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Meet the Team
Design Studio West
Meet Our Award-Winning Team
Staffed by a team of highly respected, long-time industry professionals, Design Studio West brings together a rare blend of artistry and practicality. Our team's collective talent is reflected in every kitchen, bath, interior and exterior and outdoor space we design, creating spaces that are as inspiring to live in as they are to look at. Take a glimpse at our team below and reach out to begin your design project!
Audry Cordero
Designer
Audry Cordero is a San Diego native who has a knack for creating spaces that feel like home—beautiful, functional, and all about you. She earned her BFA from the Design Institute of San Diego and has since racked up awards (and happy clients) by turning everyday spaces into something special.
Audry’s design philosophy is simple: your space should reflect who you are and support how you live. She’s all about the little details, mixing style with comfort to create rooms that just work—and make you smile every time you walk in. Designing with Audry isn’t just about picking paint colors (though she’s great at that); it’s about having fun, staying organized, and enjoying the journey from start to finish.
Audry lives in Eastlake with her husband and their incredibly photogenic cat. When she’s not transforming spaces or meeting clients around town, you’ll probably find her catching up with loved ones, laughing over good food, or dreaming up her next travel adventure.
Fun Fact: Audry doesn’t just design beautiful spaces—she also has a talent for creating custom jewelry. In true designer fashion, she often wears her own pieces, perfectly coordinated with her outfit for a look that’s effortlessly stylish and uniquely her.
Margaret Dean
Designer
A recognized leader in kitchen and bath design, Margaret brings a wealth of expertise and a history of award-winning excellence to her work. Her design acumen has been celebrated with accolades such as "Grand Prize Kitchen of the Year," "Best Small Kitchen," and "Best Historical Kitchen."
Margaret's innovative designs have also been featured on multiple American Society of Interior Designers Kitchen Tours and showcased in numerous national and local publications. Her commitment to the industry is further demonstrated through her involvement with the American Society of Interior Designers (past board member) and the National Kitchen and Bath Association. As a past faculty member at the Design Institute of San Diego, she has shared her passion and knowledge with the next generation of designers.
Margaret's global perspective, gained through extensive international travel, informs her diverse and sophisticated design approach at Design Studio West, where she serves as Senior Designer.
Fun Fact: Margaret’s side hustle—and favorite pastime—is wrangling her spirited Labradoodle, Teddy. The two are a regular duo at agility classes, where Teddy runs wild and Margaret does her best to keep up!
Karina Borg
Designer
With a strong academic background focused on kitchens and baths and years of hands-on experience, Karina brings both technical precision and creative vision to her role as Lead Designer.
Her design work spans a wide range of styles—from clean, modern minimalism to timeless Craftsman to bold, eclectic mixes—always tailored to reflect the unique personality and lifestyle of each client. Karina is passionate about creating spaces that feel personal, purposeful, and beautifully cohesive. Her work has been recognized with industry accolades, including the ASID “Best Small Bathroom” award.
Known for her attention to detail and thoughtful material selections, Karina has a talent for balancing form and function with ease. She guides each project from concept to completion, translating ideas into spaces that are both inspiring and highly livable.
Fun fact: Karina has traveled to the Galapagos Islands, where she spotted blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas in their natural habitat—a design adventure of a different kind!
Maggie Dowd
Designer
Originally from Maine, Maggie moved to San Diego in 2022 and quickly found her place in interior design. She has a natural eye for blending traditional New England character with the clean, coastal, and Spanish influences of Southern California—an approach that gives her work warmth, balance, and a sense of story.
Maggie’s love of creating spaces started early. Inspired by her father, a longtime CAD designer and woodworker, she grew up surrounded by craftsmanship and an appreciation for thoughtful detail. That foundation shaped her belief that well-designed spaces should not only look beautiful, but make everyday life feel easier and more enjoyable.
She studied Art History at the University of Vermont, initially planning a career in museum curation. While helping organize an exhibition, she realized she was more captivated by the design of the gallery itself than the objects inside it. That moment shifted her path toward interiors, where she could combine aesthetic curiosity with hands-on problem-solving.
Today, Maggie focuses on designing homes that feel tailored and deeply livable. She especially loves transforming often-overlooked areas—laundry rooms, closets, storage spaces—into highly functional, thoughtfully resolved environments that support her clients’ routines.
Her background in customer service shapes her collaborative, communication-forward approach. For Maggie, the most meaningful part of any project is the relationship built along the way; understanding her clients is the foundation of the work she creates at Design Studio West.
Fun fact: Before discovering design, Maggie was a DJ at her college radio station, and some of her recorded ads still play on 90.1 WRUV.
