from NAU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Design with an emphasis in business and marketing studies, Shelby began her career in Dallas, Texas working in international development. This opportunity allowed her to work on a large variety of projects including high rise towers, luxury residential, and hospitality design.
Shelby is an Arizona Native and moved back to Scottsdale in 2018 to work as a designer for a beloved Fox Restaurant Concept, True Food Kitchen. Shelby brings a unique perspective to the Katherine Mueller Design team by utilizing her talents and analytical skills for each project. She will be making material selections, CAD drawings, and renderings for new KMD homes.
Lissa Apperson
Senior Interior Designer & Project Manager
Lissa’s roots lie in Texas, where she spent her early years before moving to Arizona at 15. Her fascination with space planning and interior design stemmed from accompanying her father to explore new home builds and walk through the model homes. This early exposure ignited her passion for the field.
After graduating from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Lissa achieved certification as a lighting consultant from the American Lighting Association. Eager to expand her knowledge and expertise, she pursued further education in interior design by studying in vibrant cities like Barcelona, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Lissa assists the KMD team with drafting as well as the selection of materials. She has dedicated her efforts to lighting, plumbing, hard surfaces, and furnishings, bringing her expertise to create impactful and aesthetically pleasing spaces.
Lissa nurtures her passion for travel, running, and reading outside her professional endeavors. During her leisure time, she often enjoys hosting gatherings at her home, where she cherishes moments with her loving husband and two children, creating a warm and inviting environment for all.
Christa Delasandro
Interior Designer & 3-D Modeling Specialist
Christa has called Arizona home since she was three years old, drawing inspiration from the region’s unique landscapes and architecture. With a strong foundation in both the technical and creative aspects of design, Christa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design and Master’s Degree in Interior Architecture from Arizona State University. During her graduate studies, she also taught first-year Design Studios, along with courses in AutoCAD, SketchUp, and the full Adobe Suite.
At Katherine Mueller Design, Christa specializes in realistic 3D rendering that gives clients a tangible preview of their design’s final selections and finishes before construction begins. She also collaborates Katherine on drafting floor plans, sourcing lighting and plumbing, and material selections.
Outside of work, Christa enjoys traveling, attending country concerts, spending time with her family and pets, and growing fresh produce and herbs on her Tower Garden.
Heather Legeza
Office Assistant
Heather is a dedicated professional with a strong background in education, business ownership, and now, very excited to learn about interior design. Originally from Cincinnati Ohio, Heather graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Elementary Education in Psychology. After graduating college and marrying her high school sweetheart, she and Greg moved to Peoria, Arizona in 1997 where they raised two children, Derek & Kylie.
In 2004, Greg and Heather embarked on a new adventure and became business owners by opening the first Primrose Schools in Arizona. After 20+ years of owning these private preschools, Greg and Heather retired from their Primrose Schools that they successfully led and managed, ensuring high-quality early education and care for students across the valley.
After retirement, Heather found that she was still eager to work part-time, challenge herself and help another business owner meet and grow with the skills she had learned over her career. Now embarking on a new career path as the Office Assistant for Katherine Mueller Design, Heather applies a keen eye for detail, teamwork, organization, business sense while bringing a great work ethic to complement her fellow co-workers. With a deep understanding of running a business, Heather is excited to bring this expertise to the world of design and to the office she now works.
Now an empty nester, as her children have graduated from college and moved out on their own, she spends her time hiking, working out, boating and off-roading, hanging out with her family and friends, traveling and making sure her calendar stays full now.
Bridget Calzada
Social Media/Marketing Manager
Bridget’s lifelong passion for interior design and her innate talent for accessorizing has shaped her creative journey from a young age. She excelled academically, graduating with honors from Arizona State University, where she pursued a degree in Sociology and Business. Bridget’s dedication to her craft extended beyond her formal education, as she also undertook additional coursework in interior design to deepen her expertise.
At Katherine Mueller Design, Bridget’s creative and technical skills shine as she spearheads creating and managing captivating content for our CeTerra and KMD social media platforms and keeping our website current. Moreover, Bridget actively contributes her expertise in accessory selection to serve our valued KMD Clients.
Bridget finds solace and inspiration through her love for travel during her leisure time. Exploring new places fuels her creativity and expands her design perspectives. Equally important to her is spending quality time with her husband and two children, cherishing precious moments, and creating beautiful memories together.