Founder & CEO, AWE Construction

“Whatever Your Hands Find to Do, Do It With All Your Might” — Ecclesiastes 9:10

Trina Tanner believes that every home has a soul and every life has a divine blueprint. As the Founder and CEO of AWE Construction, Trina’s journey wasn’t just a career choice; it was a calling. Growing up as the only girl among three brothers, they all worked together in their parents’ family-owned construction business, specializing in building affordable new single-family homes—and even building the very house they grew up in. Trina’s childhood was spent under the wisdom and guidance of her parents, who didn’t just teach her how to build structures; they taught her how to build a life of integrity, showing her that a strong foundation begins long before the first brick is laid.

In those early years, Trina learned that craftsmanship is a form of stewardship. It taught her how to lead with a spirit of excellence and a commitment to the mastery of working with her hands—following the biblical wisdom to do whatever her hands find and to do it with all her might. This is a creative expression, a gift from God, that allows her to build from the heart. This foundation became the cornerstone of her faith and the approach she brings to every project she touches today.

In January 2017, following the vision placed on her heart, Trina launched her own firm as a Class A General Contractor. She chose the name AWE because it stands for A Women’s Experience. She recognized that she possessed a unique, God-given gift: the ability to see the "spirit" of a home. While others see blueprints and bones, Trina sees the flow of a family’s life, the way light can bring peace to a morning, and how a kitchen serves as the sacred center of communion where a mother nurtures her household.

Today, Trina is known for being a general contractor with a designer’s touch. She combines the fundamental knowledge learned in her early years with the technical strength of a master builder and the seamless vision of a designer. She navigates the construction world like water: gentle yet strong, always moving forward and evolving to adapt to new advancements and changes. For Trina, AWE Construction is about more than luxury home building; it’s about creating sanctuaries of rest and building bridges that help encourage other women to step into their own power and purpose.

The Coastal Organic kitchen design seamlessly flows into the bathroom by carrying over the same core material language and high-contrast philosophy. This continuity creates a home that feels intentionally designed and cohesive.

The Material Connection

The bathroom mirrors the kitchen’s aesthetic through several key "anchor" materials:

• Warm Wood Tones: The floating white oak vanity matches the warmth of the kitchen island and wide-plank flooring, preventing the clean white space from feeling clinical.

• High-Contrast Hardware: The matte black hardware—from the faucets to the shower door tracks—provides the same sharp, architectural lines found in the kitchen’s geometric pendants and cabinet pulls.

• Textural Tile Work: The vertical stack white wall tile is a direct callback to the kitchen backsplash, providing a consistent vertical rhythm throughout the home.

Key Performance Features

• Plywood-Core Cabinetry: While many stock cabinets use particleboard, choosing a plywood-core option (such as high-end KraftMaid or Origin 21 lines at Lowe's) offers better structural stability and moisture resistance. It won't sag under heavy quartz countertops and holds screws more securely over decades of use.

• Non-Porous Quartz: Unlike marble or granite, Quartz (such as Silestone is non-porous. This means it has an antimicrobial surface that naturally inhibits bacterial growth and never requires chemical sealing to prevent staining.

• Enameled Cast Iron Sinks: The KOHLER Whitehaven features a thick porcelain enamel coating that is fired at extreme temperatures. This creates a surface that is virtually impossible to scratch and can withstand extreme thermal shock (e.g., pouring boiling pasta water into a cold sink).

• Large-Format Marble Porcelain: The shower walls use a 24x48 marble-look porcelain, which mimics the veining of the kitchen quartz but offers superior water resistance for wet areas.

• Matte Black Hexagon Floor: The matte black hex tile in the shower provides essential slip resistance while grounding the bright room, much like the dark charcoal cabinets anchor the kitchen.

This specific look focuses on a "connection to nature" by pairing deep, earthy colors with raw, tactile materials.

The "Lush Forest" Palette

The dark green cabinetry (often called "Lush Forest" or "Kombu Green" in 2026 palettes) serves as the anchor. In modern design, these deep greens have replaced grey as the "new neutral," offering a sophisticated, moody atmosphere that still feels grounded and calm.

"Understated Confidence"

The overall style reflects a move toward "Understated Confidence." This involves:

• Mixed Materials: Combining painted surfaces, stained wood, and metallic gold hardware to create visual "rhythm" rather than a matching "boxy" look.

• Shaker 2.0: Using classic Shaker-style doors but updating them with contemporary gold slim-line handles and minimalist glass pendant lighting.

Biophilic Design Elements

The kitchen uses Biophilic design—a concept aimed at bringing the outdoors in. This is achieved through:

• Natural Oak Accents: The light wood island and wall cabinets balance the dark green with warmth.

• Expressive Stone: The marble countertops with heavy veining are a major 2026 trend, often treated as "sculptural art" rather than just a workspace.

• Indoor Greenery: The inclusion of plants like the Monstera or Eucalyptus reinforces the organic theme.

My Inspiration

This project was my main inspiration, rooted in a desire for a space that feels both grounded and incredibly refined. By merging earth tones with modern simplicity, it has created a "sanctuary" vibe that avoids the coldness often found in modern design.

1. The Power of "Organic Modernism"

Your choice of dark olive green and deep, veined marble brings the outdoors in, but in a way that feels curated rather than rustic.

• The Palette: Using muted greens and stony grays mimics the colors of a forest floor or a mountainside.

• The Texture: The dramatic marble backsplash serves as the "art" in the room, providing a complex, natural pattern that breaks up the flat, minimalist surfaces of the cabinetry.

2. Modern Simplicity Through Geometry

The "simplicity" in the design comes from the clean lines and lack of visual "noise."

• Handleless Design: The flat-panel cabinets and integrated appliances keep the focus on the materials rather than the hardware.

• Linear Lighting: Using slim, LED strips under the cabinets and long, thin pendant lights emphasizes the horizontal and vertical lines of the room, which feels very calming to the eye.

3. Balancing the "City" and "Nature"

The reason this look works so well with a city backdrop is the contrast.

• The View: The geometric, gray city skyline outside the window acts as a secondary "earth tone".

• The Warmth: The wood-slat textures and warm candle-lit niches provide the "human" element that makes a modern city apartment feel like a home.

4. High-Quality Material Aging

One of the secrets to lasting design is how it wears over time.

• Patina: Natural materials like the marble in your kitchen age gracefully. A small scratch or wear pattern on stone often adds character, whereas a chip in a cheap, synthetic material just looks broken.

• Authenticity: There is a psychological comfort in things that are "real." A solid stone countertop or a wood-slat wall feels permanent and grounded, giving the home a sense of history even in a modern skyscraper.

Why This Style Lasts

This isn't just a trend; it's a design philosophy called Biophilic Design. It suggests that humans are naturally happier when surrounded by colors and textures found in nature. By keeping the furniture and layout modern, it ensures the space doesn't feel dated.