About Our Designers
For over 30 years, Design Associates, Interior Design Consultants, has designed residential and commercial projects as well as showrooms for the residential furniture industry. Our portfolio of work includes corporate offices, banks, medical offices, custom luxury homes, remodeling projects and showrooms.
Each design project begins with the dreams and aspirations of the client. Using our professional knowledge and creative vision, in a collaborative dialogue with the client, we develop a dynamic design concept. Design Associates has extensive experience working with builders and suppliers to expedite completion of the design project. Our mission is to create inspiring interior environments that are innovative and functional for the way you live and work.
Design Associates has expertise in every phase of the design process, including space planning, specifying all surface textures with emphasis on color, paint specification and sustainable materials, furniture planning and home furnishings selections.

Maggie Aardema
A.S.I.D. Principal Interior Designer
In addition to regional residential and local commercial projects, Maggie is the only Wilmington-based interior designer who lives in Wrightsville Beach, and designs showrooms in High Point.
Maggie enjoys the water — boating, kayaking and paddle boarding — and supports the arts.
As a Stanley Furniture design consultant Maggie serves as showroom designer and case goods fashion coordinator. Her work is featured in the 25,000-square foot Stanley Furniture showroom in High Point, North Carolina, and also in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Stanley design branded environments in retail stores throughout the United States. She’s also designed showrooms near Dublin, and in Istanbul, Cologne and Moscow.
Maggie, a Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers, began her interior design career with Tomlinson Furniture Company and holds BA and MA degrees in Art History from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She studied interior design at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Lisa Brown Bohbrink
Studio Manager and Design Assistant
Lisa joined Design Associates in 2009 as Office Manager. Her previous experience in retail and interior landscape design, coupled with her bookkeeping skills have made her a valuable member of the team.
Like Maggie, Lisa is a native Wilmingtonian having returned home in 1996. She and her husband own Foliage Design Systems providing tropical plant care and seasonal designs in the coastal Carolinas. Lisa is a proud graduate of Davidson College with a degree in economics. Her favorite pastime is singing, particularly in musical theater productions around town.