What 23 Years as an Interior Designer Teaches You
Today's my birthday. Twenty-three years ago I graduated from Texas Tech, walked into my first design job in Dallas, and had my car engine implode before I'd received my first paycheck. That felt about right for what this career had in store.
Twenty-three years. Three continents. More cities than I can count. And somehow I ended up back in Colorado, living and designing in Centennial, working on 1970s ranch kitchens and an Illinois farmhouse (I KNOW I talk about working locally, and I truly live that, but if you’re a repeat client that’s renovating your out-of-state family compound then I’m in).
If you'd told 23-year-old me, the one terrified on her first day at a prestigious Dallas design firm, that this is where the path led, I wouldn't have believed you.
The Beginnings
My first real job out of school was at Lee Jofa in Dallas. If you know textiles, you know Lee Jofa; luxury fabrics, to-the-trade only, the kind of place where designers come to source for clients who expect the best.
I was 23, coordinating the sample room, merchandising the showroom, trying desperately to learn the difference between damask and jacquard fast enough that nobody noticed I was still figuring it out.
On my first day, literally my first day, I was driving home to Fort Worth and my car engine basically imploded. Before I'd even gotten my first paycheck. I ended up cashing in the savings bonds my Grandpa had given me every Christmas to buy a new to me car. Nothing like starting your design career by figuring out how to hustle before you've even learned what damask is.
Six months later I got hired at Hayslip Design Associates. This was, and I cannot stress this enough, not a job for someone who wasn't ready. High-profile clients. Huge period accurate homes. The level of custom design and detail is something I didn’t even know existed. The kind of projects where you flew on private planes (no photos, client privacy!) and everything had to be perfect. As high pressure as it gets for a new designer.
I started as a design assistant to the firm's owner. Within a year I was managing projects. Looking back, I have no idea how I didn't completely mess everything up. Probably because I was too scared to make mistakes, so I checked everything three times, still do.
That job taught me that luxury design isn't only about expensive things, it's about getting every single detail right. It's about understanding why crown molding profiles matter and how antiques tell stories and what "discretion" actually means when you're working in people's homes.
Houston
I moved to Houston in 2005 and spent seven years at Sharon Staley Interiors.
Sharon's firm did serious residential projects, 12,000 square foot new construction, historic renovations, vacation homes, everything. I managed projects from programming through installation. Designed custom millwork. Coordinated contractors. Held clients' hands through the chaos of construction while simultaneously making sure the tile setter understood exactly how that mosaic pattern needed to lay out.
The highlight: a 14,000 square foot new construction project in Houston's Memorial neighborhood where the clients got married at the house during construction. We're talking wedding ceremony with framing still exposed and subfloor underfoot. I've never been so stressed about a timeline in my life, but we made it happen.
I also got to design a project in the Cayman Islands. And a hunting lease on the King Ranch that we took a helicopter to reach. And countless Houston homes where I learned that good design solves problems, it doesn't just look pretty.
Going International
In 2011, before officially launching Jamie House Design, I left Sharons and almost immediately took on the most ambitious project of my career: partnering with a Houston architect on an American style subdivision in China.
Wuxi, specifically. A couple of hours from Shanghai. I flew back and forth multiple times, with shopping trips in Hong Kong for furnishings and materials. Worked remotely on high-rise clubhouses in Shanghai. Navigated language barriers, time zones, cultural differences, and the reality that culture differences means a lot of confusion, something very different in China than Texas. I learned to work in meters instead of feet.
Would I do it again? Probably not. Am I glad I did it? Absolutely. Some experiences you can't get any other way.
After China I continued designing homes in Houston from mid-century modern remodels to new constructions in the burbs to many renovations in my own neighborhood The Heights.
Berlin
In 2015 we moved to Berlin. My husband and I had wanted to live there since visiting in 2011, something about the history, the feel of the city, the different way of approaching design and life.
We stayed almost five years.
