Residential Interior Designer | Design Build Remodeling

Innovative Home Renovations; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovative Home Renovations is seeking a Residential Interior Designer to guide homeowners from concept to buildable documentation. Work with a design‑build team to understand goals, study spaces, and develop cohesive design solutions balancing beauty, function, and investment priorities.

You will lead design presentations, coordinate with the drafter and site supervisor, and help clients navigate finish selections, schedules, and tradeoffs.

Qualifications

• Experience as a professional interior designer in residential remodeling or high‑end design.
• Ability to translate client goals into cohesive design concepts.
• Strong client communication and collaboration with project teams.
• Proficiency with design software including Chief Architect, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, Illustrator.
• Excellent organization and follow‑through on multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Understand clients' goals through discovery meetings and site visits.
• Develop cohesive design concepts, space plans, finishes, and renderings.
• Present design recommendations and refine based on feedback.
• Create buildable documentation and coordinate with drafters and suppliers.
• Collaborate with project coordinators and trade partners through planning and build.
• Guide clients through decisions, balancing aesthetics with budgeting and schedule.

Skills

Residential design experience

Design judgment

Client communication

Organization

Collaboration

Tools

Chief Architect

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Revit

Illustrator

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

The Opportunity

At IHR, our Interior Designers are more than designers. They are thoughtful guides who help homeowners turn the way they want to live into beautiful, functional, and buildable homes.We are looking for a Residential Interior Designer with a strong foundation in residential design who is ready to take meaningful ownership of the design process. You may have developed your experience primarily in a traditional design studio, architecture firm, or the design phase of projects. You do not need to have already managed every aspect of a design-build project from early programming through construction completion. What matters is that you are excited to learn how thoughtful design decisions connect to planning, construction, investment, schedule, and the finished client experience.You will work closely with homeowners to understand their goals, develop cohesive design solutions, guide them through key decisions, and help move each project from concept into clear, buildable documentation. You will collaborate with IHR’s Project Coordinator, Drafter, Site Superintendent, suppliers, and trade partners, gaining direct exposure to the integrated design-build process.This is an opportunity for a capable designer who loves creating exceptional residential spaces and wants to deepen their project leadership, construction collaboration, and client‑guidance skills within an established team.

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 You Will Do

Understand the Client and Their Home

Participate in client discovery meetings, site visits, and design conversations to understand homeowners’ goals, lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, priorities, and how they want their home to function. Ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully so design recommendations reflect what matters most to the client. Study the existing home’s architecture, layout, constraints, and opportunities with guidance from the project team. Develop Thoughtful Design SolutionsCreate cohesive design concepts that balance beauty, function, architecture, lifestyle, investment priorities, and buildability. Develop space plans, layouts, material palettes, finish selections, cabinetry concepts, millwork details, lighting intent, fixtures, furnishings, renderings, and visual presentations appropriate to the project. Prepare and present design recommendations that help homeowners understand the possibilities for their home. Refine designs in response to client feedback, existing conditions, and input from the project team.

Guide Client Decisions

Build trusted relationships with clients by being prepared, responsive, curious, and clear. Lead or co-lead design presentations, showroom visits, material and finish selections, and site walkthroughs. Explain the reasoning behind recommendations in an accessible, confident manner. Help clients navigate options and tradeoffs while seeking support on complex investment, schedule, or construction decisions.

Create Clear, Buildable Documentation

Develop or coordinate floor plans, interior elevations, cabinetry layouts, finish plans, specifications, visual presentations, and other design documentation required for planning and construction. Work closely with IHR’s Drafter and project team so design intent is translated into accurate, usable construction information. Maintain organized selections, specifications, and design decisions so the team can find the right information when needed. Identify unanswered questions, potential conflicts, or incomplete decisions early and bring them forward for resolution.

Collaborate Through Planning and Build

Work closely with the Project Coordinator, Drafter, Site Superintendent, clients, suppliers, and trade partners. Participate in project meetings and site walkthroughs when design input, clarification, or client decisions are needed. Learn how design decisions affect construction feasibility, existing conditions, material availability, lead times, cost, and schedule. Assist in responding to design questions during construction and help evaluate alternatives when field conditions or product availability require a change. Stay connected to the project through completion and help protect the overall design vision.

Grow With IHR

Bring curiosity and ideas to the continued development of IHR’s design capabilities. Seek feedback, build fluency in the design-build process, and take on increasing responsibility over time. Contribute to improvements in design standards, presentations, documentation, client communication, tools, and workflows. Stay informed about residential design trends, materials, products, and best practices.

What We Are Looking For

Residential Design Experience

Experience as a professional interior designer in residential remodeling, high-end residential design, architecture, hospitality, or a comparable design environment is valuable. Traditional design-phase experience is welcome.

Design Judgment

The ability to create thoughtful, beautiful, functional spaces that respond to a client’s lifestyle, the home’s architecture, and project goals.

Exceptional Client Communication

The ability to listen carefully, build trust, communicate recommendations clearly, and guide clients through design decisions with empathy and professionalism.

Technical Design Ability

Experience creating or coordinating space plans, elevations, cabinetry or millwork concepts, specifications, renderings, and other design communication materials. Experience with Chief Architect is preferred. Experience with AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, Illustrator, or comparable professional design software is also relevant.

Organization and Follow Through

The ability to manage multiple design priorities, maintain attention to detail, and follow decisions through to resolution.

Collaboration

A genuine interest in working closely with project coordinators, drafters, site