Behind the Designs: Get to Know the Blakely Interior Design Team
At the heart of every project here at Blakely Interior Design is our talented, close-knit team of creatives, where each person brings a unique blend of expertise and passion for what they do. With decades of experience in design, architecture, project management, and operations, we provide our clients with a truly full-service approach that covers every detail—whether you're building, renovating, or furnishing your home.
Our team of nine is large enough to handle even the most complex projects, yet small enough to give each client the personal attention they deserve. We’re passionate about bringing your design dreams to life, and we make sure to have fun along the way, so you can enjoy the process as much as the final outcome.
In this post, we’re excited to share a bit about how each of us contributes to making your project a success, plus a few fun facts you might not know. Keep reading to meet the team behind the designs!
If you’re not already, make sure to follow us on Instagram to see our weekly team member spotlight posts!
Meet our Team
janelle photopoulos, owner & principal
How long have you worked at Blakely?
I started Blakely nearly 13 years ago
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
Aside from being the founder and CEO, I oversee all business development, strategic relationship development, and have final review of all design prior to client presentations.
Favorite thing to work on?
Meeting new prospective clients and helping them visualize their dream home through working with us, and seeing their joy on installation day.
Describe your personal design style: My personal design style is always evolving (being exposed to so much!) I lean toward classic, clean lines with an unexpected edge. Generally my style embraces thoughtful use of color and pattern with layers of texture.
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled? La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Have you started a new hobby lately? Ballroom dancing
A brand that you’re currently loving: Veronica Beard
What song is guaranteed to make you sing? Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Kristian photopoulos, owner & COO
How long have you worked at Blakely?
Coming up on four years.
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
I have my hands in everything except for design. All things related to our financials, operations, growth strategies, sales and marketing, vendor and trade relationships. Everything I do is targeted at the client experience to deliver above and beyond expectations.
Favorite thing to work on?
My entire career has been focused on growing companies. I love formulating an idea, building a plan, hiring the best team, and launching initiatives with constant improvement. I want our clients and trade partners to love everything about the Blakely relationship.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be? While not a food, without question my wife’s charcuterie boards - INSANE!
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled: La Fortuna, Costa Rica - Nayara Tented Camp in the heart of the rainforest
Your favorite local restaurant and why? La Masseria in East Greenwich - their authentic dishes defines true Italian cuisine
What song is guaranteed to make you sing? Hotel California by the Eagles
ali otterbein, director of design
How long have you worked at Blakely?
Almost 3 years
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
I develop ideas and inspire creativity on every project, consistently aligning the goal of the clients with our team's design. As projects go through the ordering and construction phases, my review ensures technical accuracy, that the project meets budget expectations, and that all pieces are ordered as intended.
Favorite thing to work on?
I truly enjoy all parts of our process. One of my favorite things to work on is millwork - I love working on detailed millwork drawings and 3D models, but the moment you get to see it come to life in your project is usually my favorite moment.
Your favorite room to design: A hideaway study or small media room that can transform into a hidden jewel in a home
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled: Lake Como, Italy
What are you currently watching? True Crime documentaries
Have you started a new hobby lately? Gardening
A recent impulse purchase you made: Plane tickets to visit a friend!
marina campbell, senior project manager
How long have you worked at Blakely?
2½ years
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
My role supports our projects by leading communication between our clients, team, vendors, and trades to ensure our schedules and deliverables are met and expectations are exceeded from start to end. I set deadlines, handle documentation at each stage, and work to anticipate challenges before they arise.
Favorite thing to work on?
I may not be a designer but I still enjoy a good visual, and love tracking schedules, budgets, etc. in Excel. I also love that my job puts me in contact with so many different people, from our clients to our contractors. There is a lot of joy in building relationships that create something tangible together.
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled: Croatia, and more recently the Alpes-Maritimes region of France
What book are you currently reading? Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape and the Making of Winston Churchill, by Candice Millard
Your favorite local restaurant and why? Pasquale’s - I love sitting at the bar right in front of the pizza oven where it’s warm and cozy. The atmosphere is always bustling yet somehow you feel like you’re in your own little world.
What song is guaranteed to make you sing? Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A Man After Midnight) ABBA
If you were a meme, which one would you be? “Everything’s Fine”
brianna chace, associate designer
How long have you worked at Blakely?
5 years
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
Alongside Ali, I create floor plans and technical drawings, develop budgets, and conceptualize the overall vision for our projects, then bring the vision to life by making selections from our extensive pool of vendors and our in-house design library. The library has been a labor of love over the last few years but we’ve managed to carefully curate it to our tried-and-true brands, and new and exciting products.
