My day is a dynamic mix of tasks and responsibilities—meeting with clients, attending property viewings, negotiating deals, and staying on top of market trends. What truly differentiates me in this industry, however, is my background in interior design. My passion for interior design took root during my college years while pursuing a degree in Architecture. It was during internships at architecture firms that I discovered my love for transforming spaces into functional, visually stunning environments. The creative process of designing spaces that align with both aesthetics and practicality captivated me. After earning my degree, I joined a small interior design firm, where I gained invaluable hands-on experience. I honed my skills in understanding client needs, developing design concepts, and managing projects from inception to completion. This foundation has shaped my unique approach, blending market expertise with an eye for design to create exceptional results.
What does a typical day look like for you? A standard workday begins well before sunrise as I review schematics over coffee and survey current renovations to address any unexpected issues—perhaps a floorbeam concealed behind dated plaster or a tile arrangement necessitating a last-minute grout adjustment. By mid-morning I coordinate closely with architects and interior designers on 3D renderings and virtual reality mockups, ensuring my crew understands not just the "how" of application but the intended "feel" of the final result. In the afternoon I sometimes swing by a supplier's warehouse, inspecting eco-friendly tile samples or custom-fabricated cabinetry prototypes; late afternoons are reserved for mentoring junior project administrators, imparting practical tips on sequencing work to minimize guest disruption. What skills, tools, and personal qualities do you use most? I depend heavily on spatial reasoning and a tactile sensitivity for materials—discerning by touch whether a tile is true, or by eye if a surface will catch the morning light as planned. My toolbox includes digital platforms like BIM software, laser levels and AR visualization apps, plus non-standard options such as drone-based site surveys to capture overhead conditions in hard-to-reach areas. Patience and adaptability are critical personal traits: when a shipment of bespoke plumbing fixtures is delayed, I alter layouts without compromising the design vision, keeping all stakeholders informed and engaged. What was your career path into interior design—education, early projects, key turning points? I started with an associate's degree in construction technology, then apprenticed under a master tiler for three years, learning traditional craftsmanship. My first interior-focused project emerged through a friend's boutique cafe: I oversaw the installation of reclaimed-wood wall panels and artisanal encaustic tile flooring. That job's success led to a break into high-end short-term rentals, where I discovered the power of collaborating directly with interior designers to blend form and function. A pivotal junction was attending a design-build conference in 2018, where I presented a case study on integrating smart-home technologies into heritage properties—after which I was invited to consult on projects nationwide.
What does a typical day look like for you as an interior designer? In my world, interior design is a big part of the bigger development and investment process, so my days are a combination of working through creative plans and on-the-ground execution. The earliest part of most mornings includes walking job sites. I am checking framing progress, seeing how light is hitting certain areas and making sure our layout plans are matching up with reality on the ground. Afternoons could include suppliers visits or material pickups — tiles, vanities, hardware, lighting. A huge part of my mission is to pick pieces that are design-forward, but also investment-smart. I'm not going to fall in love with $20-a-square-foot tile when the house only dictates a resale price of $150,000. I am always recalibrating between beauty and budget. What skills, tools, and personal qualities do you use most? Design in real estate is not just a matter of good taste — it's a matter of precision, foresight and judgment. I become highly attuned to spatial awareness, which develops from years of walking raw spaces and visualizing how they'll live and feel. I employ RoomSketcher and SketchUp for visualization layouts, and Excel for budgeting designs down to the penny. I'm also a firm adherent that there needs to be a roll of painter's tape and a tape measure at the ready on-site — no digital rendering can top physically laying out a room to understand how it breathes. What was your career path into interior design—education, early projects, key turning points? I did not take the traditional route into interior design. I was not a design school person — my background was in real estate and construction management. But the more I got into property rehabs, the more I found that design decisions were either generating or killing deals. Cheap finishes or bad layouts were burning through my cash, but intelligent design was yielding me quicker sales, better tenants and higher appraisals. Each project has honed my instincts. What I've learned is that timeless trumps trendy every single time, natural light should drive layout and durability is just as important as beauty — especially in investment properties. I've been educated by the street: walking half-built spaces, taking in advice from renters and buyers and open houses, and learning from every mistake.
Interior design and Direct Primary Care share surprising parallels—both require deep listening, understanding client needs, and creating environments that promote wellbeing. My typical day involves space planning consultations, material selections, and project coordination, much like how DPC physicians manage patient care plans, treatment protocols, and health outcomes. The most crucial skill is translating complex technical knowledge into solutions clients can understand and live with comfortably. My career path started with formal design education, then residential projects that taught me how physical environments directly impact mental and physical health. Key turning point: realizing that healing spaces aren't just hospitals—they're homes, offices, and clinics designed with intentional wellness principles. In our DPC practice, we've applied interior design concepts to create calming, functional spaces that reduce patient anxiety and promote open communication. The best designers, like the best physicians, focus on the human experience first, aesthetics second. That's how care is brought back to patients.
A typical day for an interior designer begins early with project schedule reviews and team meetings. Mornings may involve site visits to assess progress or meet clients to discuss materials and layout adjustments. Designers use tools like AutoCAD and SketchUp to visualize ideas and must have strong communication skills to clearly convey their vision. Negotiation skills are also important for working with suppliers effectively.