HOW I GOT STARTED?

The Beginning

Before design became my career, it was my childhood.

I grew up surrounded by sawdust, fabric swatches, sketchbooks, and the quiet belief that spaces shape how we live and feel. Long before I knew interior design was a profession, it was already a part of me. 

My dad owned a cabinetry shop, and some of my earliest memories lived there. I was nine years old when I started organizing his photo albums — thick binders filled with project photos (before websites were a thing). He would take those albums to client meetings and show them as a portfolio of his craftsmanship. I helped organize samples, hand sketches, and materials and I watched him draw cabinetry elevations on-site with effortless precision. Without realizing it, I was already being introduced to the Design Industry.

My mom nurtured a different side of my creativity. She sold home décor through the Home Interiors and Gifts catalog in the 90's, constantly refreshing our home with new pieces. She taught me how linens, textures, and small decorative details could completely transform a space. I still remember the excitement of designing my own bedroom — choosing fabrics, colors, and layouts as if I were working on a real project.

That early exposure planted something deep within me.

In middle school, I took woodworking classes. I sketched, selected paint colors, and built a framed mirror with wood trim — my first true design-build moment. In high school, I enrolled in fashion design, where I refined my sketching skills and learned how to sew.

During a field trip to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, I discovered interior design as an official career path. I remember thinking: “This is it. This is what I want to do!” 

After graduation, I began working full-time with my dad while taking general education courses at Riverside College. He slowly integrated me into the design side of projects. I helped design kitchens, selected finishes, organized materials, and developed his website. I was spending more time on job sites — and that’s when I began noticing the interior designers in action. 

They were confident. Creative. Professional. They held their own in the construction world while bringing softness and vision into it. I was captivated!

Nurturing My Family & Finding Myself

Life moved forward. I got married and became a mother. After my first son was born, I focused completely on motherhood. Then I had my second son and somewhere in that season, I realized I had quietly placed my dream on the back burner. I felt that I needed my sons' to be proud of me and I was starting to reconnect with myself. The passion was still there — it just needed to be reignited.

The moment came unexpectedly. I stopped by a job site one day to deliver samples and plans. My uncle was installing tile there. As we talked, he looked at me and said:

“Usted debería de ser diseñadora y debería cobrar por esto.”

You should really be a designer and you should be charging for this.

(Because at that time I was designing for free. I wasn't getting paid for my time, I only did it for the love I had for design.)

Those words reawakened something in me. They felt like confirmation of what I was already searching...

Soon after, I began researching schools and discovered the Interior Designers Institute in Newport Beach. I enrolled as a part-time student while balancing work and motherhood.

What began as a certificate program turned into an associate's degree — and then an almost bachelor’s degree… lol. I wanted the technical foundation: Architecture, Interior Architecture, CAD, SketchUp, Revit. I wanted to be more than creative — To be technically skilled because I knew this would give me more opportunities. 

During this time I found out I was pregnant with my third child. I was so invested and locked in on my goals that I decided to continue with the program. Taking my finals on my due date is something that I’ll never forget.

After I had my daughter, I only took a semester off and went straight back. There were days where I only slept 3 hours and stayed up all night to do homework and take care of my babies. But my dream was bigger than the sacrifices I was making. I knew that if I followed through it would be worth it! 

While working with my dad and still going to school, I met Susan from Susan Thiel Design on a job site in Orange County. My dad told her I was a design student and she saw me hand-sketching floor plans so she introduced me to the Chief Architect software. Soon after we met she offered me a position at her studio. 

Working alongside her refined my skills in ways school never could. She gave me real-world experience, confidence, and perspective. She was always so kind and had such grace. I looked at her as a mentor & a friend. She gave me the final push I needed and I will always be grateful for that.

Building My Studio

Eventually, I took the leap and started my own design studio.

Client by client. Project by project.

My foundation was strong: Construction knowledge from my dad, artistic intuition from my upbringing, and technical expertise from my education & working with Susan. 

I began with cabinetry-focused projects — kitchens and bathrooms — but my vision was always bigger. I soon started to land more and more projects from referrals and began to expand my portfolio.

Although, I have a specific style that I love. I always knew I wanted to create spaces that felt layered, intentional and deeply personal to my clients. I truly believe that this is what has set me apart because to me, design has never been just about aesthetics.

It’s about identity.

It’s about legacy.

It’s about creating homes that hold stories — just like mine.

Images from design school