Classic Lake Cottage

About

Lake Minnetonka, Edina, Naples, Nantucket–
Exceptional Interior Design from coast to coast.

Kristi Patterson interior design

Grace Hill Design is a boutique, full-service interior design firm based in Wayzata, Minnesota, specializing in new construction, large-scale renovations, and full-home furnishings for primary and secondary homes across the country.

Before launching her design firm in 2008, Kristi spent more than a decade in advertising and brand strategy, leading multi-million-dollar campaigns for clients including Apple, Target, Häagen-Dazs, Little Tikes, and Pizza Hut. That foundation continues to shape her design practice today. Years of developing high-level creative work, paired with her strategic approach, intuitive understanding of each client's vision, and ability to manage complex, detail-driven projects, bring clarity and confidence to every client experience—from the earliest architectural conversations through the final installation.

Kristi's work has been featured in House Beautiful, Better Homes & Gardens, Artful Living, and Midwest Design.

Most recently her work has been profiled as COTTAGE CORE Artful Living Magazine, Spring 2026 issue...

cottage-core

Enjoy our
Press Feature in
Artful Living!

COTTAGE CORE

Kristi Patterson interior design

Meet the Team...

KRISTI PATTERSON
founder & principal designer

For more than two decades, Kristi has designed homes that are classic with a fresh twist—timeless, welcoming, and thoughtfully tailored to the families who live there. Her portfolio spans new construction, comprehensive renovations, and vacation retreats from the Midwest to Naples and Nantucket, each one designed around the way her clients truly live, gather, and celebrate.

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An Orono resident and mother of three grown children, Kristi understands firsthand how a home evolves through every season of family life. She believes the best homes are designed to support everyday routines, welcome family and friends with ease, and become the backdrop for traditions that last for generations.

Known for her calm leadership, thoughtful guidance, and meticulous attention to detail, Kristi anticipates challenges before they arise, brings clarity to complex decisions, and thoughtfully manages every detail—allowing clients to enjoy the excitement of creating a home while knowing every aspect is being expertly cared for.

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Julie Paul

JULIE PAUL
director of operations

Julie Paul is the Director of Operations at Grace Hill Design, where she has been an integral part of the firm's leadership team since 2013. She develops the operational systems and processes that support the firm's continued growth and ensure a seamless client experience. As the guiding force behind every project, Julie oversees budgets, procurement, client communication, production with vendors, ship dates, deliveries, and the countless details that keep every project moving forward with precision and care.

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Before joining Grace Hill Design, Julie built her career in data-driven marketing and customer strategy. She began at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. in San Francisco, managing customer acquisition for five national brands, and later partnered with retail and nonprofit organizations to develop strategic acquisition and retention programs. Her background in marketing, paired with exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, brings clarity, precision, and efficiency to every project.

An Orono resident and mother of four grown children, Julie and her husband share their home with two lovable dogs. She enjoys being active in her community and is known for her calm leadership, honest feedback, unwavering reliability, and genuine care for both clients and colleagues. Clients value Julie's proactive communication and reassuring presence, knowing she always has a clear answer, an update on project progress, and every detail well in hand.

Nancy Moelk

NANCY MOELK
interior designer

Nancy Moelk has been an Interior Designer at Grace Hill Design since 2014, bringing more than 20 years of design experience and a lifelong appreciation for timeless, traditional homes. Known for her love of color, pattern, and beautifully layered interiors, Nancy brings a thoughtful eye and a talent for creating spaces that feel both collected and personal.

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A history major by education, Nancy's passion for design was shaped long before her career began. Growing up in an Ohio community filled with classic Tudor and Colonial homes, and later living in Washington, D.C., and Lexington, Kentucky, she developed a deep appreciation for historic architecture, Southern hospitality, and homes designed for gracious living and entertaining. Those experiences continue to inspire her timeless approach to design today.

Nancy has a remarkable ability to listen carefully to each client's vision while discovering opportunities to elevate every project beyond what they imagined. Whether layering meaningful heirlooms with new furnishings, selecting textiles rich in color and pattern, or adding thoughtful details that bring a room to life, she creates homes that reflect each family's personality, history, and lifestyle.

A mother of two grown children, Nancy is currently enjoying an exciting season of family milestones, from planning her daughter's wedding to helping her settle into her first home. She understands firsthand how homes evolve through every stage of life and believes the most meaningful interiors are those thoughtfully designed to be lived in, loved, and shared with family and friends for generations.

Working with Grace Hill was such a wonderful experience!! From our initial contact until completion, Kristi and Julie made the entire process so easy. They are not only immensely talented but are so organized, thorough, and fun to be around!!

They took the time to listen to what we like and then blended in their creativity. We almost want to build another new home just to work with them again!!

–JOHN K.

Kristi and her team did a fantastic job incorporating our style and tastes into the design so we ended up with a home that is a true reflection of us and not just a house that was decorated by a designer.

Kristi is amazing to work with, someone who listens thoroughly to what you want. She is timely, professional and it's not surprising...your friend when it's all said and done!

–KRIS P.