About Us
Our Architectural Consulting + Interior Design Studio was born out of a passion to transform people’s experiences by designing incredible destination spaces and memories that last a lifetime. In addition to projects for vacation homes, short-term-rentals (STR's), AirBNBs, and boutique hospitality, we are also passionate about creating memorable experiences in nature that keep your guests amazed, and unforgettably impressed. We design with you and your small business in mind.
.jpg)
Meet our Chairman of the Board: Alyson
Alyson Richards, NCIDQ is the only certified Interior Architect and Designer focusing on Vacation Homes and Country Estates for both investors and private residences nation-wide. She is an award winning interior designer with nearly 20 years experience planning and remodeling. Alyson’s passion for travel has made her an expert in her field for vacation homes, ranches, lake houses, and sprawling private estates in and around the Texas Hill Country from Lakeway to Georgetown and other premier Austin and Waco area neighborhoods as well as the historical beach towns along the Texas Coast.
Alyson is knowledgeable about and involved in every aspect of planning and remodeling; from conceptual design and analytical programming for new construction to construction documentation and managing contractors when remodeling. She always ensures design details are executed perfectly, working with her builder counterparts to solve any problem. Her vast knowledge of materials sciences, and talent for space planning and accessibility for those with challenges make her sought out by her clients to ensure their investment is sound, and futureproof.
Clients describe Alyson as creative, detailed, competent, and artistic. She is truly a dedicated designer that remains active in client meetings, materials and finish specifications, and the fine detailing of selecting furnishings and décor on all P+P projects; providing crucial quality checks to ensure the right product is specified for function and form.
“I really believe that a competent designer should exemplify form following function” she says. “If the designer chooses to ignore the function, then to me, they fail at the design prompt, just as much as if they ignore the form.”
Alyson’s extensive network of both design and construction professionals are paramount to her success. “I still run things by my mentors and solicit peer reviews. I want to be sure when I do something, I’m doing it right. There’s no better future proofing than a mentor with 50+ years experience to teach you.” Her projects at former firms have won a wide variety of both design and service awards including some from IIDA and ASID, and have been published by The New York Times, Dallas Business Journal, Austin Eater, and Zagat.
Alyson launched PALM + PINE in 2021 after an extensive career working for some of the top commercial design and architectural firms in New York City, Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Her commercial clients before launching P+P include luxury airlines, Fortune 500 companies executive boards, 5 star hotel owners, premier real estate venturists, CEOs, board members, and other c-suite level professionals from ad agencies to oil and gas companies. But after years of mentorship by others, she was ready to strike out on her own creative journey focusing on her own passions.
Since PALM + PINE has opened its doors, her brand has helped clients solve their planning and design needs for modern luxury cabins in remote forests, and age-in-place European farmhouse retirement manor nestled outside of Austin. She prides herself on pivoting design styles and dabbling in different genres according to her clients’ personal tastes.
Alyson is passionate about incorporating historical architecture and natural products and elements, and adores the historical homes of Galveston Beach, the Texas Hill Country, and Williamson County and embraces the new sleek and modern luxury in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Her uncanny ability to blend eclectic elements from old and new create unique spaces that leave a lasting impression on guests in these iconic vacation towns.
Alyson’s education at School of Visual Arts in New York City not only earned her a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Interior Design + Built Environments, but taught her the tools to use classic design methods like hand drafting, sketching, and rendering, but also how to embrace modern techniques and tools; harnessing technology to her advantage to create 3D environments to sculpt dimensional spaces that her clients can visualize and truly experience.
Alyson co-owns PALM + PINE with her Chief Financial Officer and husband Kevin. They reside on her family’s working farm and ranch outside of Austin, Texas with their two children (soon to be three in May of 2024), and two rescue labs Duke and Charlotte.
If you are interested in rescuing your own lab, Alyson highly recommends you visit https://www.luckylabrescue.com/
Some of Alyson's works before launching PALM + PINE
Alyson's 19 year career as a professional designer has gained her experience with an extremely wide variety of project types. She contributed to her project teams in a variety of ways, some more lead, and some more supportive. Scan thru the gallery to see her works from previous firms: Corgan Inc., Harris Design, Callison RTKL, Staffelbach DLR Group, Waldrop + Nichols, and Abel Design Group.
Commercial Gallery
 |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |
Commercial Gallery
Vacation Home Gallery
 |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |
Prior to the inception of P+P, Alyson played a crucial role in the successful launch of A Curated Cabin. As the sole Professional Designer on the team with prior industry experience and the only one equipped with credentials to guide her colleagues through the commercial aspects of the business, Alyson made significant contributions. The showcased projects highlight Alyson’s leadership in space planning, budgeting, presentations, client interactions, and her valuable assistance on installation and staging days. This collaborative effort allowed her partners, who were fresh to the industry, to focus on the decor aspects and contribute to the overall success of the projects.
Currently PALM + PINE is working on:
- Luxury Modern Scandinavian Cabin in Ouachita Forest in OK
- Two Aspen Transitional Cabins, location TBD
- Transitional Lakehouse on Lake Buchanan, TX
- Age-in-place Retirement Country Villa in Liberty Hill, TX
- Age-in-place European Farmhouse in Williamson County, TX
- Private Residence Lakehouse on Lake Travis in Lakeway, TX