Favorite thing to work on?
I love the process of taking a client’s feedback and preferences to create something uniquely theirs. It’s always fun to make the selections during design development, but even better to see everything come to fruition on installation day.
What show are you currently watching? Only Murders in The Building & The Chosen
Your favorite local restaurant and why? More local to me in Massachusetts, I love Jalapenos in Walpole. They’re an authentic Mexican restaurant with the best pico de gallo around, hands down.
What show could you watch over and over again? The Golden Girls
If you were a meme, which one would you be? “Suspicious Dog”
maythi perez garcia, associate designer
How long have you worked at Blakely?
Almost 2 1/2 years
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
I love my role here because I touch almost all aspects of each project. Alongside Ali, I assist with developing the design for each space, seeing through the technical elements, and making final selections of materials, furniture, and textiles.
Favorite thing to work on?
My favorite part of our entire process is sourcing. At this stage of the project, I can begin choosing the actual furniture pieces, complementary fabrics, wall coverings, case goods, and light fixtures. For me, this is when the design really comes alive.
Your favorite room to design: Recreation rooms likes game rooms, rock band rooms, etc.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be? Puerto Rican Pernil
What show could you watch over and over again? Adventure Time
What song is guaranteed to make you sing? Summertime Magic - Childish Gambino
If you were a meme, which one would you be?
Jessie Barber, Marketing Manager & Stylist
How long have you worked at Blakely?
5+ years
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
Every part of my role - from online marketing, to PR, to strategy - focuses on creating a consistent presence & position in the market to deliver an elevated brand experience. Additionally as our project stylist, I curate all decor for our projects, adding the final meaningful and functional touches for our clients.
Favorite thing to work on?
From planning to styling, I always enjoy the process of photoshoots. It also means more beautiful imagery to use in all our marketing channels. Recently I’ve enjoyed designing a collection of new marketing collateral for our partners and clients, which has been a rewarding way to see our refreshed brand vision in action.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be? Tacos of any kind
What show could you watch over and over again? The Office (and I have watched it over and over)
Your favorite local restaurant and why? High Hope in Westerly - it has a unique menu of delicious food and cocktails for the area, and the vibe in the evening feels like a trendy yet cozy New York City bar.
What would the title of your autobiography be? It Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy - ramblings of how to effortlessly creating meaningful experiences, without exhausting yourself in the process.
dee dee marion, procurement manager
How long have you worked at Blakely?
5 years
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
I place all the orders and ensure all custom details are precisely captured as intended. Things inevitably get discontinued or backordered, so it is essential in my role to be sure we receive what was specified and communicated to the client so there are no surprises or mistakes.
Favorite thing to work on?
Corralling all of the moving parts into order and watching them fall into a neatly organized timeline, which ultimately brings the designs to life!
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be? Mexican Food
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled: Botswana
What show could you watch over and over again? Ozark
Your favorite local restaurant and why? Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar - it has a fun neighborhood vibe and great cocktails
margaret o’farrell, expeditor
How long have you worked at Blakely?
3 years - time has just flown by!
Explain your role, and how it’s critical to our projects’ success.
Behind the scenes support for the design team, providing them the ability to focus on the creative elements of their plans and feel confident that each piece will fall into place. We have multiple projects in a variety of stages at one time and my day is filled with managing all these pieces throughout their development, and providing solutions when problems arise. I feel a great responsibility to ensure the design intention not only comes to fruition, yet feels effortless.
Favorite thing to work on?
Proposals and Purchasing: Often it’s the first time I’ve seen the project collectively, so I’m excited to see all the details. There are hundreds of pieces in motion and we are watching them all! Also, spontaneous giggling with Dee Dee, I never know what will crack us up.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be? Pizza- a conduit for so many flavors
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled: Lake district of Italy, and Norway in winter
Your favorite local restaurant and why? Plum Point Bistro. Every plate is delicious - moonshine ginger cocktail, rosemary shrimp on grilled bread, daily seafood specials, seasonal galette- I’m in!
A recent impulse purchase you made: Online shoe shopping on the couch with my niece- Alohas Red ballet flats - can’t wait for them!!!
If you were a meme, which one would you be?
Interested in joining our team? We’re hiring! We’re seeking an Interior Designer with 3-5 years of experience in residential design and construction. Click here for all the job details and how to apply.