Berlin apartments are nothing like American homes. Small spaces, old buildings, radiator heat, windows that open in ways that still confuse me. But the design sensibility, the mix of historic and modern, the way people layer vintage with contemporary, the acceptance of imperfection and patina, that changed how I think about interiors.
I designed homes Houston homes from there, and our own beloved Altbau. I figured out how to communicate clearly and directly, both with clients and the locals. I absorbed a completely different aesthetic that still influences every project I do now. Berlin still calls sometimes.
My first headshot, by Brooke Schwab
Coming Home (Or: Why Colorado?)
We moved to Denver in 2020 and settled in Centennial. After Berlin, Shanghai, Houston, the Cayman Islands, why here?
Honest answer: I’m from Colorado Springs, but I’ve always loved the idea of suburban Colorado. And I love Centennial. I want to work on projects near my own home. I wanted to understand local architecture deeply, the 1970s Centennial suburban homes, the Victorian cottages in Old Town Littleton, the new constructions in Castle Pines, not just visit occasionally from somewhere else.
I spent 15 years designing internationally. It was incredible. I learned things I couldn't have learned staying in one place. But at some point you realize: I want to be the designer that’s settled, family first, who has a stake in the place you live, who loves this area too, who's at the same tile shops and hardware stores you'd go to, who can recommend contractors because I've seen their work.
So now I work exclusively in South Denver suburbs. Within 20 minutes of Centennial. That's it. No projects in Boulder, no work in the mountains, no traveling to other states. I wanted to understand local architecture deeply; the 1970s Centennial suburban homes, the Victorian cottages in Old Town Littleton, the new constructions in Castle Pines; not just visit occasionally from somewhere else. After 15 years designing internationally, I wanted to be the designer with a stake in the same place my clients live.
In 2025, Centennial residents voted me their Platinum Interior Designer and Platinum Interior Decorator, two different categories, same neighborhood. That meant something to me. Not because of the award itself, but because it meant people here know my work.
What I've Learned
Twenty-four years in this career, here's what I know:
Good design solves actual problems. It's not about making things look pretty (though they should). It's about making your kitchen function better, your primary suite feel like an actual retreat, your living room work for how you actually use it.
Local knowledge matters more than I thought it would. When I work on a 1985 Centennial split-level, I know that era's floor plan challenges because I've solved them before. When I renovate a Craftsman bungalow in Littleton, I understand what details are worth preserving. You can't get that from flying in occasionally.
The best projects feel like the client, not like me. I have aesthetic preferences. Everyone does. But when someone walks into their finished home and says "this is exactly me," that's success. When they say "this is so you," I've failed.
Mix sources strategically. Commercial tile plus handmade accents. New lighting for basics, vintage for statement pieces. Budget materials where nobody looks, investment materials where it matters. This creates homes with layers and personality. Every time I choose natural materials over synthetic, or suggest leaving a wall in its original plaster rather than drywalling over it, that's Berlin talking.
Mid-century modern renovations are my favorite. Something about the clean lines, the connection to landscape, the opportunity to honor what's good about the original architecture while making it function for modern life. Give me a 1965 ranch any day.
What I'm Doing Now
I'm designing homes in Centennial, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, and Littleton. Kitchen renovations, primary suite additions, whole-home transformations, historic restorations. Projects where architectural thinking matters as much as aesthetics.
I offer three ways to work together; consultation for people who want expert direction but will manage execution themselves, partial design for specific phases, full-service for complete management. All three can result in homes people love. They just serve different needs.
I source from everywhere, local Colorado craftspeople, vintage dealers, Etsy makers, trade-only showrooms, custom fabricators. Whatever creates the right result for that specific project.
I work with people who value quality over trendy, who want their homes to feel like theirs (not mine), who understand that good design takes time.
