A Design Firm with Family at its Core

Cotton Design is a family owned and operated business with deep roots in historic Newfane and Southeastern Vermont. We’ve come to love working together as a family (and with people who’ve become like family), and we extend that warmth and respect to our clients as well. Our team values honest communication and collaboration, which you will feel when working with us. We have always been a different kind of architectural design firm– looking closely at how our clients live and designing based on their lifestyle. We take pride in our thoughtful design process, the relationships we’ve forged, and all the homes & buildings we’ve designed throughout the area.

A Tried & True Process

Whether your project is a new build, renovation or addition, our approach is simple: we start by listening and asking questions until we develop a comprehensive understanding of your budget and your vision for the entire project.
Our experience allows us to be extremely accurate in estimating the actual costs of a project. With a very thoughtful design approach, we are able to work within your budget to achieve your goals. We are also experts at judging a project’s time frame– from permitting and construction, to finishing touches and interior decor. We lay out all the phases in a realistic timeline that avoids unforeseen delays and cost overruns.
Our design process is highly interactive with communication as the priority. Your involvement and input are central to the project’s success. Once all the designs are settled and agreed upon, we turn them into accurate technical drawings to hand over to your contractor or builders. Once again, experience has taught us to be extremely “builder friendly” in our designs and drawings, which increases efficiency exponentially and keeps everyone happy.

meet the team

David Cotton
Owner & Principal Architectural Designer

Since the late 1970s, David Cotton has been the creative force behind the design of residences, commercial establishments and public structures across New England. David’s foray into design began after his honorable service in the U.S. Marine Corps, when he worked as an apprentice under his uncle, a revered structural engineer in Boston. This rigorous work experience provided him with a profound grasp of the intricate mechanics of steel, concrete and wood that converge to shape the buildings we inhabit. His uncle’s strict work ethic reinforced the values of discipline and attention to detail that continue to drive David. After relocating to southern Vermont, David found his niche in architectural design, which complemented his proficiency in hand drafting and knack for spatial arrangement. In 1979, David laid the foundation for Cotton Design, initially focusing on residential design. In 1994, he joined forces with architect Paul Belaski, expanding into the realm of commercial design.

Beyond his work for Cotton Design, David has been an active presence in his community. He was chairman of the Members 1st Credit Union board of directors for over 20 years and is currently chairman of the development review board, responsible for zoning in the town of Newfane. A devoted husband and grandfather, he finds his greatest joy in the company of his family and cherished grandchildren. A self-declared sports fanatic, David played softball in Brattleboro for over four decades. An adventure to Woodstock in 1969 helped fuel a passion for music that continues to resonate within our office walls to this day.

Priscilla Cotton
Owner & Principal Designer

Priscilla M. Cotton has always been a designer. With an almost inherent ability to discern the best use of space, it's a calling that came naturally. But her passion for design was also heartily encouraged by her family. Priscilla’s mother had a truly wonderful eye for all things art and design, and she shared that joy with Priscilla at a young age. Priscilla and her 5 siblings were often loaded into the car and taken along to estate auctions or driven up long driveways to admire the beautiful estates that dotted Long Island. Young Priscilla relished the opportunity to choose paint colors and hang wallpaper, but she was also taken with the functional mechanics of design. As a child she spent many mesmerized hours in her grandfather’s workshop, and was even relied on to repair plumbing fixtures. Later, her husband, David, provided Priscilla with an education in construction and architectural design, which brought it all together for her. 

Priscilla is at the heart of the family business, welcoming all clients with kindness and an open mind. She is humbled by the trust clients place in her and honored to bring their dreams into reality. She feels very fortunate to share so much time with her husband and two grown children. In her personal life, Priscilla connects with her community, is always looking for design inspiration, and digs live music. But she is happiest while spending quality time with her grandchildren.

Prema Agate
Office Manager & Client Services

Since joining Cotton Design in 2022, Prema has been a cornerstone of client care and office efficiency. Her multifaceted role includes overseeing operations, facilitating client-designer relationships, and driving business development. As the welcoming first point of contact, Prema commits to creating a warm, collaborative experience, guiding clients through the design process with clarity and enthusiasm. She is dedicated to ensuring that every project starts on the right foot and runs smoothly from concept to completion.

Outside of the office, Prema finds peace in nature and an active lifestyle. An avid runner, she also enjoys biking, hiking and teaches yoga. Whether spending time in solitude or with loved ones, Prema values balance and connection, which she brings to every aspect of her work and life.

Lauren Cotton
Lead Interior Designer

Lauren Cotton grew up in the business and has always had a strong design perspective. As a child, her parents took her along to upholstery workrooms and design centers, and over time her boredom in those places turned to fascination. Teenage Lauren loved collecting fabric and rearranging her room. “She had to create what she was envisioning,” recalls her mother, Priscilla Cotton. Lauren also credits her stylish grandmother with having a huge influence on her orientation toward art & design. Always into painting, making art and costume creation– Lauren found these interests translated well to her first career as a fashion stylist in New York City. Working as a set designer for tv shows and Vogue & Elle photoshoots, she found her niche in researching and sourcing pieces. And if something couldn’t be found, she crafted it herself. It was experiences like these that helped shape Lauren into the resourceful and creative designer she is today. 

Lauren eventually moved back to Vermont with her husband and two children, where she easily pivoted toward interior design and joined forces with Cotton Design. She delights in helping clients realize their unique vision, and revels in the challenge of finding specific items (like Japanese soaking tubs and antique pieces). Outside of work, Lauren makes it a priority to get outside with her family and Scottish Terrier pup. She also loves to travel and looks forward to passing that joy onto her children.

Peter Welch
Director of Business Operations

Peter was born and raised in southeastern Vermont, an area that eventually became his chosen home after living in various cities throughout the U.S. An active part of Cotton Design from the beginning, Peter also felt the need to be outside, so he apprenticed and worked as a brick mason during the warmer months of each year. He operated his own business, Welch Masonry, for 25 years– specializing in the restoration of chimneys and stone buildings throughout southern Vermont. A Level II stonewalling professional and instructor, he also served on the board of The Stone Trust, a non profit dedicated to teaching the art of dry stone walling. As he got older, Peter realized this sort of physical labor wasn’t sustainable, so he decided to bring his building and foundation expertise to Cotton Design fulltime. 

Given his background, Peter easily acts as liaison between the design team, clients, and construction professionals. He is also the point person when it comes to a project’s financials. Peter closely tracks the costs associated with each design and is willing to have difficult conversations so clients can stay on budget. He is also involved with the architectural design component– using BIM software to turn drawings into 3D models that can be handed off as 2D plans. In his spare time, Peter stays on top of household chores and gets outside with his wife, Maggie and their two kids, Eli and Leia. He loves coaching young athletes, and is the head coach of the Phoenix FC, which recently won the indoor futsal championship in Swanzey, NH.

Paul Belaski
Architect

After studying Architecture and Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania, Paul received his Masters of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Paul began his career in 1978 at Kosinski Associates in New Haven, CT before joining Catamount Design in Windsor, VT as Principal Architect. In 1994, Paul and David began Cotton Belaski Architectural Services to collaborate on commercial projects such as elementary and secondary schools, recreational facilities, town garages, fire houses, and many other commercial and retail projects. Two decades in, Paul and David have proved an excellent match as they work collaboratively with a focus on creative design coupled with energy efficiency and value efficient construction.

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