Hidden Gems: Meet Anna Reed of Anna Reed Designs and Reed Custom Homes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Reed.

Hi Anna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
From as early as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the way spaces come together—and the way they make people feel. Growing up, I was always willing to pick up a hammer, drill, or paintbrush and jump into projects alongside my parents, whether it was a small renovation or a larger home addition. Those early experiences taught me more than how to build; they taught me how vision, effort, and care can transform a place into something meaningful.

That curiosity followed me into my education. I pursued degrees in both Physics and Psychology—one grounding me in structure, logic, and systems, the other in human behavior, emotion, and connection. Later, earning my MBA added yet another layer: the ability to lead, evaluate opportunity, and build businesses with intention and integrity.

My professional career first took shape in high tech, where I spent several years working with complex systems and big-picture strategy. At Cisco Systems, I identified and negotiated mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments—learning how to assess long-term value, navigate risk, and align diverse stakeholders around a shared vision. I later worked at Avaya, managing technology partnerships and deepening my experience in collaboration, relationship-building, and systems thinking.

At the time, I didn’t know how directly those skills would translate into the work I do today—but they did. High tech taught me how to listen closely, ask the right questions, think several steps ahead, and balance creativity with discipline. Those lessons now inform every design decision, every build, and every client relationship.

Over time, my career naturally circled back to what had always felt most intuitive: homes. Alongside my husband, Rich, I began investing in, renovating, and building properties. What we discovered again and again was that the most successful homes weren’t just well built or beautifully styled—they were thoughtfully considered from the inside out. How a space lived mattered just as much as how it looked.

That realization led to the founding of Reed Custom Homes, where we build luxury residences grounded in craftsmanship, integrity, and a deep respect for our clients’ lives and stories. In parallel, I founded Anna Reed Designs as a dedicated expression of my passion for interior design, home staging, styling, and consultation work—work centered on one guiding principle: Creating Home.

Today, whether I’m walking through blueprints, selecting finishes, or curating furnishings and art, my goal is always the same. I want people to walk into a space and feel something—to feel welcomed, grounded, and at ease. I believe great design goes beyond aesthetics; it’s about how a home supports the moments that unfold within it.

Looking back, my career doesn’t feel like a series of pivots. It feels like a continuum—each chapter building on the last, shaping the way I see, design, and create. Every experience has led me here, to the work I love most: helping others find not just a beautiful house, but a true sense of home.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Every meaningful journey includes chapters that don’t make sense in the moment—and mine has been shaped as much by uncertainty and surrender as by clarity and momentum. Looking back now, I can see that my path was never unfolding in isolation. God was working just as intentionally in Rich’s life as He was in mine, quietly aligning our journeys long before we understood what we were being prepared for together.

After college, I believed my future would lead me to medicine. I pursued medical school with confidence, supported by strong grades and test scores that, on paper, justified acceptance. Yet the door never opened—not even an interview. At the time, the rejection was confusing and deeply disappointing. In hindsight, I now see that God had other plans, and He had to firmly close that door so that a different calling could come to life—one I could not yet see or imagine.

As my career unfolded in high tech, I found myself working at Cisco Systems and pursuing an MBA. I was single longer than I wanted and learned to focus on my career and in trusting that God had me on a very specific path. A path I had not planned for or envisioned but one I knew had to be good. Rich and I met in my late 20’s fell in love and got married 2 years later when I was 30 years old. One year later we welcomed our first child.

Much to my surprise, another shift was quietly taking place within me. Becoming a mother awakened a deep desire to be present and engaged in my children’s lives. That pull required sacrifice. I chose to work from home and place my career second to connection and family, stepping back from traditional promotion paths within the tech industry. It wasn’t the most visible or rewarded choice on paper, but it was the one that aligned with my values and my heart.

During this time, Rich was building and growing a successful business in California. From the outside, it appeared that both of our careers were moving forward with stability and momentum. But internally, Rich began to sense a surprising and unmistakable calling—to sell his business and step into public service as a firefighter. It was a decision rooted not in logic or comfort, but obedience. Letting go of something he had built was not easy, yet it marked the beginning of a deeper alignment with who he was being called to become.

That calling moved our family to Colorado just two weeks before the birth of our second child. I was working remotely in tech at the time, navigating a demanding role from home while balancing late pregnancy and a major relocation. It was a season that required daily trust, with very little margin for certainty or control.

Over the next four years, our family grew quickly—we welcomed two more children—while Rich’s career became increasingly demanding and high-risk. In addition to serving as a firefighter, he became the dedicated SWAT medic for the Aurora Police Department, a role that required extraordinary discipline, calm under pressure, and unwavering commitment to team and mission. During this same season, I continued working full-time in tech from home, while also being deeply present with our four young children.

