Conversations with Crystal Samuel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Samuel.

Hi Crystal, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My name is Crystal. I am an Interior Designer in the Denver area with a background in Civil Engineering and Construction Management. I have always had a love for creative things since I was young & also loved the technology and science behind the way things worked. I was always taking things apart only to put them back together so engineering made sense for me to pursue in undergrad.

After graduating from CSU, I went on to work for a general contracting company where I learned & dipped my toes into all things procurement, project management, estimating, and quality control. The construction industry was somewhere I knew I needed to be involved in I loved that environment. I was still craving something more creative since creativity was a large part of my nature. I remember when my parents were looking for a new home, I loved walking through model homes as a 7-year-old & I would get so excited to see every home.

Even after they found the home they loved, I would ask my mom to take me on weekends in between soccer games and I developed a love for residential homes. I never thought I could pursue that as a career until I started evaluating what was most valuable to me in my life. I decided to go back to school for Interior Design at Heritage School of Interior Design and on day one I knew that was the place I was supposed to be. I have never felt the sense of a perfect fit until design school. I went on to work for a custom home builder where I got the exercise my newer skills in design with my rooted skills in construction and I loved that.

I ultimately decided to pursue owning my own business and now here I am, still new in the entrepreneurial world but excited about the dreams and possibilities. I am working with incredible clients and homes and looking forward to elevating every part of my business to larger scale projects and fully integrating my design skills with my construction & nerdy brain through something I created.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has not at all been a smooth road. My undergrad was incredibly hard and I wanted to switch paths every day – at that time I did not know what this was what I wanted to do, but I am glad that I was advised to stick with it because it set the perfect foundation for where I am today. When I got my first job in construction, there was so much of it I loved but the passion was lacking so I had a hard time rooting myself in the purpose of it all.

Even getting my first job out of design school, everything I was doing was my dream & I found my passion which I couldn’t believe that was my job. There were so many daily battles with being overloaded in work & not set up for success & lack of support within this environment. Starting my own business felt like the clear path but I still experience struggles as an extroverted girl being alone day in and day out making the hard decisions without a sounding board, navigating pricing models and charging clients, and trying to build relationships with people outside my business that want a working relationship.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in Residential Interior Design with strong technical skills in drawings, 3D renderings construction knowledge, and a problem-solving mindset. Remodels and New Construction projects are my bread and butter. I think there are thousands of ways to make a client’s house feel like home but I love to think and work to make sure there is one best way to have their home functional for their lifestyle and how they live.

I am most proud of making the most incredible & creative functional kitchens specific to a homeowner’s lifestyle. I think what sets me apart is my engineering and construction background. I can be an anchor in the field in a new way that I find rare in designers. I help bridge the gap between construction and design.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
If you would like to work with me on your home project, you can fill out an inquiry form on my website crystalsamuelinteriordesign.com.

I love to find new trades to collaborate with & incorporate their products into my projects. Please feel free to reach out. I welcome collaborations from any businesses, marketing, and accounting specialists too.

Supporting me is huge – I appreciate it when someone recommends me to a new client or builder, or if you are looking to do a remodel or new build yourself! I would love it if I was recommended by someone, so please remember me and I will thank you forever!

Contact Info:

• Website: crystalsamuelinteriordesign.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/crystalsamuelinteriordesign