The Spaces team offers our clients assistance in all phases of the design, from initial concept, to selecting furnishings and fabrics. We ensure projects are always completed efficiently, cost-effectively and successfully.We are trained professionals who are passionate about design and dedicated to modern and contemporary styles.
Our design plans for both commercial and residential clients are guaranteed to excite your space, helping you realize your personal vision.
Marissa Merchant
Marissa grew up in Bancroft, NE and moved to Sergeant Bluff in middle school. She graduated from Sergeant Bluff High School and went on to receive her degree in Interior Design from Kirkwood College in 2007. Marissa married Ronnie Merchant in 2009 and reside in Dakota Dunes, SD with their beautiful little girl Macrae and their two adorable cats Gizmo and Rey. She enjoys boating, red wine and spending with her growing family.
Marissa wrapped up her design degree in London, studying architecture and historical design, then moved to Sioux City to work at a thriving downtown design and décor studio where she quickly was offered a partnership position. Her focus was mostly on residential design while increasing her skillsets in sales and management. Marissa continued to excel in this position and steadily gained experience with commercial projects and large ‘new build’ projects where she chooses everything from furniture, fixtures and lighting to exterior finishes and colors throughout the entire space. Her portfolio now includes work in healthcare, institutional work, educational facilities, the hospitality industry and more. When the opportunity presented itself to join John with Spaces in 2013, Marissa was able to make the transition along with her loyal client base. Today she continues to build on those relationships, understanding the best way to meet new clients is through the referrals of existing happy and inspired clients!
John Stevens
John Stevens founded Spaces in 2013 with one simple goal in mind: to create a design firm that delivers cutting edge aesthetic endurance and engineers a flawless execution.
"Too many times a designer's vision lacks the foresight and understanding to actually pull it off. As a painting contractor, I saw firsthand how project timelines and outcomes suffered because there was a disconnect between the vision and the implementation."
Our objective at Spaces is to have all of the behind the scenes details worked out for our installation professionals before we send them to our work sites. We work closely with our trade professionals throughout the entire design process. We want to make sure our ideas are not compromised due to a lack of preplanning. When issues do arise, we are the ones that coordinate the resolution.
With an emphasis on collaboration, we are able to realize the vision of our clients.
John is married to Mindy and they have 3 children (Jack, Gus and Hazel). He loves traveling, great restaurants, cooking, spending time with family and working on his house.
Taylor Den Beste
Taylor Den Beste is a Sioux City, IA native who moved up to Akron, IA in 2009 where she graduated from Akron Westfield High School in 2011. From there she studied at Western Iowa Tech for a year where she realized her passion for art and design. In 2015 she graduated from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE with a Bachelors of Science in Interior Design along with a Minor in Art. Taylor married John Den Beste in 2015 and they reside in Sioux City, IA with their two dogs, Maverick and Hazel, and two cats, Kitty and Walter. In Taylor's free time she enjoys spending time with family, golfing, sewing, biking and working in the yard.
After graduating, Taylor worked at a local furniture store for over 2 years where she gained valuable knowledge on residential design, sales, and custom furniture. During her time there Taylor helped clients select the furnishings that best fit their space and style. This often included providing hand drawings of the clients space with the furniture incorporated to help the client visualize how the space would look and feel. It also included selecting anything from accessories, lighting, artwork and paint color to selecting fabrics to create custom pieces. She also realizes the importance of keeping clients happy and involved in the design process. Now working with the Spaces team, Taylor is excited to continue broadening these skills, as well as expand her knowledge in the design firm environment.