We caught up with the brilliant and insightful By Design Interiors, Inc. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
By Design Interiors, Inc., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Throughout our career, we are faced with design challenges that involve us taking big risks within our projects. It can be very stressful yet is one of the most exciting parts of our job! We work with a wide range of clientele with differing lifestyle needs, preferences, budgets, and styles which often brings about unforeseen challenges and big risks to create the exact, personalized design they want. However, without taking these risks, the reward (aka final design) isn’t nearly as sweet! Below is a recollection where our senior designer, Ashton Joseph, took a big design risk:
“I recall this one project, that had a traditional, eclectic mix of design. It needed a remodel after a flood. The challenge was the client wanted to stick with a lot of the original elements in the house, but also wanted to include several new elements. In one of the spaces, she wanted to create a new look for the fireplace, something that was a custom design.
I had to work with an artist from Italy for this design. We spoke back-and-forth for months to finalize the drawings and make the selections for the stone for the fireplace. This was all without having ever laying eyes on the actual pieces! Through photos, emails, and several phone calls we communicated the design until the day finally arrived that the piece was going to get installed.
We were all very excited to see it come to fruition but filled with nerves at the same time. This was the first time we were lying eyes on this custom stone mantle surround. It ended up turning out exactly how the clients wanted! It had a BEAUTIFUL ornate design and fulfilled her desire for a statement fireplace in her master bedroom! It was so satisfying to see it come to life – exactly how we had intended!
Overall, it was a huge risk to work with the unknown, and at such a high-end price point. I had to trust the unknown, communicate with an unfamiliar manufacturer, vendor, and handle the shipment from overseas. There are a lot of logistics involved when working with different countries but I’m so please to say, it turned out to be exactly what I had envisioned!”
– Ashton Joseph, Senior Interior Designer
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
By Design Interiors, Inc. is an award-winning interior design firm who specializes in creating stunning, well-designed interiors all throughout Houston and its surrounding areas. We have a team of 5 interior designers who can assist homeowners from The Woodlands, Spring and Magnolia, all the way to Galveston! BDI has been in business for over 32 years and was founded by our principal designer, and owner, Peggy Fuller, in 1990. She established the business out of her love for design and determination to provide for her family. Peggy began working out of her guest bedroom and over the years has grown her company to what it is today!
At By Design Interiors, we serve high-end interiors, as a turnkey design studio we take on a wide range of projects including custom builds, new constructions, renovations, and home furnishings. We value teamwork and work alongside builders, contractors, and architects to ensure our clients’ home seamlessly matches their needs and vision.
Our team of designers can assist with any design style from traditional to modern, and everything in between. Our focus is to create a home that embodies your style and needs. We take time to listen and understand what you’re wanting for your home and will provide the best design for your lifestyle. Our goal is to transform your house into a Home; with a tailored design that is both functional and stunning.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Our mission at By Design Interiors is to provide the best final design for our clients, one that exceeds all their expectations. We strive to ‘Explore the Possible’ for every client and believe in creating a beautiful home that is both functional, innovative, and unique to you. We value and appreciate that our clients trust us with something as personal as their home and we strive to provide the best overall experience for them.
Our team takes time to understand our client’s personal style, needs, and considers the function of every room within a home. For example, if they love to entertain guests, the dining room or a large space for gathering is a focus. Whereas if they cook often, the Kitchen is highlighted with high-end, top of the line appliances to provide an efficient and enjoyable cooking experience for them. Also, if they are a family with kids, we make sure to incorporate durable surfaces, and easy to clean / resistant fabrics that will hold up against the ‘wear and tear’ of daily life with growing kids.
We take all these aspects into account to create the best design for our clients. Transforming their house into a Home that truly embodies them.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
A story from Peggy Fuller, Principal designer, owner, and founder of By Design Interiors:
“I recall early in my career, when I had just established By Design Interiors, everything was a challenge. I had to learn quickly and, on the job, as each project was a learning experience. Especially when working with a husband and wife who have very different ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’ on just about everything!
I remember one of my first kitchen remodel projects, where the husband wanted the best of everything, top of the line, whereas the wife had a different opinion on the importance of the kitchen appliances. Since she did not cook often, she was not willing to spend that much on appliances. They both turned to me and asked, “What would you do?”
My response was “Who does the cooking?”
The wife said, “HE does.”
That was my answer. I said, “THE COOK RULES.”
They both smiled and we proceeded with the kitchen design. I learned that as a designer, you must have a firm say and opinion on things, you must be straight to the point when offering your expertise and advice on a divided decision for your clients. This was a pivotal learning experience in my early career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bydesigninteriors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bydesigninteriorsinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bydesigninteriorsinc/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/by-design-interiors/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ByDesignHouston
- Other: Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/pro/bydesigninteriorshouston/
Image Credits
Photography: FrenchBlue Photography Daniel Angulo Photography