Meet the Team

Katherine Mueller

Owner & Principal Designer

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

Lauren Lewis

Senior Furniture Design Specialist

Lauren was born and raised in Scottsdale. Her love of beautiful tablescape compositions grew from family functions, holidays, and her involvement with her mother’s Tea Society.

Beginning her career in the wedding industry, Lauren utilized her artistry for floral arrangements and wedding design. Following her passion for interior design, 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 selecting fabrics, furniture, and finishes for Katherine Mueller Design. Lauren also manages client purchasing and invoicing. Lauren is an essential member of the KMD team and her love of furniture and fabrics (especially velvet) shines through in her selections.

Bridget Calzada

Social Media/Marketing Manager & Accessory Assistant

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.

Allison Birkhofer

Procurement & Accounting Specialist

Allison was born and raised in Michigan but moved out west shortly after graduating college. A creative at heart, her main interests of apparel, art, and design led her to pursue a career in fashion merchandising.

In 2014, Allison graduated from Kent State University with a major in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Marketing. During her time at Kent State, she studied abroad in Florence, Italy, completed a bridal internship in Chicago, and was a board member for the Fashion Student Organization on campus. After college, Allison also completed an additional internship at Anthropologie’s headquarters as a knitwear buying intern based on her accurate trend forecasting.

Allison is excited to apply her previous work experience in retail buying and visual merchandising to the Katherine Mueller Design team. She will be assisting in selecting fabrics and furnishings, in addition to client purchasing and invoicing.

Christa Delasandro

Interior Designer & 3-D Modeling Specialist

Christa was born in California but has been in Arizona since she was three. Initially going to school for supply chain management, Christa changed her major to interior design at Arizona State University and never looked back. Since then, she has completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design and a Master’s Degree in Interior Architecture.

In her free time, Christa loves to travel and see new architecture from around the world. Enjoys going to country concerts, festivals, and Disneyland. However, most days you can find her at home working on her hydroponic garden or hanging out with her dog, cat, and rabbit.

Christa is excited to be a part of the Katherine Mueller Design team. She will be working on drafting plans, selecting new materials and finishes as well as helping in our CeTerra showroom assisting with accessories. Stop in and see her.

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

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.