Why I Started My Interior Design Business
Time flies, as it is said. Around this time five years ago, I left behind a job as a Senior Interior Designer at a large, well-known interior design studio in Toronto. I had worked there for 6-1/2 years, mostly working on large-scale condominium developments in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area and San Francisco. I had been a loyal and dedicated employee, and it was a difficult decision to leave my team, my clients, and projects. I did not have another full-time job lined up, only part-time employment starting that spring/summer as an instructor at my alma-mater, Ryerson University (now known as Toronto Metropolitan University).
That summer of 2017, as I was teaching at the university for the first time and doing freelance design, I was looking at my options and considering my next steps. I asked myself many questions: Should I find employment at another studio? Should I freelance for other studios, or should I dedicate myself to building my own studio? What value do I bring to the industry? How could I help those looking for interior design services? Do I want to be an entrepreneur? What do I truly enjoy working on?
I considered my experience, knowledge, skills, and potential. Over the years, my role became one of managing projects, team members, clients, etc. Most of my time was spent overseeing other’s work, redlining (which refers to reviewing and marking up drawings and specifications), coordinating, etc., rather than designing. It is inevitable with promotions and senior positions. But my enjoyment comes from developing an interior project from start to finish. I like meeting with clients one-on-one. I like getting to know them. I like listening to their wishes and requirements and developing a program that will meet and exceed their initial ideas. I enjoy space planning and solving how a space can enhance someone’s experience through it. I enjoy transforming spaces. I like the details. I enjoy the technical part of design - producing working/construction documents for my projects. I enjoy custom designing millwork, objects, and details.
As the summer season was ending, a vet visit for my dog Buster would seal my employment fate. His annual check-up revealed he had a heart murmur and there wasn’t any treatment available in Canada to cure it. Medication could help extend his life, but it was not known how long it would be before he suffered heart failure. One year? Two?
Buster, photo by Scruffy Dog Photography
Buster was 10 years old, a senior in dog years, but too young in my eyes. My boy was my love, and it was devastating news. I had missed so much time with him over the last 6+ years. I made the decision to spend as much time with him as possible, for whatever time he had left. And working from home would allow me that privilege.
Working from home, now very common for many, would allow me time with Buster, flexibility on when, where, and how I worked. It would also allow me to personally oversee my own home renovations. Having control over the number of projects I chose to take on would also allow me the opportunity to provide a personalised customer experience and would allow me to get back to designing - actually designing.
Proggetti Inc.’s journey would begin …
Buster’s spirit captured so well in this photo by Scruffy Dog Photography.