Behind Interior Made: Elizabeth Crafton
Every great design space starts with a vision, and for Elizabeth Crafton, that vision has always been about creating beautiful, functional spaces that improve the way people live. As the Owner and Principal Designer of Lilabeth Interiors and Co-Owner and Chief Creative Officer of Interior Made, Elizabeth has built a reputation for blending creativity, practicality, and exceptional client service into every project.
With a background in fine arts and interior design, Elizabeth developed a passion for design at an early age. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from The University of the Arts before pursuing a Master of Science in Interior Design from Drexel University. After years of designing commercial spaces for major corporations, she followed her passion into residential design, where she could make a more personal impact on the lives of homeowners.
To learn more about the woman behind the brand, we sat down with Elizabeth to discuss her journey into the design industry, the inspiration behind Interior Made, and what continues to drive her creativity and passion for helping homeowners transform their spaces.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background. What first sparked your interest in interior design?
A: Ever since I was a little girl, I have had an interest in interior design. I loved playing with dollhouses and was obsessed with recreating the spaces and redoing them. As a child, I would get Architectural Digest and Metropolitan Home. I’m probably dating myself for saying Metropolitan Home because it doesn’t exist anymore, but it was a great magazine. I would spend hours sketching out floor plans. For gifts, I would receive Interior design books. Not normal for the average 5th grader. I would always prearrange my bedroom, and both my mother and grandmother had a strong interest in interior design, and both homes were always beautifully decorated.
Q: Before launching your own business, what experiences helped shape your approach to design
A: In 1992, I went to school for fine arts, and my undergrad degree was actually in sculpture. Unfortunately, my school at the time did not have an interiors program, but I also did have a passion for printmaking, painting, drawing, and fashion. When it came time to choose what I was going to do, I was overwhelmed with choices, and I decided to go with a fine arts major, feeling like that would give me a broader basis. I got a degree from the University of the Arts in 1996, but was faced with the honest truth that your job prospects as a sculptor are extremely limited. I took some time to self-reflect and realized what I really loved was design. I was working at a gallery and was envious of all the designers who were coming in. After taking some classes at the University of Penn and enrolling at Philadelphia College of Textiles, now known as Jefferson University, I then transferred to Drexel University with a Master of Science in Interior Design in 2000.
Q: What inspired you to start Lilabeth Interiors, and what was your vision when you first launched the company?
A: Well, then, the name “Lilabeth” has an interesting backstory. It is a combination of my name, Elizabeth, my oldest daughter, Lillian, and my youngest, Ella, which is very funny due to the fact that I loathe being called Beth in any circumstance. I’ve always been a Liz, but ironically, that’s the part of my name that is tied to my business, and I love it. So I guess I really can’t dislike it that much! I spent many years working in commercial design, and after a while, it felt very dry. I used to say that after a while, it felt no different than being an accountant. Sitting at a desk, sitting in meetings with VPs, project management, spreadsheets, I literally used to dream in AutoCAD. When the pandemic happened, I thought to myself, Well, if the world is going to end, I might as well be doing what I love. I had already soft-started the business back in 2018, but hadn’t really committed fully to it. Now I had all the time in the world to focus on curating the business that I had always wanted, so I took a chance and started my own boutique residential design firm. My vision was to have a business where I could help people find their own unique style. I have a gift of communicating with people and revealing who they truly are. I wanted to be able to take that and create spaces that were beautiful yet functional and be able to have an impact on their day-to-day lives.
Q: Every designer has a unique style. How would you describe yours, and how has it evolved over the years?
A: I like a combination of old and new; I would always say that my style is eclectic. A combination of modern classic, blending antiques with streamlined modern pieces. Anybody who knows me knows I love drama. I love stark white walls with a pop of dramatic color. I feel like it’s a reflection of my own personal style. I find myself even in my wardrobe blending these elements. I have always been a mix of classic preppy with a bohemian edge, and my interiors definitely show that. Honestly, I would say it has evolved into a refined version of what I have always loved. I stay true to who I am. I have never been about the trends, either in my home or in my clothing style. I love the juxtaposition of extreme modern and vintage sophistication.
Q: What led to the creation of Interior Made, and what gap in the industry were you hoping to fill?
