We all know what an interior designer does. Or at least – we think we do…
by Anne Marie Hillan @lock.downhouse
I think our idea of an interior designer has been shaped by two things – firstly, those early TV shows where someone swept in with a staple gun in hand, transforming a room beyond recognition… and occasionally leaving a homeowner in tears wondering what had just happened to their house. And secondly, the glossy magazines where everything looks like an incredibly expensive show home, designed to perfection, impractical and quite frankly out of most folk’s league.
It’s no wonder it’s left a bit of a perception – that interior design is perhaps both scary and expensive and only for an elite few. And if I’m honest, until the last few years, I probably thought that myself.
REAL Interior Design Masters
Living in the West End surrounded by beautiful tenements, interesting conversions, high ceilings, stained glass windows, but also many new build flats and houses (I absolutely love the variety of our architecture) I know how quickly it can be overwhelming for people trying to make choices. Obviously I love Instagram and now have my own homes and interiors page, but between Instagram, Pinterest and magazines there’s so much to look at and so many options that somehow it actually makes it harder to decide, not easier.
So I wanted to understand what it’s actually like to work with an interior designer – not the TV version, but the real version, here on Byres Road.
This led me to speak to Susan Bremner and Claudia Capaldi at Homes + Interiors Glasgow. They have a studio and shop on Byres Road in the heart of the West End where anyone can walk in for interiors help. So I did! Both immediately came across as warm, friendly and easy to talk to – which, if you’re feeling even slightly unsure about approaching an interior designer, makes a real difference.
And very quickly, a few assumptions started to fall away.
The first that struck me is they’re not there to ‘take over’ your home – they’re there to help you make sense of it. Because the reality is, most of us don’t fully know what we want. We’ve saved images, screenshots, bits of inspiration… but turning that into a room that actually works is another thing entirely. So it starts with a conversation. What space are you thinking about? How do you use it? How do you want it to feel?
And when you don’t quite know the answer – which is more common than you’d think – that’s absolutely fine. In fact, they expect it.
They’ll ask you to bring along images you’re drawn to, and using their experience and expertise, they begin to build a picture of your taste, sometimes spotting patterns and preferences you hadn’t even noticed yourself. Making suggestions and giving you the confidence to make decisions.
And Breathe…
One of the biggest surprises for me was how much of their job is about reducing stress. Because putting a home together properly – especially when you’re busy, or moving, or just trying to juggle life – is a lot. And it was clear from speaking to Susan and Claudia that they really understand just how stressful that can feel for people — and how important it is to have someone approachable to talk things through with. Get something wrong, and it can be an expensive mistake.
Susan and Claudia see this all the time. People buying pieces that don’t quite work, or starting projects that become disjointed because there’s no overall plan. So a big part of what they can do is bring structure to that process. And interestingly, that often saves money rather than adding to the cost. Partly because you’re not making those expensive missteps and partly because they can source well. But also because they know how to coordinate the work properly.
Trades, deliveries, installations – all the moving parts that can drag a project out and disrupt your home far longer than it needs to. They already have trusted people they work with – decorators, joiners, upholsterers – and that consistency means things run more smoothly. They design but they also project manage.
Design in the Digital Age
What I was most curious about, though, was what it would actually feel like to walk in and say, ‘I need help’. And the reality is it’s much more relaxed than you might think. There’s no hard sell with Homes + Interiors Glasgow. No pressure to commit to something bigger than you had in mind. You might go in thinking about one room – or even just one problem – and that’s fine. For some people, that might be a full redesign. For others, it might be as simple as finally getting the window dressing right, or pulling together a scheme that they then go away and implement themselves.
New technology has made a massive difference to how designer and client can work together. Using digital tools, Susan and Claudia can show you how your room could look – furniture in place, colours on the walls, layouts that actually make sense in your space. They took the time to patiently explain to me how these tools work and how they help people properly visualise a space before making decisions.
While I was with them, they were able to show me a real example of a project they were working on – from the initial mood board, through to detailed 3D drawings, and then the final finished space. It really brought the whole process to life. To be honest I found the whole thing fascinating and the visualisations so helpful! You can see it. React to it. Change it. And that back-and-forth discussion is where the real collaboration happens.
Now if you know me at all, you know I naturally lean towards colour, but this particular client had chosen a much more neutral palette. However, you could see how the design had depth and interest through texture, layering and styling. It was a good reminder that whether you love bold colour or prefer something more understated a well-considered scheme is what makes it work. And that mood boards are really helpful!
The Best Bits
Susan and Claudia work on everything from individual rooms to full properties across Glasgow, Scotland and the whole of the UK. They are open to large projects of whole homes but equally open to smaller work. And I think that’s where the big misconception really sits – that interior design is only for big budgets or full renovations. When actually, modern interior design is much more flexible.
Some clients want full involvement from start to finish – planning, sourcing, installation, right through to the final styling. Others want guidance, ideas, and a clear plan they can take forward themselves.
And then there’s the final stage, the best bit and certainly the bit that I enjoy most – the dressing of the room. The finishing touches, the faffing with flowers, plants, ornaments and cushions and seeing the client walk into the space and recognise it as their own – planned by them with their designer, but better than they might ever have anticipated.
I came away from the conversation thinking differently about it all. Interior design isn’t about handing over control. It’s not about being talked into things you don’t want. And it’s not just for big projects. It’s about having someone alongside you who can bring clarity, experience and a bit of calm to what can otherwise feel like a very overwhelming process. Someone who can take the best of your ideas, add to them, and breathe life into them in your home.
And in homes like ours, full of character but not always straightforward – that feels like something worth knowing.
