"I strongly believe in—and I always have—an open floor plan. Everything should flow inside outside whether it’s traditional or contemporary," she explained confidently. "I like to take out walls. I like to take out hinged doors because they just get in the way and clutter things. Designing the space for the function is of primary importance. Then you can make it aesthetically beautiful, too, but the most important thing is to have it flow and work.

"Logically, it follows that clutter is anathema to flow and open space. That clutter, according to Olson, leads to feelings of discomfort and uneasiness.

"I like eliminating clutter by keeping it as simple as possible, paying special attention to the lines, textures, and colors in the very design of the home. A lot of what I do is glass. The outside is very busy, which we love. But the inside needs to be very simple and uncluttered to reflect the peacefulness inside. Then you can enjoy the outside. That’s very important to me," she said of her characteristic design style. 

Having the confidence and clarity of vision to know exactly what she wanted her new home to look and feel like, next she turned her attention to environmental stewardship and responsibility.

"I was adamant my home include as many earth-friendly features and appliances as possible," Olson explained matter-of-factly. "Mark and I were able to make use of concrete and recycled glass countertops, green cabinets, halogen and fluorescent lighting, low-flow fixtures, soy-based and recycled cotton batt insulation, and net-metering photovoltaics.

"Olson also consulted John Heinz from University Electric to ensure the latest energy-efficient appliances were incorporated into the green home. The very property on which the home is being built was taken into consideration as well, with drought-tolerant and native plants making up the landscaping and all rainwater and drainage being managed on site. >>