Designer Carter Averbeck learned early on that one person’s trash was another’s treasure.
“We were masters of the upcycle before it was cool,” Averbeck says. “My folks could turn a roadside find into a showstopper. It was like watching alchemists at work!” This knack for transformation became the cornerstone of his firm Omforme Design.
Today, his clients have much deeper pockets, but whether it’s a renovation of the historic Foley Mansion or an opera house from 1908, he still approaches each project with that waste-not, want-not mentality.
We sat down with Carter Averbeck to unpack his approach to thoughtful, green interior design. Click play on the video below to watch our conversation:
The secondhand market
Averbeck is riding high on the recent boom in the luxury secondhand market, thanks to platforms like First Dibs and Cherish.
“These sites are game-changers,” Averbeck says. “They’re showing people that ‘vintage’ isn’t code for ‘outdated’ – it’s a goldmine of unique, high-quality pieces.”
Averbeck’s love affair with second hand treasures paid off big time during the pandemic. While other designers awaited new stock, he was busy transforming existing pieces into custom pieces for his clients.
“We were cranking out projects in three weeks flat,” he says. “Meanwhile, others were stuck in a 30-week limbo. Talk about a competitive edge!”
Educating the client
Not every client jumps on the sustainable bandwagon right away. For Averbeck, half the battle is education.
“Sometimes I feel like a magician trying to convince a skeptic,” he admits. “I have to show them that this old chair can become their dream piece. It’s all about building trust.”
But once clients see the magic happen, they’re hooked, he says. Averbeck has an uncanny ability to weave his client’s personal quirks into his designs, which he credits with being a big part of Omforme’s draw that often leads to repeat clients.
“I had a client with a garden gnome obsession,” he says. “We ended up creating this ultra-modern sunroom with a gnome display that would make your head spin. It was bizarre and beautiful – pure magic!”
Old meets new in the Foley Mansion makeover
Averbeck recently got his hands on the Foley Mansion built in 1889 and gave it the Omforme makeover that marries historical charm with modern luxury.
“We had to tread carefully,” Averbeck explains. “The goal was to make it livable for the 21st century without losing its soul.”
What’s next for Carter Averbeck and Omforme Design
Averbeck is currently knee-deep in restoring a 1908 opera house – a project that lets him run wild with his love for history, sustainability, and grand design.
But for Averbeck, the dream isn’t about specific projects. It’s about the people.
“Give me a client with an open mind and a zest for life,” he says. “Someone who wants their home to be a work of art. That’s my dream project right there.” Surely, many designers can relate.
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Headshot photography by Taylor Hall O’Brien
