B&D Interview: Sherri Drew, National Vice President of Design Studios at Tri Pointe Homes®
In the details with the NAHB Nationals Gold-winning Design Studio
Builder and Developer: As National Vice President of Design Studios at Tri Pointe Homes®, how would you describe your design philosophy?
Sherri Drew:My design philosophy is rooted in the belief that the design studio is one of the most influential touchpoints in the homebuying journey. It’s where a structural plan transforms into a personal expression of lifestyle for our customers. For today’s buyers, design is not an afterthought, it’s central to how they define home. At Tri Pointe Homes, we focus on curating intentional, cohesive assortments that simplify decision-making while still allowing for meaningful personalization. I believe great design leadership is about striking the right balance between inspiration and clarity, creating offerings that feel elevated and current, but also timeless and livable. As buyer expectations continue to evolve, our role is to anticipate lifestyle shifts, emerging trends, and operational realities, and translate them into studio experiences that are both inspiring and scalable. I believe great design strikes a balance between inspiration and intention. It should reflect how people truly live today — blending functionality, comfort, and style in a way that feels effortless rather than overwhelming.
B&D: What are the Design Studios prioritizing in 2026?
SD: Our design studios are evolving to meet buyers where they are — and today’s buyers expect transparency, convenience, and digital access. A major focus for us has been enhancing visualization tools and completing the rollout of our flooring module, while beginning the expansion of our wall tile module. Through these tools, customers can conveniently build and price flooring scenarios and wall tile applications — from flooring and shower surrounds to kitchen backsplashes — with full transparency. Every SKU offered in the studio is available within the system, allowing buyers to explore all options and patterns with and understanding of real-time pricing from the comfort of their home. This level of access empowers customers to make informed decisions aligned with their investment range before ever stepping into the studio. It also creates meaningful efficiencies for our design teams. When buyers arrive for their in-person appointments, they’re more prepared, more confident, and ready to focus on refining their selections rather than starting from scratch. By integrating visualization, full-SKU transparency, and scenario-based pricing, we’re elevating both the customer experience and the operational effectiveness of our studios — creating a more streamlined, collaborative, and personalized journey. Transparency builds confidence. When homebuyers can explore every option and see pricing clearly upfront, the design studio becomes a place of refinement and inspiration — not uncertainty.
B&D: How do you see the current housing market reflected in design decisions?
SD: The current housing market is encouraging buyers to be more intentional with their design decisions. We’re seeing customers approach personalization with a stronger focus on long-term value prioritizing timeless selections, durability and functional upgrades that enhance daily living. Affordability considerations are also influencing how we curate our studio offerings. It’s important that we provide a wide range of price points while maintaining cohesive, elevated design standards across all of our product types and markets. Buyers want to feel confident that every option available whether entry-level or premium reflects quality and thoughtful design.The current housing market is encouraging buyers to be more intentional with their design decisions. We’re seeing customers approach personalization with a stronger focus on long-term value — prioritizing timeless selections, durability, and functional upgrades that enhance daily living. Affordability considerations are also influencing how we curate our studio offerings. It’s important that we provide a wide range of price points while maintaining cohesive, elevated design standards across all of our product types and markets. Buyers want to feel confident that every option available — whether entry-level or premium — reflects quality and thoughtful design. At the same time, personalization remains incredibly important. Even in a more cautious market, buyers still want their home to feel distinctly theirs. What’s shifted is that decisions are more strategic. Customers are investing in features that improve livability — such as enhanced kitchen functionality, spa-inspired primary baths, and cohesive flooring selections that create visual continuity and livability throughout the home. Ultimately, in this market, design plays a critical role in building buyer confidence. When selections are curated, pricing is transparent, and visualization tools allow customers to clearly understand their choices, it reduces uncertainty and supports more decisive, informed decision-making.
B&D: How does the Design Studios utilize technology to make the design process more accessible in visualization, buyer decision-making and internal workflow?
SD: At Tri Pointe Homes, we’re intentionally advancing both the visualization component of our digital journey and the operational infrastructure behind it. While immersive visualization tools are essential in helping buyers confidently personalize their homes, the true impact comes from fully integrating those selections into our internal processes, with the help of our amazing IT department. We are focused on building a design-forward digital ecosystem that connects the entire lifecycle of an option — from floor plan options, to customer design selections, to lot start, through electronic supplier purchase orders and scheduling, and ultimately to installation in the field. By streamlining these integrations, we’re reducing friction, improving accuracy, and ensuring that selections flow seamlessly from the studio to construction. This alignment creates meaningful efficiencies internally, while also elevating customer experience. Buyers benefit from greater transparency and confidence in their decisions, and our teams gain real-time clarity and coordination across departments and trade partners. Ultimately, our goal is to create a cohesive, end-to-end process where digital innovation supports both inspiration and execution — delivering a smoother, more predictable journey from initial interaction through final installation.
B&D: Looking ahead three to five years, how do you see the Design Studio evolving?
SD: We see visualization continuing to evolve into a far more immersive and comprehensive part of the homebuying journey. Buyers want to see not just individual finishes, but how every option — down to each SKU available in the design studio — works together within their specific floor plan. Expanding detailed digital visualization allows customers to explore all available selections and view their home in 3D with their chosen flooring, cabinetry, countertops, wall tile, and structural options applied in real time. The ability to walk away from the design process with a fully rendered version of their home creates greater clarity, confidence, and alignment around final decisions. Looking ahead, we anticipate even more immersive VR-style walkthroughs that thoughtfully incorporate every design element. These experiences will allow buyers to virtually move through their home, seeing and feeling how their selections interact with lighting, scale, and spatial flow. It’s about giving customers a realistic, real-time understanding of what their completed home will look and feel like before construction is finalized.
B&D: Anything else you would like to add?
SD: I’m incredibly proud of the integrations, systems, and processes we’ve built to ensure that our personalization journey is seamless not only during selection, but all the way through purchasing and installation in the field. It’s important to us that what customers envision during the design process is executed with quality and precision, delivering a finished home that truly reflects their expectations.
Equally important, though, is the strength of our teams and our commitment to staying ahead of evolving design trends. We are intentional in curating option offerings that reflect today’s lifestyles and aesthetic preferences, while maintaining a cohesive and elevated standard across our communities.
Our goal is to create a design experience that feels personal and distinctive giving buyers the confidence and excitement of a custom home experience within a production environment. When we balance operational excellence with inspired curation, we’re able to help homeowners transform a house into something that genuinely feels like their own.
Photos courtesy of Tri Pointe Homes.
This is the full interview, read the print version in B&D March.
