Lori Carroll

Owner, Lori Carroll & Associates

By Tara Kirkpatrick

When it comes to leadership, Lori Carroll’s approach can be summed up in one phrase:

“Walk the walk.”

The region’s pre-eminent, award-winning interior designer, author, Tucson Museum of Art trustee and 2023 Silver & Turquoise Ball chair is acclaimed not only for her residential and commercial design projects but also for her integrity, warmth and dedication to detail and innovation.

It’s no wonder her eponymous firm, Lori Carroll & Associates, has garnered more than 100 national, international and regional design awards, and she has appeared in more than 50 publications.

Teamwork is everything to Carroll. “It is important to listen to your clients and fully understand their desires and goals and follow through to the end of each project,” she said. 

The mother and grandmother is well-known for her work ethic, answering email requests at all hours. Her projects have included a bar restyle at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon, new designs for Arizona Vascular and Retina Associates, new homes in Saguaro Ranch, and the upcoming William M. “Bill” Clements Golf Center at Tucson Country Club.

Through her vibrant marketing, Carroll highlights stunning and sustainable materials in her designs and has a keen eye for bold, architectural elements. 

“From remodeling our Tucson home to selecting furniture for our Wyoming house, she has always brought a fresh perspective to every project,” Cindy Parseghian, president of Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, told BizTucson in 2021. “Her designs are inventive and livable.”

Carroll credits growing up as a tomboy in her dad’s lumber yard for her personal grit. As a young child, she always wanted to be a designer, and her drive and tenacity provided her with direction. “In my business, you deal with a variety of individuals on a job site. It is important to be able to communicate with everyone and get your point across so all are on the same page and fully understand what needs to be accomplished,” she said.

Aside from design, Carroll chaired the Silver & Turquoise Ball at the Arizona Inn in May, benefitting the Mission San Xavier del Bac. She is a member of Tucson’s Leading Women and serves as a valued TMA trustee.

“Lori exemplifies the old adage that if you want something done, ask a busy person,” said Norah Diedrich, Jon and Linda Ender Director and CEO at TMA. “She is a tireless and passionate advocate for arts, culture, and heritage in Tucson, in addition to running an award-winning interior design firm.”