Lead Interior Designer

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Lead Designer is responsible for independently leading full-service luxury residential and commercial interior design projects, from early concept through final installation. This role oversees both renovation and new construction projects and engages closely with homeowners, business owners, developers, investor groups, architects, builders, and subcontractors. Project scopes include spatial planning, concept development, material and finish selections, appliance and equipment specifications, plumbing and lighting selections, custom furniture and millwork design, exterior hardscape coordination, furniture plans, window treatments, accessories, art direction, and final styling. The Lead Designer is the primary creative and client-facing decision-maker on assigned projects and collaborates closely with the Design Director and Principal Designer to ensure all work reflects a fluid and cohesive brand aesthetic. They provide leadership to an assigned Associate or Junior Designer, setting the standard for technical accuracy, creative clarity, and polished communication.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Creative Leadership

● Lead and interpret design direction for luxury residential projects, including private homes, spec build properties, and estate-level interiors.

● Lead design direction for boutique commercial, wellness and retail environments, such as hospitality spaces, retail, private office environments, and lifestyle-forward professional spaces.

● Adapt conceptual approaches to suit the behavioral, functional, branding, and emotional needs of varied client types:

- Homeowners: supporting lifestyle vision, comfort, durability, and sensory experience

- Business Owners / Entrepreneurs: supporting brand identity, customer experience, and daily use needs

- Developers / Stakeholders: supporting market positioning, value engineering, and compatibility with

construction schedules

● Design and document custom furniture and millwork, ensuring form, ergonomics, fabrication feasibility, and finish quality reflect the brandʼs design identity.

● Develop clear conceptual narratives that drive finish palettes, spatial flow, lighting conditions, and overall user experience.

Renovation & New Construction Execution

● For renovations: lead spatial reconfiguration, finish upgrades, and coordination with builders and architects on integrating new work into existing conditions.

● For new builds: collaborate with architects, builders, lighting designers and landscape architects from early planning through interior detailing and finish coordination.

● Review plans and construction documentation to ensure the interior environment is cohesive and intentional.

Client & Stakeholder Communication

● Serve as main contact for homeowners, business owners, and developer teams.

● Lead design presentations that are clear, compelling, and strategic, guiding clients through complex decisions with confidence.

● Actively listen to extract client values, emotional goals, and lifestyle/operational needs and translate them into design direction.

● Use thoughtful communication and pacing strategies to maintain project momentum and prevent decision bottlenecks.

Trade Partner & Site Coordination

● Manage all project communication between clients and trade partners, including architects, builders, fabricators, subcontractors, and specialty craftspeople.

● Conduct jobsite walkthroughs to confirm progress, address field changes, answer questions, and maintain design integrity.

● Provide timely clarifications and field-ready direction to ensure construction teams can move forward without delay.

● Use strong visual communication (renderings, sketches, markups, redlines, annotated drawing updates) to reduce ambiguity.

Technical Oversight

● Oversee all technical design deliverables for assigned projects, ensuring:

- Drawings and renderings reflect correct scale, proportion, elevation detailing, and material transition

logic.

- Finish schedules, material samples, hardware schedules, and specification sheets are complete,

accurate, and continuously updated.

- Renderings and visualizations represent realistic color, texture, finish, and lighting conditions.

● Redline and refine drawings, measurements, and documentation produced by Associates or Junior Designers.

- Ensure all documentation supports accurate estimating, procurement, and fabrication.

Workflow, Documentation & CRM

● Maintain project milestones, deliverable timelines, and approval checkpoints in the studioʼs CRM/Notion system.

● Collaborate with internal Procurement team and external Build teams to review pricing, lead times, alternatives, and installation sequences. Installation & Final Styling

● Lead installation planning and execution, including furniture placement, styling, and proportion refinements.

● Liaise with the Procurement team and external Build teams for punch lists and oversee final adjustments to ensure a polished reveal experience.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

● Bachelor's degree in interior design or related field

● Minimum 5 years experience, non-negotiable

● Portfolio of design work

● Strong creative vision paired with clear technical communication

● Project & team management experience

● Exceptional interpersonal skill, emotional intelligence, and composure under pressure

● Expert in SketchUp, AutoCAD, Enscape/VRay and Adobe Creative Cloud

● Knowledge in Notion, Fohlio and Miro a plus

● Detail-oriented with a strong work ethic

● Ability to guide clients through complex decisions with clarity, warmth, and strategic pacing

● Ability to juggle and prioritize multiple projects and adjust work accordingly

● Possess strong verbal, written and visual communication skills

● Ability to self-manage and demonstrate professional maturity

● Ability to be productive working from home, a coffee shop, a jobsite, etc.

● Ability to be flexible with work hours - some days starting early, some days starting late, and ability to work weekends, if needed

CORE VALUES

Growth Mindset

Lifelong Learning & Humility

Inspired by Nature

Giving Back

Purpose-Driven

Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion