From Childhood Dreams to Reality: My Journey to Becoming an Interior Designer

Why I Became an Interior Designer

Deciding to become an interior designer at fifteen, with zero real experience and no true understanding of what the job actually entailed, is, admittedly, a little random. But here’s the story of how and why I stepped into the world of design, and why it became the foundation of Curio Studio.

Where It Started

We’ll start from the beginning: I’m 5 years old, my dad is starting his own HVAC/plumbing business. We convert our ‘formal’ dining room, which we never used, into a home office. And all of a sudden, our home starts to compile these rolls of very large sheets of paper everywhere. As I watch my dad unravel them, I start to understand that these are floor plans of people's homes. I sit there and study these drawing sets in amazement. I loved the puzzle of figuring out what rooms go where, and how they interact in proximity to one another. And what I found is that most homes need some help. I intuitively knew I could solve this problem.

So, as a 4th grader, when the opportunity to take a blueprint course for an after-school activity came up, I was ecstatic! Apart from horseback riding, I had never loved doing an activity more. My entire world lit up. Walking through the architecture firm’s office felt like my version of a candy shop. As our floor plans were proudly displayed in the halls of my elementary school, I stood there admiring this newfound love of mine

Over the course of the next few years, I began combining my two worlds, drawing very intricate and colorful plans of my dream equestrian stable with my colored pencils and crayons. (A rummage through my mom's basement to find these treasures that I hope she saved is certainly coming in the near future!)

The Bedroom That Changed Everything

One of the earliest moments that confirmed I would become an interior designer was when my parents let me redesign my childhood bedroom.

While other girls wanted pink or lavender floral bedrooms, I confidently announced that I wanted high-gloss chocolate brown. The theme? Horses. Obvi. My ribbons hung from the ceiling; horseshoes from our farrier went on the walls; and my bedding was a full horse-girl explosion.

My poor mother just about had a heart attack, but my dad leaned the fuck in and let me tell you, it was fucking fabulous!

The Big Decision

Fast-forward to 2013: I’m a sophomore in High School, and the lingering question of "What do you want to do for a career?" starts to get whispered into our adolescent ears by our teachers and parents.

Being the analytical Virgo that I am, I created spreadsheets, lists, and Venn diagrams of every possible career I could be even remotely interested in. The list was… chaotic: accountant, artist, architect, who knows. Math came easy, but I certainly wasn't going to be a mathematician. Art inspired me, but I wasn’t destined to be the next Picasso.

So what career could blend both sides of my brain? The logical and the creative?

I thought back to that blueprint class. To my childhood bedroom. To the homes, I tried to “fix” on my dad’s plans.

Interior Design. Obviously.

But here’s the thing: My guidance counselor, parents, teachers, friends, friends-parents, and just about every single adult told me it was a bad idea. That I should major in business instead. Play it safe. Be practical. There was certainly some kind of divine intervention, intuition, stubbornness (probably a mix of all three), taking place for a 15-year-old to tell every single person in their life to fuck right on off and let me pursue my dream.

I knew, deeply and intuitively, that I am an interior designer. That I will build an interior design studio one day. That belief has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

My North Star

Interior design, and the idea of what would eventually become Curio Studio, has always been my north star. Through difficult years in my teens and early adulthood, that dream grounded me. It gave me something to hold onto when everything else felt chaotic.

Then, in 2023, my dad passed away. The two years that followed were filled with grief, isolation, and so many emotions I still don’t fully have the words for. But those years also opened the door to connection, the kind that changes everything.

That’s when I met Zack. My partner in life and now in business. And almost exactly two years after losing my dad, Curio Studio was born.

The Heart Behind Curio Studio

Curio Studio is a big dream coming to life, one built from childhood sketches, blueprint classes, horse-themed bedrooms, and a fierce belief in following your intuition.

It’s a place where people, place, and planet intersect. Where thoughtful design becomes a way to live more intentionally. Where creativity and connection thrive.

And I cannot wait to share it all with you!

If you’re curious about working together on your home or simply want to follow along as Curio Studio grows, you can explore more of my journal, join the newsletter, or reach out to start a project.

This is just the beginning!

With Love,

Sav