Breaking Ground:
edited by Cassidy Mantor
Women comprise nearly half of the work-force but account for just over 10 percent of those employed in the construction industry, according to annual data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While that statistic may not be surprising for the traditionally male-dominated construction industry, WHJ scouted the local market to find out who some of these women are, with the goal of recognizing the immense value they’re bringing to our community.
The women we’re featuring are designers of the Sun Valley lifestyle. They work smarter and harder, and their perspectives shed light on the unique experiences they bring to the job. We hope you enjoy getting to know them better through their stories – we surely have!
Elizabeth Ellis Interior Design
Elizabeth Ellis has run Elizabeth Ellis Interior Design, in Ketchum, for just under a year but has grown her local reputation for almost eight years. With a passion for interior design and a strong urge to push technology to its limit, Elizabeth is relishing the opportunity to change the game of interior design. And it’s not only locally; she is also being recognized nationally for her innovative ways. Drawing from almost 20 years of experience in four different countries, Elizabeth brings a wealth of diverse experience to her business. Combined with her effervescent personality and knack for making all stakeholders happy, she’s breathing new life into the interior design space.
“I’ve always felt that the design and construction industry needs more focus on keeping up with technology and expectations.”
–Elizabeth Ellis, Elizabeth Ellis Interior Design
whj : How did you find your way to your current job?
It’s been a long and adventurous journey! Throughout my career, I have lived and worked in the U.S., the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. I’ve experienced a fantastic array of projects with a variety of firms, some incredibly talented people, and an expanse of technologies and processes. I know it’s the culmination of these events and my efforts that led me to narrow my focus and enjoy my own successful interior design company now. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who nurtured my development and guided me to be the interior designer I am today. My first and last employers were both female (with a few in-between), and they all empowered me. Now I am proudly passing the baton.
whj : How do you navigate work/life balance?
I’m a firm believer in work hard, play hard. In essence, put your all into everything. I can work five 12-hour days and then completely enjoy two full days of camping and mountain biking. Or push hard for months, then spend weeks in an exotic location. I love to succeed, but I also love to enjoy myself along the way. Friends, family, dogs, travel, exercise, wine, food, fun, laughs. I believe life is not meant to be easy, but we can still embrace the best it has to offer! To balance my passionate work life, my most cherished diversion is to travel and explore new countries. My favorites (so far) are Thailand, Jordan, Egypt, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Croatia, Australia; actually, the list is long, but I can’t wait to cross new countries off my list. India is next; Iceland and South Africa are not far behind!
whj : Is there something you have learned professionally that you wish you could’ve told your younger self about your career?
I’ve had plenty of setbacks during my journey, as everyone does. Some fair, some not so much. I would tell a younger me that you need to push through these setbacks faster to have a successful career quickly. Have confidence in your confidence. What may feel like a complete deal-breaker is often just a tiny bump in the road. And 99% of what you worry about is not worth worrying about at all. Still, not everyone is as excited to see you succeed, so just devour all the great advice and valuable experiences. Continually push towards your end goal and always build strength, with modesty.
whj : How does your team factor into your professional success?
My team is unquestionably critical to my success. I cherish every single person on my team, wherever they are in the world, and treat them with the respect and gratitude they deserve. In this day and age, especially after the learnings from COVID-19, many of us can grow a successful business without being geographically constrained. So long as I remain wholly committed to every aspect of the design, efficiencies can be found by delegating tasks to people who excel at each exact task. By collaborating with like-minded architects and designers. By assigning bulk modeling to my remote modeling team, who are incredibly fast and accurate. By directing my annotation team to note up drawings to my exact standards. By sharing comprehensive models with my rendering and animation team, who excel in digital visualization. By doing all these things with intent, purpose, and ongoing dedication (which is honestly the most challenging, as it’s tempting to take shortcuts), I can focus on my time as a designer without being bogged down by rote tasks.
whj : Tell us about a big professional accomplishment.
That’s easy! Challenging the status quo and finding success in doing so. I’ve always felt that the design and construction industry needs more focus on keeping up with technology and expectations. I question why we do things the way we do and why we don’t do them better. Technology is improving every new day, yet interior design and architectural design as a whole are not keeping up. We have software that creates a digital twin of the intended project. More software that can reduce or even eliminate paper documents. We have virtual reality that can put the client directly into an identical replica of their future space. The same VR can be used for virtual design decisions and to answer real-time construction questions with the contractor. We will soon be able to create virtual designs for the metaverse, yet currently most of the industry is still producing elevated drawings on paper sheets, all of which are outdated as soon as they are printed. We have much better ways of designing and delivering our design intent. So, I feel that my biggest accomplishment is extensively exploring every avenue in which technology and process can most efficiently deliver what makes the client and the contractor happy.
