What does an Interior Designer actually do?
One of the questions I get asked most often is, “What does an interior designer actually do?”
The glamorous answer? I pick out beautiful furniture, tile, countertops, and fabrics.
The real answer? I answer emails. Lots of emails.
I coordinate with contractors, cabinet makers, plumbers, electricians, fabricators, and vendors. I measure homes, revise plans, answer questions, track orders, solve unexpected problems, and keep dozens of moving pieces headed in the same direction.
And yes… somewhere in there, I get to choose beautiful finishes. The truth is, that’s only a small part of the job. Most of my work happens behind the scenes, making thoughtful decisions so that when you walk into your finished home, everything simply feels right.
A kitchen remodel is more than picking finishes
Take a kitchen remodel, for example. From the outside, it can seem straightforward. New cabinets. New countertops. Maybe a few gorgeous light fixtures.
But there’s so much more happening before we ever choose a paint color or slab of stone. Once you know what goes into a kitchen remodel, you’ll never look at one the same again.
It starts with questions. Should we keep the sink where it is, or move the plumbing? Can we save the existing hardwood floors? Would another window make the space feel brighter? How does your family actually use the kitchen? Do you host Thanksgiving every year? Are the kids making their own breakfasts? Does the dog always end up underfoot while dinner is cooking?
Those conversations shape every decision that follows.
Every detail has a purpose
Then we dive into cabinetry.
Door styles. Paint or stain. Drawer organizers. Spice storage. Pull-out trash and recycling. Appliance garages. Coffee stations. Charging drawers. Drop zones.
Every family lives differently, and every kitchen should reflect that.
After that come the selections most people expect. Countertops, plumbing fixtures, lighting, hardware, and appliances. But each one comes with dozens of details. We visit the stone yard to choose the exact slab, review appliance specs, finalize sink and faucet placement, map out lighting, confirm outlet locations, review shop drawings, and coordinate electrical plans.
Every decision builds on the one before it. And my job is to keep all of those decisions organized across an entire home.
The work continues during construction
And that’s all before construction even begins.
Once work is underway, the project takes on a life of its own. There are site visits, contractor questions, product deliveries, measurements to double-check, and the occasional surprise hiding behind a wall. Trust me... there’s almost always one.
One of my favorite parts of the job is walking through a project while it’s still just framing and plywood. Most people see an unfinished room. I usually end up standing quietly, staring out a window. I’m not daydreaming, I swear! I’m watching where the light lands. I’m imagining where someone will drink their morning coffee, where kids will gather after school, or noticing that a sconce should shift over a couple of inches before drywall goes up.
Those little adjustments are the ones that make a home feel effortless, even if no one ever notices them.
Protecting the vision
One of my biggest responsibilities is protecting the vision from our first meeting all the way through installation.
Just because something arrives or gets installed doesn’t automatically mean it’s right. If a stain color is off, a cabinet detail doesn’t match what we planned, or a light fixture isn’t hanging quite right, I’ll speak up.
Those conversations aren’t always the easiest, but they’re some of the most important. My clients trust me with their homes, and I take that responsibility seriously. “Close enough” has never been part of my design vocabulary.
Why interior design is about more than making things beautiful
One of the biggest misconceptions about interior design is that it’s only about making a home look beautiful.
Of course that’s part of it. But it’s also about asking the right questions before they become expensive mistakes. It’s about solving problems before they happen, protecting your investment, and creating spaces that truly support the way your family lives every day.
Ironically, if I’ve done my job well, you probably won’t notice most of the work that went into it. You’ll simply walk through the front door and think, “This just feels like home.” And to me, that’s the best compliment I could receive.
As a local designer, I have the privilege of helping families throughout the Columbia River Gorge create homes that reflect their lives. If you’re planning a remodel or new build, I’d love to help guide you through the process and create a home that reflects the way you live, gather, and make memories.
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