About Us

 This site is under construction but in the meantime, I’ll tell you a little bit about how I got started in design.

 Imagine This Design is a new name devoted to an old family business. A family of designers that deserves a new identity and solidarity as entity. I’m Toni Tacoma, known to my siblings as Tonette. My mother was the “first” Toni and while she was pregnant with me, she was referred to as Toni and her little Tonette. She was a well known fashion professional, interior designer and artist. My father was a cabinet maker, furniture maker and jeweler. We lived in a home my parents designed and built themselves. A dramatic Frank Lloyd Wright inspired style. All the furniture, dressers, tables, chairs, mirror frames were designed and constructed by my father. It was what would now be considered vintage fifties and when I look at those styles now, I can’t help but appreciate what an incredible craftsman he was. This must have ignited my flair for design at an early age. 

The house was in eastern San Diego on a ranch setting. We had horses, goats, geese, rabbits, chickens, fruit trees galore. In this rural backdrop, with its magnificent home, mother entertained visiting fashion experts from all around the globe. My father was always inspired to improve things, and I loved being woken by the sound of a sledge hammer hitting block walls signaling a remodel. Daddy loved to dance with the guests, but then he kept on building. This juxtaposition between a world traveling fashion expert of a mother and a remodeling cowboy father transformed the quality of my life.

As kids, we knew we were different because we were the only ones at school with a working mother. By first grade, I was put in charge of decorating the bulletin boards, and this was such a satisfying experience for its confidence building impact. I then began designing new furniture for the bedroom I shared with my younger sister. I would draw up a design and present it to my father. He would nod, like any Dutch cabinet maker would, and eventually the order would arrive from Tacoma Cabinet and Fixture Shop. The sight of Daddy’s truck bed piled with pieces of book cases or corner desk units I’d designed was thrilling! I contemplated with absolute amazement the difference between my two-dimensional drawings and the three-dimensional furniture before me. 

My brother Mike had his head into cars and during this time he was rebuilding a model T while raising goats and a steer for 4-H. His mechanical knowledge later morphed into dune buggy racing and design, which led to the development and production of the Tacoma Wheel, now on the Toyota Tacoma truck. My sister Teri quietly collected small treasures she kept secreted away in small boxes. My sister and I built forts together, played dolls together, and cared for 30 cats at a time. We played jacks for hours on the polished terrazzo dance floor. Teri became a ceramic artist, a gemologist and accomplished fine jewelry designer and maker. 

After my studies in fine art and then interior design at UCLA, my mother and I opened a successful interior design business. This was in the late 70s and despite my 3rd and 4th children being born in quick succession shortly thereafter, we’d swing graciously from bottles and diapers to elegant client luncheons. One year after mother retired to open a bed and breakfast in St. Helena, I left for the Caribbean. A businessman from Florida commissioned me to open and manage a store for him in St. Thomas. I created “Caribbean Interiors” and for six years, I imported carpets, tile, window covering and furnishings for second home owners, islanders, hotels and yachts. Then, I abruptly changed course to sell real estate in Puerto Rico. Once the beach houses were sold to Americans, I turned them into what we now call vacation rentals. I designed and managed the rentals for my off island clients for another six years.

After returning to the United States in the 90s, I began investing in vacation rentals for myself. I designed each home with an eclectic vision of the world. Good design increases the quality of life and color has the power to bring joy. Guests have shown their appreciation by coming back again and again. I design spaces that feel like home, full of art and books with a spicy distinctive exotic flair. After 20 years,  I’ve reduced that business to just one vacation home, Casa Panama. www.casapanama.net

In all the time that’s passed, my children have grown to be adults and design professionals in their own right. Imagine This Design is meant to collaborate with each of them. 

This site is new and under construction. In the coming months, I will introduce you to each of my design team members and their creative avenues of all kinds with particular emphasis on restoration, decor, artworks and … wine tours! 

Thank you for your interest,
Toni