Building Green in Boulder: Designer Donna Pocci

At Carlisle, we are deeply rooted in our commitment to creating the highest-quality products from sustainable materials. It’s no surprise that the designers and architects specifying our floors share this commitment.

With great pleasure, we introduce you to Donna Pocci, owner of Pocci Design Group in Boulder, Colorado. With an expert eye for detail and inherent artistic talent, Donna is known for her ability to create spaces as stunning and unique as her list of well-traveled international clients- all with careful attention to sustainability.

Her work can be seen in various publications, including Architectural Digest, Colorado Homes, Home & Design, and Luxe, and she is well-versed in it. It is expressive and grand in a country farmhouse. It is smart, artful, and comfortable in a modern penthouse. It strategically taps into an edgeless design to bring breathtaking lake views into what was once an outdated 1960s modern residence—a Carlisle favorite.

Join us as we learn more about Donna, her appreciation for fine craftsmanship, and the “Erin Brockovich” moment that established her as a trailblazer of the Green Design movement… all within the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

The Interview:

Donna Pocci, Pocci Design Group

C: Good Morning, Donna. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. Your Lakeview project is featured in some of our favorite flagship images at Carlisle, so we can’t wait to learn more about you and your work.

DP: Good morning. I’m happy to be here and share my projects with you. Lakeview was an incredible experience, and I was fortunate to have a client with such amazing art collections for us to work with.

C: It truly is a masterpiece—and worth reading the entire article on our website. Was this your first project with Carlisle, or do you have some history with us that you’d like to share?

DP: It wasn’t my first. I’ve been working with Carlisle for over 10 years. As designers, we do a lot of research on the products we specify. For me, a beautiful wood floor is essential in any home because it can capture the client’s personality and set the mood for everything else.

I shortlisted Carlisle when I was looking for older lumber, specifically walnut. I not only found exactly what I needed but I was also sold on the endless possibilities of creating a custom wide plank floor made from the highest-quality wood in the world.

C: We thrive on creating one-of-a-kind floors and appreciate your loyalty over the years. You found us in search of Walnut. What is your favorite Carlisle floor right now?

DP: I’m a big fan of Chestnut, and anything reclaimed, especially from old barns. There is something special about laying down a floor with some history that works for a family today. I like to tell them that, “The dents are ok.” And it makes living a little easier.

C: Tell us about your background. Are you originally from Boulder?

DP: No, I grew up in Pennsylvania. I came to Boulder in the 1980s after attending the Art Institute in Chicago. During the recession, I was the first designer to be hired into a small firm specializing in commercial design. I worked through the architectural department and dove into the guts of how to design.

I stayed in this industry niche for years, working exclusively on hospitality projects throughout the United States. My relationships with these clients and a few requests to help them with their own homes led me to branch out on my own.

C: Tell us more about growing up in Pennsylvania and what led you to pursue design.

DP: Well, I grew up in a big family. I was one of six kids. My parents nurtured creativity in all of us at a young age, and artistic talent runs in our genes. My grandmother was a brilliant seamstress. And my mom would take us to art classes at the local museum on the weekends. Through this experience, I developed a deep appreciation for art and textiles.

At home, my dad also gave us the freedom to paint. We were allowed to paint our bedrooms and doors… this was such a great expression to shape the world in which I lived, and in the beginning, I wanted to be an artist. It wasn’t until my early teen years, during a field trip to Chicago and city tour, that I discovered interior design. I walked through a lovely commercial studio space and remember thinking, “One day, I want to be the one creating spaces like this.”

C: We love hearing about “that moment”— every designer seems to have one. Let’s talk about your commitment to sustainable design. You are a leader in the industry. How did this all come about?

DP: Thanks to my European clients, we were working in that direction before anyone in the industry. They were well traveled and wanted to live in homes filled with healthy materials. I would show them samples, and the first question they’d ask was, “Where did this come from and how is it made?” I immediately understood and appreciated their concern and desire to build from high-quality and environmentally friendly products.

This took me back to my childhood and my deep sense of culture growing up in my small town. I was surrounded by talented German, Italian, and Irish craftsmen, and I had a deep appreciation for high-quality products. In that moment, which I guess you could call my “Erin Brockovich” moment, I made it my mission to design homes crafted with integrity and healthy to live in.

C: Wow. It’s almost as if your design roots brought you to Boulder for this reason. What happened next?

DP: Yes, it all just happened in a very organic way. We made making healthy homes part of our lifestyle at Pocci Design. We became interested in everything, from glues made without toxins to sustainability and bringing our contractors into the loop. We asked all the questions and brought awareness to the benefit of green design about 5 years before it came into play. We also hired one of the first graduates of Green Design in Denver in 2005 and haven’t looked back. It is part of who we are.

C: We are intrigued by your ‘well-traveled’ clients and the diversity of your work. Can you share a little more about who they are and what is important to them in the overall design of their home?

DP: I love my clients. My typical client is over 50 and, like I said, is either European or brings global awareness to our work. Most of them own multiple homes, and by the time they settle into our project, we’ve established that the design of and how they feel in their homes means a lot to them from the inside out. Many find me through their architects or contractors, and we believe that close collaboration with the entire team (client, designer, architect, and contractor) is the key to success with any project.

C: We agree. When we look at your portfolio, a few things jump out at us as your specialty, and now that we’ve been talking, it’s all making sense of your story:

Your work shows off the architectural details of a home. Whether traditional or modern, a particular touch of “Donna Pocci” seems to be built into the design. To name a few: We are enamored with the thoughtfulness and practicality of built-ins in your homes. We see a lot of beautiful custom millwork and thoughtful spaces created to display art collections from a life of travel. The staircases: Every staircase is a work of art! We know we are gushing here, but this is all indicative of your appreciation for fine craftsmanship and architectural knowledge of design. Would you agree?

DP: Absolutely. I think it’s one of the reasons my clients and I get along so well. We are all focused on how to make their everyday experience practical, healthy, and beautiful. They have come to Boulder to enjoy the great outdoors, and our job is to bring that joy indoors.

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And that by itself is beautiful. Donna, we thank you again for sharing your story. You are leaving a legacy of sustainability for the future generations of Boulder and beyond. We wish you continued happiness and success in the Rockies and look forward to our next collaboration in design!

Want to see more of this project?  Read the customer story or watch the video.  To learn more about Donna, visit poccidesigngroup.com