If you are looking for an interior designer in Independence, Florida, you have found her. I am Marilou Stones — an award-winning, licensed interior designer who has been transforming homes across Independence and Central Florida for over 40 years.
Whether you are building a new home, renovating an existing property, or refreshing a single room that no longer works for your lifestyle, I offer a clear, step-by-step design process that takes the overwhelm out of every decision.
Professional Experience
Interior Design
State of Florida
Professional Body
Multiple Awards
US, Mexico, UK
Independence is one of Horizon West’s most established and well-loved master-planned communities — a beautifully designed neighbourhood built around Lake Hancock, with a boat ramp, resort-style pools, walking trails, and a genuine sense of community identity that keeps residents here for the long term. The homes in Independence are predominantly newer construction with open floor plans and generous living spaces, and the community attracts families and professionals who want quality, amenity, and easy access to everything the wider Horizon West corridor and Winter Garden have to offer. I understand the scale and character of Independence homes and the lifestyle this community is designed to support.
I am not just a designer — I am a creative partner in your project. I am based right next door in Winter Garden and know the Horizon West corridor well, including the specific character of Independence homes — their layouts, their proportions, and the design decisions that turn a new build into a genuinely personal home.
Whether you are designing a forever home, renovating a property you have lived in for years, or furnishing a vacation rental that needs to impress from the first listing photo, I bring the same level of care and expertise to every project.
Independence homeowners value spaces that feel warm, functional, and designed for the way a family
actually lives — not just how a show home looks. Whether your style is modern and relaxed, classic and layered,
or something in between, I design your vision — not mine.
From residential renovations and room refreshes to full home designs and commercial interiors,
Stones Design LLC brings award-winning design expertise to every Independence project.
I offer a full range of interior design services including new construction design, home renovation and remodeling, room-by-room refreshes, furniture selection and space planning, color consulting, and complete turnkey projects — designed and furnished from scratch. I also work on commercial and hospitality interiors.
Yes. I offer free in-home design consultations in Independence. We will walk through your space together, discuss how you live and what you want to change, and provide expert guidance tailored to your home, style, and budget.
Timelines vary depending on the scope. A single-room refresh can take a few weeks, while a full home design or renovation project typically runs over several months. I provide a clear timeline at the start of every project, so you always know what to expect.
Yes — this is one of the most valuable early investments an Independence homeowner can make. Builder design centres move quickly, and the selections you make there become the fixed foundation of everything that follows. I guide you through those decisions with a clear design strategy, ensuring your flooring, cabinetry, finishes, and fixtures all work together — and that you avoid the costly mistakes that are easy to make when choosing finishes in isolation.
Ready to transform your space? Let’s talk about your
home and bring your vision to life — with a design that is
as functional as it is beautiful.
Marilou Stones is an award-winning, licensed interior designer and ASID member serving Winter Garden and Central Florida for over 40 years.
Monthly Florida design ideas, straight from Marilou’s studio.
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