Twenty-Three Years Later
That 23-year-old walking into her first design job in Dallas had no idea what she was signing up for. The international projects, the moves, the learning curve, the occasional helicopter ride to a Texas ranch. The beautiful creative people that are forever etched in my heart, clients, colleagues, and tradesmen I’ve had the pleasure of working with.
But here's what that 23 year old got right: she chose a profession where you're always learning. Where every project is different. Where you get to solve problems and make spaces that improve people's daily lives.
Twenty-three years in, I still love it.
If you're in Centennial, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, or Littleton and thinking about what your home could become, I'd love to hear about it. Start with a discovery call, no commitment, just a conversation.
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About the Author
Jamie House is an award-winning interior designer serving Centennial, Littleton, Castle Pines, and Denver’s South Metro. With a Bachelor of Interior Design from Texas Tech University and over 20 years of experience in luxury residential design, she specializes in kitchen and bath remodels, whole-home renovations, and historic restorations. Her work has been featured in Country Living, Houston Chronicle, and Design Sponge.
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Why I'm a residential interior designer: a reintroduction | Jamie House Design
I have always believed that the way we design our homes has a profound impact on how we live. A well-designed space isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about function, comfort, and creating a sanctuary that supports and enhances your lifestyle. That belief is the foundation of Jamie House Design.
With nearly 20 years of experience in high-end residential design, I have worked on projects ranging from small historic remodels to expansive 12,000-square-foot new construction homes. My career has taken me across Houston, Florida, the Cayman Islands, and even China, collaborating with discerning clients to craft deeply personal, beautifully layered interiors. Before launching Jamie House Design, I honed my skills at several luxury interior design firms, developing a signature approach that embraces color, pattern, texture, antiques, and original art in all its forms—from canvas to pottery.
I have always believed that the way we design our homes has a profound impact on how we live. A well-designed space isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about function, comfort, and creating a sanctuary that supports and enhances your lifestyle. That belief is the foundation of Jamie House Design.
With nearly 20 years of experience in high-end residential design, I have worked on projects ranging from small historic remodels to expansive 12,000-square-foot new construction homes. My career has taken me across Houston, Florida, the Cayman Islands, and even China, collaborating with discerning clients to craft deeply personal, beautifully layered interiors. Before launching Jamie House Design, I honed my skills at several luxury interior design firms, developing a signature approach that embraces color, pattern, texture, antiques, and original art in all its forms—from canvas to pottery.
My passion lies in working closely with people, truly understanding their needs, and improving their daily lives through thoughtful design. A well-designed home should reduce stress, providing a peaceful, functional space where everything has its place—exactly where you need it. From custom millwork that maximizes storage to carefully curated furnishings and art, I focus on the details that make a home feel effortlessly elegant and uniquely yours.
I don’t believe in simply choosing art to match a sofa. Instead, I curate meaningful collections over time, layering textures, antiques, and unique pieces that tell a story and create a lived-in, welcoming environment. My goal is to design homes that feel deeply personal, timeless, and like a true retreat from the outside world.
Your home should work for you in every way. Whether it’s a kitchen designed to streamline your morning routine, a living space that invites relaxation, or a bedroom that feels like a private sanctuary, my approach to full-service interior design ensures every detail is considered and beautifully executed.
If you’re ready to transform your home into a place that enhances your life, Jamie House Design is here to guide you through the process. Let’s create a space that is as functional as it is stunning—a true reflection of you. Contact us today to get started.
One Year as an Expat in Berlin
We decided that if we're going to make a big move we have to do it while AJ is little. So we jumped. It's been tough. It's hard to have a small child with no network. It's hard to leave a thriving business. It's hard to start again in a country that speaks a different language, tells time differently (military time has been hard to get used to!), and even uses a different measuring system (thanks USA for setting up this fail). It's also been good to not have a car, to walk more (I average 60 miles a month without even trying), to eat fresher foods (markets everywhere), and most importantly to see different parts of the world more easily.
Today marks one year of living in Berlin.
