Thirty Under 30: Emily Ahmad

By Donna Heiderstadt

Asked for the one word that best describes her, Emily Ahmad offers two: strategic and empathetic. Perhaps she can’t pick just one because both traits are vital to her role as a designer at Clifton, VA-based c/s Design Studio, where she is known for being exceptionally client-focused. Most of Emily’s work involves large custom home builds — she’s the point person for the studio’s two largest builder accounts — a process that can be overwhelming for clients. “My goal is to be alongside them while making decisions that reflect their personal style while also ensuring that budgets and timelines stay on track,” she says. “My favorite part is seeing clients’ excitement grow as we begin to layer in materials that bring their vision to life.”

Now 29, Emily has worked at c/s Design Studio for six years. Hired right out of college as a design assistant to the company’s president, Christina Simon, her initial responsibilities included taking notes and doing menial tasks such as counting cabinet hardware. “As I continued to shadow Christina, I grew a deep appreciation for the care, artistry and precision in designing custom kitchens and baths,” Emily says. “I was hooked and I knew this was the career for me!”

Since she began assisting on projects, Emily has helped c/s Design Studio earn Best of Houzz awards in Design and Service from 2019 to 2025 and assisted Christina in designing a winning project for the Thermador Kitchen Design Challenge. Emily can also now count leading a major kitchen remodel among her personal accomplishments. “The home’s central atrium, visible from every room, was a defining feature and my client deeply valued its mid-century character,” she explains. “While the kitchen needed major updates, our goal was to honor the home’s roots. We modernized the space and opened the kitchen view to the atrium, creating a modernized kitchen that stayed true to its mid-century soul.”

As for her own design style, Emily describes it as “a little traditional, a little rustic and maybe even a bit eclectic,” which is different from most of the work she does professionally. “I think that comes from being such a sentimental person,” she explains. “If something catches my heart or is tied to a memory or family story, it instantly becomes a forever piece in my eyes.” Her earliest endeavors decorating her bedroom as a child have also stayed with her. “Mine always had blue because that’s the best color to ever exist,” she says.

These days, Emily credits her husband Omar with helping her to “embrace both the big adventures and the everyday moments.” They enjoy getting away to the mountains and spending time on the water boating, accompanied by their black Lab, Obi (short for Obi Wan Kenobi — Omar’s doing, says Emily). The couple also recently traveled to Jordan, where many of Omar’s relatives reside. “It was such a treat to spend time with them, explore the desert and experience the city of Amman,” she says. “It was amazing to be in an environment so different from Northern Virginia and to immerse myself in the culture there — highly recommend!”

As for the future, Emily says her must-do list includes having a farm with animals and a “baby blue four-wheeler.” But above all, she adds, “I just want a life full of adventure, family and a little whimsy.”