What Does an Interior Designer Actually Do?
(Or more specifically… what do I do?)
Well, mostly — I get paid to be pretty, wear weird outfits, drink matcha, and drive contractors and architects slowly insane. That’s the official job description. Obviously.
But somewhere between site visits and sending “just one more” email about tile samples, I actually do a few more things…
Step 1: The Real Work Begins
Once you’ve admitted you need an interior designer and sign the contract, we set up our first official meeting.
While you’re quietly judging my outfit, I’m trying to read your mind, imagine your lifestyle in five different homes, and figure out how bold you’ll go with wallpaper in laundry room.
Step 2: I Go Full Internet Detective
You send me:
- Saved Instagram posts
- Pinterest boards
- Screenshots of rooms you love
- Random kitchen photos from your camera roll
I take all that inspiration and turn it into a clear design direction that actually works in your space and your life.
Step 3: Mood Boards & Magic
In our next meeting, I bring you three distinct mood boards — a mashup of what you love and what I know will work.
It’s part design, part therapy, part mind-reading.
You say things like: “Can I have the kitchen cabinets from the first mood board, but in the color story of the second mood board? Or combine the two?”
If we’re on the same page, I bring back prettier images, detailed concepts, and maybe even a few 3D renderings to get you excited. That moment where you say, “How did you know I’d love this?”
Step 4: The Treasure Hunt Begins (Material Selection)
Now the vision comes to life — and we go shopping.
Think: slab yards, tile showrooms, lighting galleries, hardware shops… Basically, Disneyland for designers.
By now, we know your style and color story. My job is to find beautiful, durable, budget-conscious materials that pull it all together.
If you’re adventurous and have time, we go exploring. If not, I bring it all to my office and let you pick from curated options.
We can even go international. (Milan, Paris, Vegas — I’ve packed tile samples in a carry-on. Don’t ask.)
And yes — I get as excited in a slab yard as a five-year-old in a candy store. Except my candy store is Petra Stone. Don’t judge me.
Oh, and One More Thing…
Working with an interior designer means you get access to vendors you never knew existed — secret showrooms, custom tradespeople, and early looks at what’s coming next.
I travel constantly to design shows around the world to find the newest, most unique materials — and I usually know a trend before it goes viral and ends up in every beige living room on Instagram.
Step 5: The Big Book of Everything (Construction Drawings & Specs)
Once materials are selected, I sit down and translate the vision into contractor language.
That means creating a book thicker than a dictionary:
- Grout colors
- Cabinet pulls
- Towel bar placement
- Every finish, fixture, faucet, wallpaper — down to the toilet paper holder
This book becomes the master guide to your project. The contractor receives it, blesses it, and passes it to all the subs: plumber, electrician, cabinet maker, tile installer, etc.
My job now? Meet with all of them to:
- Explain the design vision
- Make sure they understand the level of detail expected
- Prevent them from guessing (because they will)
Designing is fun. This is where we protect the vision. Because even the prettiest tile in the world looks bad if it’s installed wrong.
Step 6: Site Walkthroughs & Decisions You Didn’t Know You’d Have to Make
At this point, I show up whenever you (or the contractor) need me. We schedule key walkthroughs like:
- Electrical
- Door & window layouts
- Plumbing fixture locations
This is when design decisions get very personal.
Like: Do you want your towel bar on the left or right of the sink? (Yes, it matters.)
These decisions need to be made on-site — together — with a tape measure and a little imagination.
Step 7: The Final Walkthrough
Construction is done. The contractor does a final clean.
Now it’s time for one last walkthrough to make sure everything is perfect.
Paint touch-ups, misaligned switches, missing hooks — I spot it all, so you don’t have to.
This is the moment it all comes together. You walk through your space and say: “I can’t believe this is my house.”
I might cry. It’s fine. We earned it.
So… What Do I Actually Do?
✔️ I help you figure out what you love
✔️ I translate inspiration into real, livable design
✔️ I obsess over every detail so you don’t have to
✔️ I think about problems before they happen
✔️ I help you spend your money in the right places
✔️ I make the process fun — not overwhelming
✔️ I protect your vision all the way through
All without blowing your budget, losing your mind, or ending up with beige regret.
And yes — I’ll still wear the weird outfit.
Because that’s part of the magic.