We decided that if we're going to make a big move we have to do it while AJ is little. So we jumped. It's been tough. It's hard to have a small child with no network. It's hard to leave a thriving business. It's hard to start again in a country that speaks a different language, tells time differently (military time has been hard to get used to!), and even uses a different measuring system (thanks USA for setting up this fail). It's also been good to not have a car, to walk more (I average 60 miles a month without even trying), to eat fresher foods (markets everywhere), and most importantly to see different parts of the world more easily.
Adjusting to the culture has been a surprising assault. It's Germany. It's not a remote unknown place. We've visited multiple times before moving here. We always loved it. But living in a place shows you a whole different side. It's been surprising. It's been bureaucracy. It's been illuminating. It's like being broken open and starting again. Knowing people from different countries and seeing the world how they see it has been the greatest benefit so far. Let us not talk about the grocery stores, read any expat board and you'll see discussions about the grocery stores. I have been yelled out by a checker. Every expat I know has. My skin is tougher. And sometimes you laugh just so you don't cry.
Being in Europe I was fully expecting the culture and daily life to be, well, more beautiful. It's the romantic concept Americans have of Europe. Disneyland Europe. Don't get me wrong, it is beautiful. But it's also gritty. And dirty. And covered in graffiti. And customer service is nearly non existent. And the beauty of everyday life is basically considered frivolous. At least in Berlin. So I've gone about trying to create my European dream despite and maybe even due to the outside realities. Our beautiful Altbau apartment is decidedly European, very high ceilings, beautiful moldings, enormous beautiful doors with antique brass hardware, and the coveted herringbone floors. Picking up 2€ tulips on the corner. Sitting down for every meal at the dining table. Little things. Deciding to see the beauty regardless of the reality is a new skill I've acquired. And quite a beneficial one.
A surprising thing we've come across living here is the lack of outside influence in everything. We don't have cable or listen to the radio. We never see commercials. We can't read the magazines so we don't buy them. Same with the newspapers. We have an ad blocker on the internet so we don't even see ads there. A basic disconnect with materialism has completely changed how we see things. How we see everything. Even how we see ourselves. Who would you be if you could be anyone at all? What do you love if no one is there to tell you what you should love? What do you wear if you don't know what's in style or considered "cool"? That's what we've discovered. It's overwhelming. It's wonderful.
And while I rarely discuss my personal life in business, I can't discuss our first year without commenting on how amazingly family friendly Berlin and Europe are. Raising AJ here, while not easy- he's still 2, has been a pretty easy transition. Free kindergarten/daycare (Kita) now that we've found one. Playgrounds everywhere (I can think of 7 parks within a few blocks of us, all different and well thought out). Kids are welcome nearly everywhere. Beer gardens have playgrounds. It's brilliant. Kinder cafes (cafes with play areas for kids that serve coffee & baked goods to parents) are a thing here. Bakeries all over the place. One of AJ's first words was croissant. At this stage our lives unapologetically revolve around him and being in Europe makes that very tolerable and most of the time it's even enjoyable.
Jamie House Design has transitioned to me headquartered in Berlin smoother than anticipated. It hasn't been without its bumps and I'm sure Katie has wanted to pull my hair out more than once. But it's been good. The German arm of JHD is not quite off the ground as I'm still muddling through paperwork & regulations. But several projects and amazing clients in Houston has kept me sane. Designing and creating are my lifelines. I can't not do it. I'd do it for free and often do. By being selective with the projects I accept I have had time to work on the business of design. I have organized changes coming soon.
This year has been full of change, good change and exhausting change. While Berlin doesn't quite feel like home, Houston no longer does either. The expat limbo. I'm looking forward to what the next few years hold for us.
Now based in Denver, Jamie House Design continues to offer expert interior design services for high-end remodels throughout the US and abroad. Whether you’re preserving a beloved home or updating a space to better suit your lifestyle, we bring thoughtful design, timeless materials, and unparalleled attention to detail.
