Co-Founder/Lead Interior Designer 

Tessa was born in Hawaii and spent her younger years as an army brat moving around a lot including Hawaii, Germany and Kansas. But settled in Colorado around 5 years old and considers that where she grew up.

Tessa has about 12 years of experience in Interior Design. Before she started Kali-Lu, all her experience was in New York City where she worked as an interior designer in a boutique design firm and an architecture firm. She also has experience in high end Italian furniture sales.

As the Co-Founder, she has been at Kali-Lu since day 1! Tessa is the lead interior designer and oversees all design projects from start to finish. This includes initial design meetings, conceptual design phases, developmental phases of sourcing materials for each project, running all orders, and managing each project. She prides herself on her organizational skills, leadership skills, creative vision, and as a gregarious person who is able to get out and network for the company to bring clients in. It’s always been a dream of hers to own an interior design firm, so it’s very exciting to see this dream come to life.

Tessa is very athletic and loves to hike, snowboard, and be adventurous. She also loves live music and exploring new food and restaurants. The thing Tessa loves the most is spending time with my daughters and seeing them experience life through their young eyes. She loves rock music including indie rock, classic rock and a little bit of punk rock.

Co-Founder/Construction and Project Manager

Rafa, born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela, is a 35-year-old entrepreneur with a rich background in business and construction. After pursuing a degree in Marketing for three years, Rafa began his professional journey at 21, managing a team of over 25 employees in his family’s company. This early experience, under his father’s guidance, laid a strong foundation for his future success.

Seeking new challenges, Rafa moved to New York, where he co-founded a successful real estate and construction company with a childhood friend. Over eight years, they established a solid reputation, particularly within the Jewish and Brooklyn communities, further refining Rafa's expertise in the construction industry.

Today, Rafa works alongside his wife, Tessa, running Kali-Lu Interiors in Denver, Colorado. Together, they bring their combined talents in interior design and construction to life, leading projects with creativity and precision.

Rafa is a true music enthusiast, with a deep appreciation for rock, alternative, jazz, and blues, believing that all music forms are essential to life. His personal passions also include wellness, meditation, fitness, and his family, which serve as the core pillars guiding his daily pursuits and professional endeavors.

Interior Design Assistant

Gabriella was born in Modesto, CA, and brings 14 years of diverse experience in the interior design and construction industry. Her career has spanned various roles, from painting and management for a paint manufacturer to business ownership. She joined Kali-Lu Interiors in April 2024, where she specializes in residential and commercial painting, with a particular focus on kitchen and bath design.

Gabriella values the trust and collaboration within the Kali-Lu Interiors team, which helps transform 2D designs into tangible spaces. The support from Tessa and Rafa has been instrumental in helping her achieve her career goals in interior design.

In her free time, Gabriella enjoys spending time with her husband, cat, and two dogs. She plays guitar, writes songs, and also enjoys kayaking and camping. She maintains an active lifestyle by working out six days a week. Her taste in music is eclectic, varying with her activities and mood.

Lead Installer

Jimmy, originally from Bogotá, Colombia, brings approximately 15 years of experience in the construction and installation industry—a craft that has been in his family for generations, beginning with his grandfather, uncles, and father. He joined the Kali-Lu Interiors team a year ago, where he has honed his skills in manufacturing kitchen and bathroom cabinets, doors, and closets. At Kali-Lu, Jimmy has further perfected his style and expertise in construction and remodeling.

Jimmy finds working at Kali-Lu Interiors to be a pleasant experience, appreciating the team's kindness, commitment to high-quality work, and punctuality in meeting project deadlines.

In his free time, Jimmy enjoys spending time with his family and playing soccer. His music preferences lean towards alternative and energetic genres.