One of the best compliments I receive from clients is that I don’t tell them what to do—I help them grow confident in their own design style. Maybe it comes from my years as a first-grade teacher in my twenties, or from guiding my sons as they found their voices, or maybe it’s simply my nature. I’ve never been the type to dictate. Instead, I like to guide, to listen, to encourage. One of the most important characteristics of a good designer is allowing each client’s home to have its own personality and identity, to bring their stories forward in their spaces. A home should never feel like it was pulled straight from a photo, it should feel lived in, personal, and reflective of the people inside it.

Guiding, Not Dictating

Clients often arrive with a mix of excitement and hesitation. They know what they’re drawn to, but years of scrolling Pinterest or watching design shows have convinced them that there’s a “right” and “wrong” way to decorate. My job is not to hand down rules but to nurture confidence. I see myself less as a director and more as a guide. Sometimes it means gently pushing a client to trust their instincts on a bold color they’ve always loved. Other times it’s helping them see that the quirky heirloom table they thought was out of place is actually the piece that makes the room sing.

Design as Storytelling

Every client brings a story with them, their history, their travels, their family traditions, the small rituals that give shape to their days. A good designer listens for these threads and then weaves them into the home. That’s why no two projects of mine ever look the same. One client’s living room might echo the golden hills of Moraga in August, while another’s kitchen reflects the memory of a grandmother’s blue-and-white china. The materials, colors, and shapes become more than just design choices; they become a language for telling the client’s story. When a home reflects the people inside it, guests feel it instantly. They may not know why the space feels so warm or so “right,” but it’s because the story has been honored and carried through the design. That’s what makes a house more than just beautiful. It makes it meaningful.

Beyond Trends: Finding the Timeless

In today’s world, design can feel too cookie-cutter, driven by the latest Pinterest board or Instagram trend. Over the years I’ve watched styles swing from industrial, to the greige (that endless gray-beige era), to mid-century modern, and now back toward tradition. Trends can be fun, but they’re fleeting. What lasts is the feeling of home, and that doesn’t come from copying a style—it comes from blending timeless design with pieces that matter to you. My role is to help clients strike that balance: creating spaces that will feel enduring while giving them permission to embrace the colors, textures, and quirks they truly love.

The Confidence to Call It Your Own

In the end, design is not about perfection, it’s about connection. A good home feels like its owners. It carries their stories, reflects their personalities, and supports the life they want to live. If my clients walk away feeling more confident in their style, if they can look around their home and say, “This feels like us”, then I know I’ve done my job. Because the real beauty of design isn’t about me, it’s about them.