At the same time, we were quietly building something together. We began pursuing investment properties, starting with small fix-and-flip projects that steadily grew in scale and complexity. Each project stretched us—teaching us lessons in construction, decision-making, resilience, and partnership. Eventually, the demands of managing increasingly complex projects, carrying a full-time tech career, supporting Rich’s intense and dangerous work, and being present parents became unsustainable. Something had to give.

That tension forced another leap of faith: transitioning fully into building together.

Only with hindsight can I see how intricately everything was being woven. What once felt like parallel paths—or even competing priorities—were converging all along. Rich’s ability to build and lead highly effective teams, operate under pressure, and serve with integrity now pairs seamlessly with my background in strategy, systems thinking, design, and business leadership.

Trusting God through each turn was not easy. While it’s clear now how my education, technology experience, and design and homebuilding acumen fit together, living through closed doors, unexpected pauses, and difficult choices required faith. Yet again and again, God proved faithful. His character never changed, even when the outcome was unclear.

Today, I don’t see our story as one of detours or delays. I see it as a carefully woven tapestry—every season, sacrifice, and challenge forming the foundation for the work we now do together. God does not waste anything. He shapes calling through obedience, strengthens partnership through surrender, and brings together people and purpose in ways far greater than we could have planned on our own.

We’ve been impressed with Anna Reed Designs and Reed Custom Homes, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Anna Reed Designs and Reed Custom Homes are built on a shared philosophy: Creating Home.

Reed Custom Homes is a luxury custom homebuilding company rooted in craftsmanship, integrity, and intentional design. We specialize in high-end residential construction, guiding clients from vision to completion with a disciplined, detail-driven process. Our work is known for its architectural integrity, refined finishes, and homes that feel both elevated and deeply livable. We do not simply build structures—we build homes that support the way families truly live.

Anna Reed Designs complements that work through full-service interior design, luxury home staging, styling, and design consultations. We are known for creating emotionally resonant spaces that feel cohesive, purposeful, and warm. Whether preparing a property for market or designing a home for everyday life, our work blends beauty with functionality and storytelling.

What sets us apart is the rare integration of strategy, construction expertise, and design vision under one unified leadership. With backgrounds spanning physics, psychology, business strategy, and high-level technology negotiations—combined with hands-on building and field leadership—we approach every project holistically. We think about homes structurally, financially, emotionally, and experientially. That interdisciplinary foundation allows us to bridge design and construction seamlessly, reducing friction and elevating the client experience.

Brand-wise, we are most proud of our clarity of mission. “Creating Home” is not a tagline—it is our standard. It shapes how we build, how we design, how we communicate, and how we serve. We are proud that our homes are not only beautiful, but grounded in integrity, collaboration, and long-term value.

What we want readers to know is that we care deeply about the lives lived within the walls we create. Every decision—from architectural planning to final styling—is made with intention. We believe homes should welcome, support, and endure. That belief defines both our offerings and our reputation.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
When I think about risk, I don’t think about impulsive leaps. I think about faith in the face of uncertainty. For me, risk has never been about chasing opportunity for its own sake; it has been about discerning where I am being led and having the courage to move forward, even when the path felt uncertain or uncomfortable.

Many of the most significant decisions for Rich and I have required stepping into unknowns before we had complete clarity. That’s where faith and entrepreneurship intersect for us. Faith gives us the courage to move when the next step isn’t fully visible — taking the risk.

Entrepreneurship requires us to evaluate the numbers, assess the downside, and prepare responsibly. We don’t separate the two — we pair conviction with preparation.

My background in strategic negotiation trained me to assess risk analytically, while Rich’s leadership in high-pressure environments developed steadiness under uncertainty. Together, that combination shapes how we lead and build: thoughtful, disciplined, and rooted in stewardship.

We don’t see ourselves as traditional risk-takers. We see ourselves as people willing to move forward when the calling is clear — even if comfort is not. Sometimes the greatest risk isn’t stepping into something new; it’s staying where you are when you sense you are being called elsewhere.

Looking back, the moments that felt the most uncertain were often the ones that shaped us most deeply. Faith gave us courage. Entrepreneurship gave us structure. And both continue to guide how we build, lead, and create.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.reedcustomhomes.com and www.annareeddesigns.com
• Instagram: @reedcustomhomes, @annareeddesigns
• Facebook: @reedcustomhomes, @annareeddesigns
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@reedhomes

Image Credits
Eric Lucero Photography