Hi, there!

I’m Emily Terlau, Interior Designer, and brain child of Color Counsel. For as long as I can remember, I have always had a very strong aesthetic mindset. As a young child, I defiantly mixed bold stripes and wild prints during my out of uniform day at school. My high level of curiosity is matched only by my love of playful visual exploration. 

I received my Bachelor’s of Arts at the accredited Interior Design program at the University of Kentucky in 2004. But my education didn’t end there, I currently hold an NCIDQ certification and am working towards my Well Certification. 

In my 20 years as a commercial Interior Designer, I have had the pleasure of designing for some powerhouse brands, including  Macy’s, Harley-Davidson, Fifth Third Bank, Starbucks, The Home Depot, Marriott Hotels, and Johnson Investment Council, to name a few. In 2018, I was inducted into the ICSC’s Leaders Under 40 . I received the coveted Macy’s Best of the Best award as the design lead for Macy’s Backstage.

Outside of work, I have more hobbies than time will allow. I am a photographer, a mixed-media artist, and legendary Halloween costume designer. A self-proclaimed pen and paper snob, I have strong opinions on the need for a good “bleedy pen”. Crossfit and Hot Yoga keep my mental and physical health in check. A perfect Saturday would include fruitful estate sales, and consuming copious amounts of Art and Ramen.

I am slowly restoring a Mid-Century Modern home with my husband and two sons in Cincinnati, Ohio.