What led me to Interior Design?

My journey of becoming an interior designer started when I was young. 

My grandfather and uncle are both licensed contractors and growing up always seemed to be over doing weekend construction projects at my childhood home. My mom loved natural light, so we knocked out walls and added in pass-through windows to open up the house. It completely changed the feel and flow. In addition to teaching me how to use a hammer, I was give the role no one else wanted- selecting furniture and paint colors. At one point our kitchen was sponge painted in pastel blue, green, yellow and purple. Because that’s what happens when you let the ten-year-old me make interior design decisions. 

When I went to college in New York, I decided to pursue academics despite my love for Interior Design. I studied Psychology and Anthropology and spent my last two years of undergrad doing research alongside professors and graduate students. The next step would be to go for my Master’s Degree or Ph.D. But after starting my graduate school applications, I realized I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life observing how people live. I needed something more creative and tactile. I needed to have an effect on people instead of just studying them. I gave myself until the end of summer after graduation to figure out what I wanted to do. 

One evening at the end of July I met some friends at a nightclub opening in Manhattan. We went from a hot, bustling city street with a huge line of people outside, walked down a dark hallway, and entered a massive room that completely transported us to a different world. I realized at that moment that I wanted to design spaces that evoke a reaction when you walk into the room. What I really wanted to do was be an Interior Designer.

Why Interior Design?

I love what I do. I love that every client and project is completely unique. You never do the same thing twice. There are so many steps to every project, it makes every day different- some days I’m out at construction sites and showrooms, other days I’m sitting behind a computer drafting floor plans and writing emails. My favorite days days are spent sourcing for furniture, fabrics and materials. Designing a space in my head and figuring out how each of the elements will come together. I get to have so many different roles and there is always something new to learn.

Because I genuinely love what I do and am (generally) an incredibly happy person, I strive to make the design process as much fun for the client as it is for me. Most people put off remodeling or designing their homes because it can be overwhelming, stressful, and too much work. My job is to break it down into a step-by-step process that is simple and approachable. It’s my responsibility to take the work and stress of the design process off of a client’s plate. A home redesign is completely life-changing and when done right, it is fun and exciting.

About my design process…

First and foremost, I only work with people I can connect with. A home is very personal. If I am going to be in your space and recommend to you how to improve the way you live within it, we need to be able to speak honestly and openly.  

Secondly, I bring a systematic approach to a creative industry. I’ve been told I think very differently than most interior designers, and I am completely okay with that. I love spreadsheets and systems. But I also love creativity and doing something that no one has done before - something completely unique and individual to that home. My favorite interior design projects are full home remodels where you touch EVERY room in the house. This gives me the chance to not only create a cohesive design that flows throughout the entire home, but also to really get to know a client and convey their personality in the design.

Lastly, I know there is a lot that I don’t know and I don’t pretend otherwise. I don’t think that I know more about how you should live than you do. I ask questions and I listen to find the best solutions. Because design is a collaborative effort to make an end result beyond what anyone could have envisioned at the start of the process.

Want to know about my interior design services. Head over here.