Ethos
At the heart of ‘Need to Know’ lies an unwavering belief:design has the power to transform not just spaces, but lives.
We’re here to elevate spaces into vessels of experience—joy, connection, inspiration, or even nostalgia.
We create spaces that hit different—uncomplicated, high-energy, and deeply connected to the people who use them. Peeling back the layers of every idea, uncovering the why behind each decision—delivering interiors that are not only functional but alive. Every choice has a reason, every detail has a story, and every project is an opportunity to defy expectations.
The Team
Sophia Pappas
Cofounder · Detail Devotee · Design Minimalist (with a Side of Drama)
Sophia designs with restraint—but never plays it safe. Her work balances clarity and tension, always grounded in one unforgettable moment. With a background in interior design and construction from NAU, she brings big ideas down to earth. Before founding Need to Know, she honed her edgy-minimalist style in commercial interiors. She’s all about bold clients, sharp concepts, and details that hit exactly where they should. For Sophia, the process is just as creative as the outcome—and no idea is off the table.
Carmen Tabatabay
Cofounder · Concept Queen · Forever Moodboarder
With a Master’s in Interior Architecture and a background in Communication Technology & Society from ASU, Carmen brings sharp strategy and bold creativity to every project. She cut her teeth in the fashion world, curating for the Phoenix Art Museum and styling for names like Stella McCartney and Harper’s Bazaar. For over five years, she’s been designing interiors that don’t just look good—they tell a story. Her roots in PR, sales, and editorial shape how she crafts spaces that connect and convert. Carmen founded Need to Know out of an obsession with creating work that shocks, delights, and makes you say, “Damn, that’s good.”
Design Process
Need To
Learn
Eager and inquisitive, we need to know you. Together, we’ll dive into the depth of your vision and explore everything you’re dreaming of for the space—from the expressed elements to the environment’s ethos.
Need To
Feel
Taking the information from our earlier conversations, our team will start creating the DNA of the project and present it back to you. With our applied expertise as experienced design professionals, we’ll make sure our direction is on-track with what you want.
Need To
See
Seeing is believing—seriously! Our team will transpose the near-final concepts into 2D and 3D designs, giving you the picture-perfect visualization of your vision. We’ll review it in detail together, and then package the final product into design language and details ready to hand-off to the builder.
Need To
Create
Your vision is now a reality! Ideas move to implementation as the contractor brings the concept into creation.