Lead Residential Interior Designer | Design Build Remodeling

Innovative Home Renovations; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary: $90,000 to $120,000 DOE

Health, Dental, Vision Insurance

401(k) matching

Paid Time Off & Holidays

Professional development

On-site in NE Seattle

Job summary

Innovative Home Renovations is seeking an experienced Lead Residential Interior Designer to own design direction and the client experience from concept through build. You will guide homeowners, translate goals into buildable designs, and lead collaboration with the project team and trades to deliver a cohesive remodel.

We value strong client communication, design judgment, and leadership. This on-site Seattle-area role offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits as part of a

Qualifications

• Five or more years in residential remodeling design builds or related fields.
• Ability to translate client goals into cohesive design solutions.
• Experience presenting designs and leading client discussions.

Responsibilities

• Lead conversations with homeowners to understand goals, lifestyle, and priorities.
• Develop cohesive design concepts balancing beauty, function, and budget.
• Coordinate floor plans, elevations, and cabinetry layouts for buildability.
• Guide client decisions through design presentations and site walkthroughs.
• Collaborate with project coordinator, drafters, and trades to move projects forward.
• Maintain ongoing client relationships through construction and completion.

Skills

Residential Design Experience

Design Judgment

Client Communication

Project Leadership

Technical Design Ability

Problem Solving

Organization

Collaboration

Growth Mindset

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design

NCIDQ certification valued

Tools

Chief Architect

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Revit

Illustrator

Job description

Job Description

Job Description:The OpportunityAt IHR, our Interior Designers are more than designers. They are trusted guides who lead the design and client experience from the earliest conversations through construction and completion. We are looking for an experienced Lead Residential Interior Designer who can take meaningful ownership of both the design and the client experience. You will work closely with homeowners to understand how they want to live, develop thoughtful and buildable design solutions, guide them through important decisions, and lead the collaboration required to carry the design successfully through Design, Planning, Build, and completion. You will work alongside IHR's Project Coordinator, Drafter, Site Superintendent, consultants, suppliers, and trade partners to bring each project from vision to reality. This is an opportunity for someone who wants more than simply producing beautiful designs. It is a role for a designer who wants to lead projects, guide clients, influence outcomes, collaborate closely with the people building the work, and have a meaningful voice in how IHR continues to grow.

About Us

Innovative Home Renovations is a residential design build remodeling firm serving homeowners throughout Northeast Seattle. We reimagine existing homes around the way our clients want to live, combining thoughtful design, detailed planning, and exceptional construction in one integrated process. A successful remodel is about more than the finished home. We are equally focused on creating an exceptional remodeling experience where homeowners feel understood, informed, confident, and in control throughout their project. At IHR, we believe the homeowner is the hero of the remodeling story. Our role is to understand where they want to go, guide the decisions along the way, and bring that vision to life.

What Leadership Means at IHR

Leadership in this position is not limited to managing people. It means taking ownership of the client experience, the design, and the collaboration required to move a remodeling project toward a successful outcome. Lead the client experience. Build trusted relationships with homeowners, understand what matters most to them, and guide them through the many decisions involved in remodeling with clarity and confidence. Lead the design. Translate the homeowner's goals, lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, existing home, and investment priorities into thoughtful, cohesive, functional, and buildable design solutions. Lead project collaboration. Bring together the client, Project Coordinator, Drafter, Site Superintendent, suppliers, and trade partners around a clear design direction and the decisions necessary to keep the project moving forward. Lead the design through construction. Stay connected to the project after drawings and selections are complete. Help answer questions, resolve unforeseen conditions, protect the design intent, and ensure the original vision is successfully translated into the finished home. Help shape the future of IHR. Bring your experience, ideas, and perspective to how IHR continues improving our design approach, client communication, collaboration, standards, tools, and overall remodeling experience.

What You Will Do

Understand the Client and Their Home

Lead conversations with homeowners to understand their goals, frustrations, lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, priorities, and how they want their home to function. Ask thoughtful questions that help clients clarify what matters most and uncover opportunities they may not have initially considered. Study the existing home, its architecture, layout, constraints, and opportunities so the design responds thoughtfully to both the homeowner and the house.

Develop the Design Vision

Create cohesive design concepts that balance beauty, function, architecture, lifestyle, investment, and buildability. Develop space plans and layouts that improve how clients move through and experience their homes. Create and communicate design concepts through drawings, presentations, renderings, material palettes, finish selections, cabinetry, millwork, lighting, fixtures, furnishings, and other design elements. Help clients see and understand the possibilities for their home before construction begins.

Guide Client Decisions

Serve as a trusted guide throughout the design process. Help homeowners navigate complex choices without becoming overwhelmed by the number of decisions involved in remodeling. Lead design presentations, showroom visits, material and finish selections, site walkthroughs, and other important client conversations. Explain the reasoning behind design recommendations while remaining curious about the client's perspective and priorities. Help clients understand tradeoffs between design, investment, functionality, availability, schedule, and long term value.

