What Professional Interior Designers Do
At MMA, we’re often asked: “What exactly does a professional interior designer do?” or “Do I really need one if I already have an architect or contractor?”
The truth is, hiring an interior designer adds value that goes far beyond finishes or furniture. Interior design is about connecting people to their environments in purposeful and lasting ways, whether it’s a workplace designed to support productivity, a restaurant that creates memorable guest experiences, or a home that blends beauty with functionality. As professional interior designers, we shape how people experience a space, protecting their well-being and safety while creating environments that feel purposeful, comfortable, and inspiring.
Our interiors team combines creativity, technical expertise, and industry knowledge to guide clients through decisions around spatial distribution, materials, finishes, furnishings, and the day-to-day interactions of each space. Whether we’re working alongside our architects or leading an interior-focused scope, we ensure the interior environment is seamless, resulting in spaces that reflect our client’s values, support the way they live and work, and elevate everyday experiences.
Translating Vision into Reality
One of the greatest values an interior designer offers is the ability to take a client’s ideas and translate them into a cohesive vision. While Pinterest boards and inspiration images are a great starting point, our team draws on a strong educational foundation, deep product knowledge, and trusted industry connections to turn inspiration into reality. For residential clients, that may mean sourcing finishes that are family-friendly, healthy, and timeless. For commercial clients, it could mean specifying sustainable materials that hold up to heavy use while still conveying brand identity. In every case, we blend technical expertise with creativity to ensure spaces are not only beautiful, but also thoughtfully crafted to support the people who live, work, and gather within them.
Saving Time, Stress, and Costly Mistakes
Design and construction involves countless decisions, from selecting finishes to coordinating construction details with contractors and vendors. Our team helps clients navigate the complexity of making thousands of decisions with clarity and confidence. Because we understand lead times, availability, and construction sequencing, we’re able to specify products, finishes, and fixtures at the right time, reducing delays and avoiding costly rework. We streamline communication, eliminate the guesswork by showing many visual examples, and make sure every choice aligns with the overall vision, saving clients both stress and added cost in the overall process.
Adding Lasting Value
Hiring a professional interior designer isn’t just about how a space looks, it’s about ensuring a functional and seamless project today that continues to add value for years to come. Our designers consider everything from right-sizing the floor plan, access to daylight, acoustics and circulation, to durability, maintenance, and sustainability when making recommendations. In workplaces, that might mean designing layouts that enhance collaboration and productivity; in homes, it could mean maximizing natural light and selecting finishes that age gracefully. By prioritizing high-quality, responsibly sourced materials and designing with longevity in mind, we create spaces that are as resilient and practical as they are beautiful.
How is an interior designer different from an interior decorator?
Interior decorators typically focus on the surface-level aesthetics; furniture, color, and styling. Professional interior designers are trained to address function, flow, technical details, health and well-being of people and the environment, knowledge of building systems and codes, coordinating with trades, in addition to the aesthetics of a space.
At MMA, our designers come from professionally accredited university programs that provide the foundation for collaborating with architects and contractors to ensure every aspect of the space, from lighting plans to material selections, is thoughtfully integrated.
Is hiring an interior designer only for large projects?
Not at all. While we work on complex projects with universities, workplaces, restaurants and full homes, our team also adds value to more focused scopes of work, such as refreshing a kitchen, designing custom millwork, furnishing spaces or reimagining a workplace lounge.
When should I hire an interior designer?
The earlier, the better. At MMA, there’s a reason we have a collaborative interiors team working closely with our architects from day one, because fully integrating the layout, finishes, and overall experience among both disciplines leads to stronger, more cohesive design. When interiors and architecture are developed together, every decision, from window placement to material palette, work in harmony. This not only streamlines communication and prevents costly changes down the road, but also ensures that the final result feels intentional, complete, and reflective of a unified vision.
