Founder &
Principal Designer
Ariana
Afshar Lovato
Ariana founded Honeycomb Home Design in 2016 with the mission to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful–to support the very full lives of her clients.
As an Iranian-American woman in a male-dominated industry, Ariana overcame numerous challenges to build her successful studio. Now, as a wife and mother of two boys under four (!!), she continues to balance her passion for design with the wild ride of being a mom–making her even more creative at turning clients' visions into reality.
After earning an Associate’s Degree in Interior Design at FIDM in Los Angeles, Ariana continued her education with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of LaVerne. Continuing education with a Certified Living in Place credential, Associate Kitchen and Bath credential, as well as earning her real estate license (Realtor® #201532011), Ariana continues to learn whatever she can to help her clients and her team.
Ariana just recently became a certified interior designer in the state of California. This state‑regulated credential represents years of education, verified experience, and a deep commitment to designing spaces that are not only beautiful, but safe, functional, and code‑compliant. As a CID, Ariana is qualified to prepare and submit interior design plans for permits, ensure ADA and life‑safety compliance, and bridge the gap between creativity and construction with even more precision. Honeycomb can now stamp non seismic and non-structural plans. This milestone elevates what Honeycomb offers, giving our clients greater confidence, smoother project delivery, and a level of technical expertise that only about 2,000 designers in California hold.
located on the
California Coast
serving nationwide
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Samuel Miller
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Sam’s background in hospitality, ensures Honeycomb’s clients are taken care of, projects are managed, and all the details of running an office are attended to. You can find him invoicing, ordering, managing deliveries, and usually on the phone.
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Tamra Millan
DIRECTOR OF DESIGN
With a background and education in design and experience in construction, Tamra brings both creativity and precision to every project. She bridges the gap between concept and completion, keeping details organized and on track while ensuring the final result stays true to the design vision.
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Jill Boaz
CABINETRY SPECIALIST
Jill uses her mathematical, problem-solving and creative skills to oversee every detail of your cabinet order. She enjoys consulting with clients about their kitchen needs and seeing their new space come to life.
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Jessica Griswold
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Jess believes a home should be both functional and beautiful, but with the right designer, it can also reflect thoughtful details and creative touches someone might never have imagined on their own. Jess collaborates closely with clients and carefully curates finishes to create thoughtful, stylish, and functional interiors.
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Brenda Linares
INTERIOR DESIGNER / CAD DRAFTER
Brenda has a talent for recognizing the potential in every space, a passion for transformation, and an exceptional eye for detail. She is excited to contribute her skills as an integral member of the team in her role as Junior Designer.
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Hannah Campbell
DESIGN INTERN
As an architecture student with a passion for design, Hannah brings a fresh perspective and an attention to detail to every project. She supports the team with creative ideas and thoughtful execution, learning from each stage of the design process while contributing her own emerging expertise.
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Hannah Gill
MARKETING
As an architectural lighting student with a passion for marketing, Hannah bridges the gap between design and storytelling. She brings a detail-oriented, creative approach to highlighting projects through strategic messaging and visual content, supporting the team by elevating how design is communicated and experienced.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Every project is unique, and investment varies based on the size of your home, scope of work, level of customization, and services required.
As a general guideline:
Custom kitchen renovations typically start around $150,000.
Whole-home renovations generally start around $600,000.
For single-room projects, we maintain a minimum engagement of 30 design hours ($6,000).
Most of our full-service projects involve custom new builds, major renovations, or whole-home transformations where we are involved from design through construction and installation.
During our discovery call, we'll discuss your goals, budget, timeline, and project scope to determine the best path forward and whether we're the right fit for your project.
We believe that transparent conversations about budget early in the process lead to better planning, stronger decisions, and a smoother experience for everyone involved.
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As early as possible.
We love being involved before plans are finalized and before construction begins. Bringing a designer onto your team early allows us to help shape the layout, improve functionality, coordinate with architects and contractors, and avoid costly changes later in the process.
Ideally, we recommend reaching out several months before your anticipated construction start date. This gives us adequate time for discovery, design development, selections, documentation, and coordination with your project team.
If your timeline is shorter, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll always do our best to accommodate your schedule when possible.
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Absolutely.
We believe the best projects happen when everyone is working toward the same goal from the beginning. We regularly collaborate with architects, builders, engineers, landscape designers, and specialty consultants throughout the design and construction process.
Our role is often to bridge the gap between design and construction, ensuring that every detail is thoughtfully considered and clearly communicated.
If you haven't assembled your team yet, we're happy to recommend professionals who may be a good fit for your project.
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Not at all.
Many of our clients reach out before they've hired an architect or contractor. Others already have plans and are looking for help refining layouts, selecting finishes, developing cabinetry, or coordinating the countless details that come with a renovation or new build.
Whether you're at the beginning of the process or already underway, we'd love to learn more about your project.
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No.
While kitchens are one of our specialties, our work extends far beyond the kitchen.