Create Clear, Buildable Designs

Develop or coordinate floor plans, space plans, interior elevations, cabinetry layouts, custom millwork details, lighting and electrical intent, finish plans, material and fixture specifications, renderings, visual presentations, and other design documentation required for Planning and Build. Work closely with IHR's Drafter and project team to make sure design intent is translated into accurate and usable construction information. Balance Design, Investment, and Buildability. Develop solutions that respect the client's investment priorities while maintaining the quality and integrity of the design. Collaborate with the IHR team and trade partners to understand construction feasibility, existing conditions, availability, lead times, cost implications, and schedule impacts. Identify potential conflicts or unanswered questions early, before they become expensive problems during construction.

Lead Project Collaboration

Work closely with IHR's Project Coordinator, Drafter, Site Superintendent, suppliers, and trade partners throughout the project. Clearly communicate design intent and upcoming decisions so the right people have the information they need at the right time. Participate in project meetings and site walkthroughs when design input or client decisions are needed. Create alignment between what the homeowner envisioned, what was documented, and what ultimately gets built.

Protect the Design Through Build

Remain actively involved once construction begins and respond to design questions and unforeseen conditions. Participate in site visits when appropriate and help evaluate alternatives when field conditions, material availability, or other factors require a change. Collaborate with the Build team to solve problems while protecting the client's priorities and overall design vision. Follow the project through completion and help ensure the finished home reflects what was developed with the client.

Contribute to IHR's Design Leadership

Bring curiosity and ideas to the continued development of IHR's design capabilities. Share knowledge and experience with teammates and mentor or support less experienced team members when appropriate. Help improve design standards, presentations, documentation, client communication, tools, and workflows. Stay informed about residential design trends, materials, products, technologies, and best practices. Help elevate the quality and consistency of IHR's design work and client experience.

What We Are Looking For

• Residential Design Experience. At least five years of professional interior design experience, preferably within residential remodeling, high end residential design, architecture, or a design build environment.
• Strong Design Judgment. A demonstrated ability to create beautiful, thoughtful spaces that respond to the client's lifestyle, the architecture of the home, functionality, and project goals.
• Exceptional Client Communication. The ability to listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, build trust, explain recommendations clearly, and guide homeowners through difficult or complex decisions.
• Project Leadership. Experience taking ownership of design projects and coordinating multiple people, decisions, deadlines, and priorities from concept through completion.
• Technical Design Ability. Experience producing or directing floor plans, elevations, space plans, cabinetry, millwork, specifications, renderings, and other documentation required to successfully communicate a residential design. Experience with Chief Architect is valuable. Experience with AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, Illustrator, or comparable professional design software is also relevant.
• Problem Solving. The ability to remain thoughtful and solution oriented when existing conditions, budget concerns, material availability, schedule constraints, or construction realities require the design to evolve.
• Organization and Follow Through. The ability to manage multiple projects and many moving pieces while maintaining attention to detail and following decisions through to completion.
• Collaborative Mindset. A genuine interest in working closely with designers, drafters, project coordinators, site leadership, consultants, suppliers, and trade partners rather than treating design as a separate discipline from construction.
• Curiosity and Growth Mindset. A desire to continue learning, improve systems, challenge assumptions thoughtfully, and contribute ideas that make both the design work and the client experience better.

Education and Professional Credentials

A Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent professional experience and a strong portfolio may also be considered. NCIDQ certification is valued and preferred, but is not required.

Why Join IHR?

This role provides an opportunity to have meaningful ownership while working within an established design build team. You will have support from a Project Coordinator, Drafter, Site Superintendent, consultants, suppliers, and established trade partners while still having significant influence over the client experience and design direction of your projects. You will also have an opportunity to influence how IHR's design practice develops as the company grows. We want talented people to bring their experience to IHR, not simply conform to the way things have always been done. Lead meaningful residential remodeling projects. Develop lasting relationships with homeowners. See your designs carried from concept through construction. Collaborate directly with the people responsible for building the work. Have a meaningful voice in improving how design and remodeling are delivered. Help create an exceptional remodeling experience for homeowners throughout Northeast Seattle.

Benefits

• Salary: $90,000 to $120,000 (DOE), bonus eligible
• Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance (IHR covers 75% of premiums, begins the 1st of the month after 60 days of employment)
• Basic Life Insurance (IHR covers 100%)
• 401(k) retirement plan with Company Match after 90 days: 100% match up to 3%, 50% for up to additional 2%
• 16 days Paid Time Off (accrues throughout the year, available for use after 90 days)
• 10 paid holidays (including office closure between Christmas and New Years)
• Washington State Paid Sick Leave (1 hour accrued every 40 hours worked)
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities
• Full-time, on-site position based in NE Seattle (Laurelhurst area)
• All equipment and software provided
• Coffee & snack bar
• Collaborative, supportive team environment

Application Timeline & Interview Process

• Initial Screening Video Call – A conversation with our HR representative to discuss your background, the role, and mutual fit
• At-Home Assessment – Complete an assignment based around floor plan layout creation.
• 1:1 with the CEO – A deeper conversation with our CEO about your experience, goals, and how you’d contribute to IHR Team
• Interview – A final interview with members of the IHR team

We aim to move quickly through each stage and will keep you informed throughout the process.