D-Essentials’ typical client is a commercial investor or an individual homeowner. “I’m doing a lot of contemporary Bali- and Mexican-style houses,” says Caldas. Although one of their current projects is based in Phoenix, Arizona, most of the firm’s work is regional. Currently in various phases of completion are a new restaurant in Aventura, the Kefi Bar and Grill; offices for a Miami Lakes client; a church extension in Aventura; condominium renovations in Hallandale; homes and offices in Cape Coral and Fort Myers (Tuscan-style and California with colonial details and a “really clean layout inside”); and numerous home renovations. “People aren’t moving anymore,” says Caldas. “So they’re using equity lines to do additions.”

The project closest to Caldas’ heart at the moment is a Coral Gables space for a Venezuelan client. “I really love it,” she says of the 10,000-square-foot house with covered patio and garage, decorated in Caldas’ preferred style of classic contemporary. Classic contemporary is, as Caldas explains it, “a linear look with a lot of classic details. It’s not minimalist, but the furniture is really linear. There are a lot of details that make the space comfortable and livable, classic details like dark wood, as well as a lot of Asian details: frames, tables; for example, an old table with a contemporary sofa.”

When it comes to a design philosophy, the firm falls back on its name: The essential is that the design pleases the client. “I try to recommend things to my client that will look good together, but I also always try to work with what the client wants,” Caldas says. “My style is clean, not too much detail, but it has to be functional. I like color and personally go more toward a contemporary than a traditional look, but I have a lot of traditional clients.” Indeed, Caldas has designed a handful of Mediterranean-style houses in Coral Gables for one client, an investor, who believes Mediterranean is most likely to sell well.

The firm has many functions, and its operations are spread out among several venues. The main office is a rented open-plan space in Weston where the consultant architects, interior designer and assistant can work in harmony; the only traditional office with a door belongs to Caldas. The building also offers the use of a conference room. The structural engineer has offices elsewhere, and the carpentry offices and warehouse are in Hialeah.

Because the firm offers so many home redesigns and additions, their built-in carpentry offerings are an essential part of the overall mix. Built-in bars, kitchens and entertainment centers along with crown moldings and baseboards are all part of the available services. For stand alone furniture, the firm uses distributors that specialize in Italian and Spanish furniture when projects call for a contemporary look and distributors in California and North Carolina for those relying on a classic feel.

Caldas would eventually like to begin distributing Latin American furniture directly through D-Essentials. She also sees the firm moving toward "design-built construction," which is to say that every element of an architectural project, from drawings to actual building, can be handled by the firm, as can the final interior design. To this end, Caldas is preparing to go into partnership with a general contractor. "I'm 33, and I've been working very hard," says Caldas. "I think at this point in my life, I've been very blessed."