Meet The Kozar Design Team

Sandy Kozar

Sandy is a multi-award-winning Interior Designer, as well as a Decorating Den Interiors Certified Interior Designer or DDCD.  Sandy and her husband, Jim Kozar, have owned Decorating Den Interiors for over 14 years. “We strive to make designing your room or home a very pleasant and positive experience.”

Together with her team, Sandy has been published in “The Kitchen Bible,” (B. Ballinger), “Love Your Home,” (C. Donayre-Bugg), as well as four publications to date of “Window Fashions,” (C. Randall).  Sandy has also been featured in Elle Décor several times, many local media publications, and currently “West Knoxville Lifestyle” magazine, and East TN Mountain Views.

Sandy and her team enjoy working closely together with their clients to help them see the potential for their home.  Kozar says, “Many of my new clients have never worked with a designer prior to contacting us.  Once they have, they realize the stress that has been taken off their shoulders and the time-saving benefit to doing so.”  

Rachael Sheridan

Rachael Sheridan is an interior designer of the Kozar Design Team. She graduated from Pellissippi State with an Associate Degree in Interior Design, and again at East Tennessee State University in 2011 with a  Bachelors of Science in Interior Design and a Bachelors of Art for Studio Art. “For me, Interior Design bridges my passions of history, art, and technology with my drive to help people – by creating beautiful rejuvenating spaces with function.” Rachael has been designing in the Knoxville area since 2012, and joined the Kozar Design Team in 2016.

As part of the Kozar Design Team, Sandy and Rachael work together on all projects to help their clients from the beginning to the end of a project and after.  “I utilize my skills to help clients visualize how their room can transform with a new design. I love watching our clients fall in love with their new room digitally, select their new pieces with full confidence, and then fall in love all over again when we bring those renders to life on install day. It’s always even more beautiful in their home, and it’s an experience they’ll enjoy every day.”

Rachael has been in the Top 10 Decorators of Decorating Den Interiors, won 2nd place in the international Dream Room Competition – Children’s Room, and a two time winner of the Positive Thinker Award within Decorating Den Interiors for 2017, and 2021. Along with Sandy, Rachael has received the DDCD accreditation within Decorating Den Interiors as a Decorating Den Certified Interior Designer through a rigorous 3 day test period.

Isabella Polillo

Isabella Polillo joined the team as an administrative assistant at Decorating Den Interiors | Kozar Design Team in 2022 while going to school full time. She’s in charge of contacting vendors, inventory tracking, inspecting client’s pieces, and keeping everything organized. Organization is one of her strongest qualities, along with her desire to provide a helping hand where it’s needed, no matter the task.

“I love expanding my learning here every day working with the whole team!” She just graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture from East Tennessee State University May of 2024, and has her Associates of Applied Science in Interior Design Technology from Pellissippi State. “I can’t wait to learn even more things working with role models like Sandy and Rachael to help expand my knowledge of design every day! I look forward to eventually becoming a designer on the team!”

Jim Kozar

Jim Kozar is the co-owner of Decorating Den Interiors | Kozar Design Team, along with his wife, Sandy Kozar.

Jim has handled the finances and accounting since inception of the company.  After a 35-year career in manufacturing, Jim has “retired” from corporate life and now joins the team each day to handle additional functions such as warehousing, inspection, and installs. As a “Jack of All Trades“, Jim helps to provide top-notch customer service to our clients.

Jim enjoys being part of the team, pitching in to assist in any way he can to help give our clients an outstanding experience!  (Sandy & Jim’s dog and office mascot—Chloe!  She takes her job seriously as our official door greeter!)