If you’re considering an interior design project, let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact Jamie House Design today to discuss your project.
My Berlin Ikea Kitchen
The kitchen design process has been excruciating. Our beautiful pre war apartment did not come with a kitchen, or any lights, or any cabinets of any kind. Tis normal here. That means however that until we got the keys I couldn't measure or really get down to designing the kitchen. So six weeks of living without an actual kitchen has been pretty terrible, not the worst, but pretty terrible. Luckily the landlord provided us with a little stove and a sink to get us by. My industrious husband found a little refrigerator on Ebay (they use Ebay like Craigslist over here) so we were functional.
The kitchen design process has been excruciating. Our beautiful pre war apartment did not come with a kitchen, or any lights, or any cabinets of any kind. Tis normal here. That means however that until we got the keys I couldn't measure or really get down to designing the kitchen. So six weeks of living without an actual kitchen has been pretty terrible, not the worst, but pretty terrible. Luckily the landlord provided us with a little stove and a sink to get us by. My industrious husband found a little refrigerator on Ebay (they use Ebay like Craigslist over here) so we were functional.
Fast forward to today and our Ikea kitchen is being installed. Not without issue but I'll get to that. My main inspiration was this image and the Tobi Fairley designed kitchen from her Riverside Penthouse project.
See more of my inspiration here.
Now onto the kitchen Tobi designed. I normally don't love beige. I do happen to be completely attracted to this tone of beige lately though. It has grey undertones rather than yellow. All of the 90s beige was yellow undertones and it just feels dirty now. But what I truly love is the combo of the beige and lavender. I mean gahhhhh! I've been trying to work lavender into anything for the last couple of years. This lavender as a MODERN accent is very special. Not too sweet. Not little girl lavender.
OK my decision to go with Ikea. While in the states I design custom kitchens with custom, usually job built, cabinetry I just don't have those resources here. Sure I'll get them, but in the meantime we need a kitchen. And we're renting. And honestly Ikea cabinets have the best efficiency and organization for our small space and large needs.
After seeing this Ikea kitchen I figured I could pull off the look in a different but satisfying way.
So after designing it all I realized it was too boring for me. So blah. We can't change the backsplash, it's white square tiles. We have a galley kitchen, nothing like this or Tobi's open concept with island layout. When I laid it out it felt very mom jeans. Very norm-core. Very me. But a bit too bland so no beige.
So here we are with my plan for a green kitchen. Green! I love green. I had an angel reading a couple of years ago saying I should wear more green and I'm trying to go literal with that, whatever that means.
I incorporated the beige to break up the green. You're looking through the window seeing the radiator BTW. The pantry cabinets step back to leave room for the door to open. We have to have the washer and dryer in the kitchen. Well at least the washer because it needs to use the sink plumbing for water. While I suppose we can put the dryer anywhere with an outlet I prefer to not have a dryer in my bedroom or living room.
The counters are a marble look solid surface material. To be honest I'm not sure what it is. It's not like anything I've seen and no one's been able to translate it into anything meaningful for me. And honestly I don't care. It's a good look, solid surface, and I'm moving on. This shows wood floors but we don't have wood floors sadly. We have white squares. Lot's of white square tile in Berlin.
Well our kitchen didn't turn out like this. Many changes were made on the fly during installation yesterday. They're finishing up today so we'll discuss more soon. Crazy how my inspiration picture isn't at all what I ended up designing. That's how it goes. Take inspiration and make it yours. I'll leave you with a shot of end of the day yesterday. Don't judge.
Now based in Denver, Jamie House Design continues to offer expert interior design services for high-end remodels throughout the US and abroad. Whether you’re preserving a beloved home or updating a space to better suit your lifestyle, we bring thoughtful design, timeless materials, and unparalleled attention to detail.
If you’re considering an interior design project, let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact Jamie House Design today to discuss your project.