We regularly design primary bathrooms, guest baths, mudrooms, laundry rooms, bars, home offices, living spaces, bedrooms, custom built-ins, outdoor entertaining areas, and entire homes.
For commercial and hospitality clients, we also create thoughtful environments that balance functionality, beauty, and the unique needs of the business.
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Yes.
Not every project requires a full renovation. Through Access Honeycomb, we offer services specifically designed for clients who need professional guidance on a smaller scale.
Whether you're refreshing a bathroom, selecting paint colors, updating cabinetry, reworking a furniture layout, or simply feeling stuck on design decisions, we can help you move forward with confidence.
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Yes.
Our virtual consultations are perfect for homeowners who need expert guidance without committing to a full-service project.
During your consultation, we'll review photos, videos, plans, inspiration images, and any questions you have about your space. Many clients are surprised by how much can be accomplished during a focused virtual meeting.
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A lot.
Some common topics include:
How can I improve the layout of my kitchen?
Should I move appliances or plumbing fixtures?
Is my island the right size?
How much cabinetry do I really need?
What countertop material is best for my lifestyle?
What paint colors work best with my finishes?
How can I improve storage and organization?
What lighting should I use and where should it go?
Should I choose open shelving or upper cabinets?
How can I make my bathroom feel larger?
What materials will hold up best to kids, pets, or heavy use?
How can I create a more cohesive design throughout my home?
What improvements will have the biggest impact on my budget?
Our goal is to help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
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We believe beautiful spaces should work beautifully, too.
Design is about much more than selecting finishes and furnishings. It's about understanding how you live, how your family functions, and how your home can better support your daily routines.
Our team combines creative vision with technical expertise, detailed planning, and construction coordination. We spend just as much time thinking about kitchen workflow, storage solutions, lighting plans, and construction details as we do selecting tile and paint colors.
We pride ourselves on creating spaces that are thoughtful, functional, and deeply personal to the people who live in them.
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Honey Cabinetry is our cabinetry division, offering both semi-custom and fully custom cabinetry solutions.
Through Honey Cabinetry, you'll work directly with our in-house cabinetry specialists to create a space tailored to your lifestyle and storage needs. We carefully consider workflow, organization, functionality, aesthetics, and long-term durability.
From kitchens and bathrooms to mudrooms, bars, laundry rooms, and built-ins, our cabinetry team is involved throughout the process, from initial layouts to final installation.
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We have a studio in the Village of Arroyo Grande where clients can explore cabinetry options, review materials, and meet with our team by appointment.
Because every project is highly customized, we find that most clients benefit more from reviewing curated samples, completed projects, and tailored design presentations than browsing a traditional showroom floor.
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Will you come to my house for a consultation?
Depending on the scope and location of your project, site visits may be part of our process.
For many projects, we begin with a discovery call and review photos, videos, measurements, or existing plans before scheduling an on-site meeting. This allows us to better understand your goals and make the most of our time together.
Once engaged, our team regularly visits project sites throughout the design and construction process as needed.
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Our process is designed to create clarity, confidence, and excitement throughout your project.
We begin by getting to know you, your family, your lifestyle, and your goals. From there, we develop conceptual mood boards, floor plans, cabinetry layouts, interior elevations, finish selections, lighting plans, and construction documentation.
As the project progresses, we coordinate with contractors and trades, assist with procurement, track orders, manage deliveries, and oversee installation details.
Every phase is carefully planned to help create a seamless experience and a beautiful finished result.
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A beautiful design only works if it can be executed properly.
Detailed plans help ensure that everyone involved in your project is working from the same information. Our documentation includes layouts, elevations, cabinetry details, finish schedules, tile layouts, lighting specifications, and much more.
These documents reduce confusion, improve communication, and help keep projects moving efficiently throughout construction.
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Absolutely.
In fact, finish selections are one of the areas where our clients find the most value.
We help guide decisions on cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, plumbing fixtures, paint, decorative lighting, hardware, mouldings, wall treatments, and more.
Beyond selecting beautiful materials, we help educate clients on durability, maintenance, performance, and how various products will function in everyday life.
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Yes.
Our team can handle ordering, tracking, receiving, storage, inspection, and delivery of furniture, lighting, and other approved selections.
We coordinate directly with vendors, monitor shipments, address damage claims if needed, and work closely with contractors to ensure items arrive when they're needed.
Our goal is to remove as much stress from the process as possible, allowing you to enjoy the transformation of your home.
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Ariana recently earned the Certified Interior Designer designation in the State of California.
This state-regulated credential represents years of education, professional experience, and examination. It allows Ariana to prepare qualifying interior design plans for permitting and demonstrates a deep understanding of building codes, life safety requirements, accessibility standards, and technical design.
For our clients, it means an even greater level of expertise, coordination, and confidence throughout the design and construction process.
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Start by reaching out through our contact form to schedule a discovery call.
We'll learn more about your project, answer any initial questions, discuss timelines and goals, and help determine which Honeycomb service is the best fit for your needs.
Whether you're planning a custom home, a complete renovation, a cabinetry update, or simply need expert guidance, we'd love to hear from you.