Latham Interiors
After meeting her husband and moving to Sun Valley in 2006, Sarah Latham fell in love with the mountain lifestyle and hasn’t looked back. Her foundation in design—the result of working with San Francisco’s Fisher Weisman, Lake Tahoe’s Bentley Interior Designs, and RLB Architectura—continues to support her expertise and innovation. When Sarah’s not closely collaborating with studio clients, she spends her free time outdoors with her family. From biking to running, skiing, and gardening, Sarah is constantly immersing herself in the place she calls home and drawing on its inspirations.
From residential to commercial projects, Latham Interiors’ award-winning interiors has found itself at home in the Wood River Valley and beyond. Whether you’re looking to build a new home or business, remodel, or add a few accessories around the house, the team knows exactly where to lead the design. Make an appointment at their Ketchum studio or shop their curated online shop at latham.com for their favorites in furniture, décor, bedding, and more.
“I live in the moment as much as possible. Whether I’m preparing for a design presentation, meeting with a contractor, or watching my kid’s hockey game, I try to immerse myself completely in the moment. It’s never perfect but I give it my all. And when I can’t, I have a glass of wine.”
–Sarah Latham, Latham Interiors
whj : How did you find your way to your current job?
I found my way to my current job from demand. I had been working with two different design firms and then an architecture firm. I found that too many of the clients were asking me for more involvement on their projects. Latham Interiors was born and has been thriving ever since!
whj : Who are your role models?
My father-in-law, Nick Latham. He taught me so much about architecture, design and running a business. He is a constant teacher and guide. Not to mention that he helped us build our house from the ground up and still manages to take my kids skiing.
whj : How do you navigate work/life balance?
Everyone’s life struggle…the work/life balance! I live in the moment as much as possible. Whether I’m preparing for a design presentation, meeting with a contractor, or watching my kid’s hockey game, I try to immerse myself completely in the moment. It’s never perfect but I give it my all. And when I can’t, I have a glass of wine.
whj : Is there something you’ve learned professionally that you wish you could’ve told your younger self about your career?
“Trust your instincts.” Design is inherent and should be trusted for what will be the right direction in any situation. Sometimes tuning out others is the best way to come up with the best design and after over 20 years of interior design experience, usually my first reaction is the best.
whj : How does your team factor into your professional success?
My team has contributed to Latham Interiors being voted” Best of the Valley” for interior design year after year. We work seamlessly together on all aspects of a project from drafting, specifications, spatial layouts, furniture selections, and general design nerdiness. We equally obsess over every detail and love that about each other.
The Open Room
Heather Newhouse graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in English and high school teaching credentials. She spent six years teaching high school English and Humanities at SAAS (Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences). She coached basketball and helped lead the school’s outdoor program. On a trip to Alaska, Heather met her husband in the Juneau High School gym, coaching basketball! After their first son Levi was born, they moved to Michigan where they spent seven years as the GM of a private hunting club. Heather and her family moved to the Sun Valley area in 2011.
whj : How did you find your way to your current job?
We wanted to move back to the West but did not want to return to a large city, so we took a leap of faith and moved to Sun Valley! I met Claudia, the previous owner of The Open Room, and began a conversation about buying the business. I had no experience in retail or the furniture business but felt that my skills working in a private school and running a high-end hunt club had prepared me to build relationships with customers and provide a personal shopping experience. So, we went for it and bought the business in 2011.
whj : Who are your role models?
My grandmother Nora. She taught me grace, toughness, and had an incredible work ethic. She started a private hunting club in Michigan in the late 1970s to basically save the family farm. She had the most magnificent smile and knew how to provide the best customer service for her customers. Whenever I am having a tough moment, I remember Grandma Nora, and do my best to put a smile on my face and meet my customers’ needs.
whj : How do you navigate work/life balance?
It can be very challenging in a highly seasonal business. I work very long hours during the summer months and certainly get out of balance. I have learned living here that it is perfectly ok to shorten my winter hours and hit the slopes for a morning ski session!
“It can be very challenging in a highly seasonal business. I work very long hours during the summer months and certainly get out of balance. I have learned living here that it is perfectly ok to shorten my winter hours and hit the slopes for a morning ski session!”
–Heather Newhouse, The Open Room
whj : Is there something you’ve learned professionally that you wish you could’ve told your younger self about your career?
I love being my own boss! I would tell my younger self to start sooner, and go for it!
whj : How does your team factor into your professional success?
I couldn’t possibly be successful without my team. My husband Matt and our two sons, Levi and Sawyer, are my main muscle. They receive our deliveries, assemble all the furniture, and then deliver to our customers’ homes. I have three wonderful ladies who work with me, as well. My strategy has been to convince my friends to ‘hang’ out at The Open Room. We have a lot of fun and they got us through the most challenging season we have had in 10 years. I typically never leave during the summer months, but one of my best friends was getting married in Greece in July of 2021. A Greek wedding in Greece: I had to go! Fran, Virginia, and Aleta held down the business, while the rest of us left for ten days. It was very stressful leaving, but they did a great job, and learned so much without having me around.