A: Way before interior made, I had a vision that I wanted to fill. One stop, where you could get anything. Contractors, interior design, product, but when I looked into how much that would cost, I realized that it would be years away. For anyone who’s ever worked with me, they know I sing the praises of my #1 general contractor, of HDL Servicing, Wayne Archibald. Fast forward to 2024, when I was about to go on Vacation in Paris to celebrate my 50th birthday, I received a phone call from him. He said that a person who used to work as our subcontractor, Gilmar Marcelino, was opening a showroom in Pennsauken, NJ, and was interested in meeting me to design some kitchens for him. Upon entering the showroom, I was very impressed by this beautiful, open, light-filled place. We ended up speaking for a while and realized we were very aligned in our ideas and goals. We then decided to go into partnership together, and that’s how we started Interior Made! South Jersey is lacking a center for design, a space where people can come and fill all their home renovation needs. Our goal of Interior Made was to fill that gap. I have had clients tell me that they have had issues with finding reliable and trustworthy contractors. Interior Made only works with licensed contractors that we’ve worked with for years, who we have fully vetted. We trust our contractors, and we know they will do a great job with all of our clients.
Q: What is one of the most memorable projects you've worked on, and why does it stand out?
A: One of my favorite projects was one we completed in Phoenixville, PA. I’ve known this client for over 30 years, and when we reconnected on this project, we were transforming a two-bedroom into a primary suite with a luxury spa bathroom. One of my favorite features is that we used a product traditionally used for countertops as the flooring and on the walls, creating a stunning marble-like bathroom using Silestone and Dekton products. The results were breathtaking, and our client was very pleased. I would say this project stands out because of the creative use of the materials and the large transformation from two unused bedrooms into a sophisticated getaway.
Q: What are some of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have before starting a renovation project?
A: Timing. It usually takes a lot longer than expected for products to come in, especially recently. I would say timeline is something that nobody anticipates, and I always get people asking for an unrealistic schedule, which I understand since they are not in the design industry. Any designer will agree with this, as it is difficult to align delivery times with contractors due to outside circumstances. I commonly find I do need to explain this to some of my clients, and for the most part, people understand, and I appreciate that! It can be challenging at times, but with an expert design team such as Interior Made, we do our best to make the process as transparent and seamless as possible.
Q: What advice would you give someone who is considering a kitchen, bathroom, or whole-home renovation?
A: Make sure that you have some wiggle room in your budget for pricing. Post-pandemic prices have gone up significantly, and labor is where the bulk of the cost is nowadays. I always say to be flexible because price changes are very common in the design industry.
Q: What design elements do you believe never go out of style?
A: Oh, that’s a good one! I’m going to get it for this one, I know, but white kitchens. I know a lot of people hate them, but they’ll never go out of style. Everybody still asks for them! I think you can still mix in some more modern elements, like pops of color, to spice up a white kitchen.
Q: Outside of design, what are some of your favorite hobbies or ways to spend your free time?
A: I’ve always been very active, and ideally, I enjoy working out daily. I love to go for long walks with my American Pitbull Terrier, Stan. I would love for my long-term boyfriend Mark to join us, but he is more of a homebody. We have a total of 5 children between us and are in the process of transitioning to empty nesters, so we’re excited about what the future holds for us! He spends his time watching movies, which is something I am also passionate about. We’re always trying out new TV shows, right now our favorite being Widow’s Bay on Apple TV. I love to antique with my daughter, Ella. She definitely got her design sense from me! Ella will be leaving for her freshman year at American University in the Fall, majoring in biochem, which she definitely did NOT inherit from me. One of our favorite antique stores is Historic Burlington Antiques Emporium in Burlington, NJ. I love finding unique pieces to add to my thoughtfully curated home!
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
A: Based on my preppy and polished demeanor, people might not know that I actually used to be a little bit of a rebel in my past! I have countless stories from my high school and college days, one of them being that I actually snuck into the Coliseum after hours while I was studying abroad in Rome! I also mainly listen to punk and post-modern music, which a lot of people would not expect from someone who wears J. Crew and owns an embarrassing amount of Kate Spade bags. Back in the day, my hair was every color of the rainbow. I experimented with avant-garde fashion looks throughout my youth. What can I say, it was the 80s!
Q: What's next for Elizabeth Crafton and Interior Made?
A: One of the most exciting developments on the horizon is bringing Lilabeth Interiors under the Interior Made umbrella. By combining our design expertise with our full-service design-build showroom, we'll be able to offer clients an even more seamless experience, from initial design concepts to material selection, procurement, and project completion. This integration will allow us to expand our services, strengthen our brand, and continue creating beautiful, functional spaces for both residential and commercial clients.
As Interior Made continues to grow, Elizabeth remains committed to the values that have guided her throughout her career: creativity, authenticity, and a genuine passion for helping clients create spaces they love. From her early fascination with design to building both Lilabeth Interiors and Interior Made, her journey is a testament to the power of following your passion. With exciting plans for the future and a dedication to delivering exceptional design experiences, Elizabeth is helping shape the future of home renovation and interior design throughout South Jersey and beyond.