Melissa Parra
Junior Designer
As a Junior Designer at Design Studio West, Melissa is passionate about crafting beautiful and functional kitchens and bathrooms that truly resonate with each client's individual needs and style. With a natural flair for design and a commitment to understanding the nuances of personal taste, Melissa brings a creative and client-focused approach to every project.
While continually expanding her practical experience, her strong design instincts and dedication to detail and research ensure that each space is thoughtfully considered and meticulously planned. Melissa is enthusiastic about contributing her creative energy to the team and helping clients realize their vision for their dream kitchens and baths.
Fun Fact: Melissa launched her first business at age five—a classic lemonade stand, of course!
Karl Utzman
Design Manager
Karl leads the Design Division at Design Studio West with a sharp eye, a fresh perspective, and a genuine passion for creating spaces that feel just right. His path to interior design wasn’t a straight line—in fact, it started with international studies, moved through product development, real estate, and finance. That diverse background gives him a unique edge in creative problem-solving and big-picture thinking that clients quickly come to trust.
A top graduate of the Design Institute of San Diego, Karl discovered his true calling in kitchen and bath design. Since then, he’s been transforming everything from compact home offices to full-scale remodels—always with a thoughtful blend of form, function, and budget-savvy style.
“There’s something really special about designing the heart of a home,” Karl says. For him, great design is about more than l looks—it’s about how a space supports the way you live, relax, and connect.
When he's not leading design projects and managing the team, you’ll likely find Karl soaking up Southern California with his family—hiking, exploring the local food scene, and finding inspiration in the everyday.
Fun fact: Karl’s passion for kitchens extends beyond design—he’s also an avid baker with a serious cookie obsession. If you’re lucky, you just might get a taste of his latest creation!
Tracie Hyatt
Finance and Operations
Tracie is the driving force behind our operations, ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. With a strong background in accounting and business management, she brings invaluable expertise to our billing and operational processes—keeping things efficient, accurate, and on track.
Her previous experience as both a business owner and office manager for a fast-paced engineering firm has given her a deep understanding of the financial and logistical side of running a successful company. Tracie’s meticulous attention to detail and organizational savvy ensure our systems run seamlessly, giving our design team the freedom to focus on what they do best—creating exceptional spaces for our clients.
Beyond the numbers, Tracie brings a creative spirit and artistic sensibility that fits perfectly with the Design Studio West family. Her unique blend of analytical precision and artistic perspective makes her a true asset to the team.
Fun Fact: Tracie has solved the New York Times - Wordle Puzzle, on the first try a total of seven times!!!
Doug Hyatt
Construction Manager
Doug is the cornerstone of our project execution, bringing decades of hands-on experience and leadership to his role as Construction Manager. With a strong foundation in the construction industry—including years as a successful business owner and skilled tile setter—Doug offers an unmatched understanding of the building process from the ground up.
Known for his precision in scheduling and ability to juggle multiple moving parts, Doug ensures that even the most complex projects stay on track and on time. He leads our team of project managers with a steady hand, fostering clear communication between our design and construction teams and maintaining a smooth, stress-free experience for our clients.
Doug’s practical expertise, combined with his collaborative approach, makes him an invaluable asset to every project and a trusted partner to our homeowners.
Fun Fact: Doug was once an extra in the TV series The Dukes of Hazard.
Lee Austin
President
Lee is the heart and soul of Design Studio West. As a proud owner and mentor, he brings nearly 45 years of hands-on experience as a licensed general contractor—along with a genuine passion for helping clients transform their homes into something truly extraordinary.
Lee’s journey began in 1982 with the founding of Lee Austin Construction, Inc. Not long after, he expanded his vision with the addition of Design Studio West—a full-service design-build firm rooted in integrity, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to client care. His mission was clear from the start: to make the home renovation experience smooth, collaborative, and even enjoyable. Since then, Lee has built a trusted team of creative, skilled professionals who embody his core values of quality craftsmanship, inspired design, and client-first service.
What truly sets Lee apart is his collaborative spirit. He sees every member of the DSW team, every client, and every vendor or trade partner as a collaborator in the process. With his calm leadership and solutions-focused approach, Lee has cultivated a company culture where creativity thrives, clients are empowered, and every project benefits from strong, cohesive teamwork.
A proud San Diego native, Lee takes great pride in serving the community that shaped him. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring the desert, spending quality time with his wife Dana, their three grown children, and two grandchildren. Whether leading a project or enjoying life off the clock, Lee brings the same heart, dedication, and passion for his craft to everything he does.
Fun Fact: In his teens and twenties, Lee raced motocross—and to this day, he still rides dirt bikes and enjoys annual vacations with a group of friends he’s known for more than 55 years.
Audry
Cordero
Karina
Borg
Melissa
Parra
Margaret
Dean
Karl
Utzman
Doug
Hyatt
Lee
Austin
