Design àla Carte is a unique, timely business that was conceived to fill a void in today’s ever-changing marketplace. The concept is the brainchild of three women with 75 years of combined experience in the interior design and furnishings industry. Though their career paths were different—manufacturers’ representative, interior designer and faux finishing artist—they share a desire to create a legacy of innovative design opportunities for future generations.

While television, the internet and other media sources have stimulated design interest and increased the demand for quality and affordable furnishings, making the right buying decision still requires experiencing texture, color, detail and quality. With the assistance of experienced design professionals, consumers can avoid costly mistakes.

Design àla Carte is committed to providing quality exquisite furnishings and expert design services...
To the Public from the Trade.

Meet the Team:

Charlotte Nichols
  Owner, Faux Artist

Caryl Gibson
  Administrator

Molly Merkert
  Designer

Margot Heckman
  Mentor

Dee Dee Cummins
  Mentor

Charlotte Nichols   Owner, Faux Artist

Charlotte Nichols is the owner of Design à la Carte and has a State of Maryland contractor’s license. She has more than two decades of experience as a faux finishing artist and is highly regarded for her expertise in both color and traditional European glazed finishes and patinas. World-class designers, builders and savvy consumers are repeat clients, and her work is featured in a variety of venues, including Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels, private residences, and on the cover of a national trade magazine. Charlotte has also applied her faux finishing skills to historic renovation as well as staging. Her years of experience inspired the development of her own color palette of traditional European jewel tones, earth tones,
neutrals and faux finishes—the result of which was the creation of faux4u™.







back to About Us

Caryl Gibson   Administrator

Caryl Gibson, our administrator, spent many years as a legislative/executive assistant for
the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Maryland State Treasurer’s Office and various
lobbying groups. In the area of finance, she has been responsible for accounts payable
and procurement. Her experience also includes legislative liaison work, warranty manager
for a car dealership, community relations coordinator for a major supermarket chain, as
well as planning meetings and coordinating events for various distinguished groups,
including foreign dignitaries.









back to About Us

Molly Merkert   Designer

Molly Merkert has her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Interior Design Department of the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. She has worked in many different disciplines of Interior Design for the past 27 years. Molly has worked for small local independent designers; 3 retail businesses ( Montgomery Ward , Mastercraft Interiors, and il Collezione); a small contract design firm(Allan Schavitz Associate); and a large banking institution ( Maryland National Bank) as in house designer. Now that her 3 children are grown it is time to continue to follow her passion for design by growing her own business, Merkert Interiors.









back to About Us

Margot Heckman   Mentor

Margot Heckman (FIFDA, IFRA) spent many years as a rep for major furniture, lighting, art and accessories manufacturers. Her design experience includes working for a Bethesda firm as well as a firm noted for embassy work. She was president of both a retail decorative accessories/design studio and a design firm, and later managed the Romwebber showroom in The Washington Design Center. Margot is a 30-year member of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), and has served on its board in addition to earning IFDA Fellows recognition as well as its Commitment and Unsung Hero awards. She’s a member of the Art Advisory Board of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and chaired the 2004 Renwick Gala. Margot has been honored by, and is on the board of, the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee. She also currently serves as board chairman of the National Women’s Division of Israel Bonds, and since 1988 has been a board member of the International Home Furnishing Representatives Association.




back to About Us

Dee Dee Cummins   Mentor

Dee Dee Cummins (FIFDA, CID, LID) earned her Bachelor of Science degree (majoring in interior design and minoring in art history) from the University of Maryland, receiving the College of Human Ecology’s “Most Outstanding Student” award. She established, owned and operated an interior design firm for nearly three decades. One of her most significant projects was featured in Home & Design magazine, and her favorite project was planning the space, as well as product and color specifications, for a brand-new 64,000-square-foot church. A long-time member of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), Dee Dee was on the board of IFDA’s Washington, D.C. chapter for over a decade, earning its Member of Distinction and Unsung Hero awards, as well as IFDA Fellows recognition.







back to About Us