Why I became an Interior Designer
As a child I enjoyed being creative, whether it was drawing, sewing clothes for my barbies or being a photographer as my cousin and sister were the models. I absolutely loved being the creative director of it all. Growing up my parents and grandparents were all entrepreneurs in the creative fields. My maternal grandfather owned high end furniture stores. Which was so fun to visit as a kid. My paternal grandfather owned a Terracotta pottery factory in Mexico. And my parents owned pottery stores that sold outdoor pottery and decor in the Arizona and southern California areas. Being around this kind of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, it's no surprise I had the itch to follow this path as well but in a more aligned way. When it was time for me to decide which career path I wanted to embark on, it took me some time to go inward and lean into my passion compared to doing what I “should” be doing for a good paycheck. But once I took my first design class, I was hooked. And my dream of becoming an interior designer was born.
Whenever, I tell people i am a designer they are quick to say something like this:
“Oh fun, you get to play with fabrics all day” ; “ That must be so fun! I love decorating my own house” OR“ I love HGTV!”
The last statement might be the most cringy to me. Interior design is SO much more than the big reveal and accent wall. As an interior designer I get the chance to create an environment for my clients. I get the chance to create a home that feels safe and holds all your dearest moments and memories. Alongside that, I get to use my own creative vision to bring together the beauty and the functionality of a home. When these two things marry together, that is when the true magic happens. And that magic, that moment when a person can live freely and proudly in an environment that I created, is why I became an interior designer.
After design school, my husband and I moved out east so I could follow my dream of being an interior designer in New York City. I always say that New York City was my biggest teacher. It is there, I learned from real tradesmen, drapery shop workers, contractors and other designers about how design and traditions have been done for decades. I learned how to use every square inch of a space and I learned how to work with a melting pot of people. I absorbed as much information as I could over the four years I lived there. I truly believe that having this perspective and knowledge has made me a better designer and person in the process. I love that my life has taken me from the west coast to the east coast and now to the midwest. I am excited to bring that knowledge and expertise to the western suburbs of chicago and can’t wait to see how this next chapter unfolds.