Moving Beyond Titles to True Partnership

The other day, our firm got a call from a colleague with a referral for a new architecture project.

Even though I launched this firm thirteen years ago and operate as its managing partner, the message wasn’t left for me. It was left for my spouse, Sean, because he carries the title "Architect." It wasn't the first time, and it won’t be the last.

Historically, this has been the standard blueprint of the industry: defaulting to the familiar title and traditional gender dynamics rather than looking at the actual engine running the firm. But to think that interior design is separate from architecture—or that there isn't massive structural and operational overlap—is to miss out on the full spectrum of great design. An architect can certainly do interior design, just as an interior designer can handle a lighting plan. But a specialized practitioner will always bring a deeper, more granular thoroughness to the table. Our firm offers highly specialized consideration to interior space planning, functionality, and custom finishes. True success requires both: the visionary design and the airtight business infrastructure that brings it to life. When we recognize both halves of that equation, the entire profession elevates.

The Search Engine Syllabus

If you open an image search right now and type in "interior design," you are served a very specific visual syllabus: swatches of fabric, white women, and decor.

Type in "architect," and you find white men, technical drawings, and—my personal favorite—drawings featuring a paint deck. Apparently, the algorithm thinks an architect can effortlessly do both, but all an interior designer can do is pick the pretty things.

And, of course, the search engines tell us we’re a homogeneous group. We are white, but we also recognize that we have a responsibility to create systemic change and foster a more inclusive field. Waldron Designs is fully up for that journey!

The reality of what actually goes into high-level interior design is miles away from that superficial stereotype. While the external coordination with structural engineers and HVAC specialists is vital and traditionally celebrated, the incredible technical rigor and micro-detailing required for interior execution deserve an equal seat at the table.

We don't just write "wood paneling" on a drawing and walk away. We have to know exactly what wood species is being used, how it is finished, and how that specific finish will tonally match the unfinished pine that comes on the window interiors because the manufacturer only offers three options. We have to map out exactly how those selections interact with a client's budget, which might only allow for a lower-tier cabinetry choice offering three specific wood finishes. How do they all match?

Beyond the finishes, how do you ensure the under-cabinet lighting is detailed perfectly so it provides actual task lighting without casting shadows or being visible to an occupant sitting across the room? How will the tile boundary terminate against the wall when the manufacturer doesn't offer a pencil liner, because falling back on a standard metal Schluter strip for every single project is simply lazy design and may be inappropriate for a custom style? We have to ensure floor tile is properly slip-resistant for wet environments, while calculating how to ensure it dries quickly enough to prevent grout mildew.

Despite what homeowners think when they come to us daily and say they want to select the finishes and fixtures themselves and just have us do the "architectural work," we don’t just pick pretty things. In fact, we spend the least amount of time making sure it’s pretty and the most amount of time making sure it’s safe, functional, meets code, feels warm, doesn’t create glare, doesn’t contribute to global warming, contributes to healthy indoor air, and supports our needs as our lifestyles change—and yes, all of that lives in the finishes alone! The fixtures have to meet rigorous code requirements, from damp-rated fixtures in bathrooms to scale evaluations before purchasing online (something I occasionally forget to follow for myself at home when I slip into being a "consumer" and forget to be a designer).

Elevating the "Housework" to Systemic Excellence

After spending years working alongside architects, I’ve seen that traditional practice often relies on "Performance Specifications"—basically, 'pick whatever you want, but here are the rules.' An interior designer will lose their reputation working that way. Every single selection has to actually work with the next and consider the macro picture. Real, granular execution lives in the interior details. I don't just specify finishes; I draw them, research them, and vet every manufacturer to ensure their products don't off-gas. I make sure that cabinet hardware won’t snag on clothing and can be gripped if and when arthritis kicks in.

Then, I purchase on behalf of the client. That takes a standard service industry role and pushes it directly into the complex world of sourcing, procurement, financial review, budgeting, and endless paperwork. We don’t just select a sofa. We select the fill, the construction, the piping, the stitching techniques, the fabric, and the direction of the fabric, while confirming the fabric repeat so we don’t end up with unsightly seams. We ensure the window treatment adjacency to heat sources is evaluated for safety while still hitting on that full wall of curtains our client dreams of. Somehow, we have to take every detail of a home to that granular level and be sure that the client approves those granular decisions without overwhelming them.

Sean is a brilliant, artistic designer, but if you gave him a test on what our standard operating procedures entail or how our legal liability contracts are structured, he would fail it, and that’s okay because that is not his role!  I am the partner who manages our contracts, handles the hiring, reviews our marketing architecture, and establishes how many projects we can handle versus when they need to go on a waiting list. Running a multi-disciplinary firm successfully means that when you want to know if we can take on your architecture project, you truly need to talk to both of us. It’s more than the design. It’s the process, the management, and the logistics.

Sharing the Spotlight

Years ago, when Sean completed his Master of Architecture, his family traveled from out of state to celebrate his magnificent milestone. I treated him and his brother to skydiving. When I completed my Master of Business Administration, while simultaneously giving birth to one child and caring for a toddler, it was casually suggested that I skip my own ceremony because "we were just too busy."

I’ve won awards and missed the ceremonies. I’ve watched people ooh and aah over the accomplishments of always-visible exterior architecture, while the interiors are sometimes hidden behind closed doors by clients who request total privacy, opting out of the contractually agreed-upon photography rights.

But the future of design isn't about keeping score of the past; it is about rewriting how we value work going forward.

The Blueprint for Allyship: How White, Male Architects Can Lead the Change

If we want to build an industry that attracts and retains the best talent, we need to create an environment of mutual respect, clarity, and collaboration. For the white, male architects who currently hold the majority of leadership roles in the profession, being a part of this positive change is straightforward, actionable, and deeply impactful:

• Audit the Introductions: When kicking off a project or answering a referral, explicitly introduce your multi-disciplinary partners as equals. If a client defaults to looking only at you because of your title, explicitly redirect the conversation: "My managing partner handles our contract architecture and operations; you need to speak with her directly."

• Share the Creative and Operational Stage: True allyship means stepping back so others can step up. Ensure that the women and professionals of color in your firms are leading high-profile presentations, client interactions, and design reviews—not just managing the backend documentation.

• Model Humility and Awareness: When you observe a partner minimizing their accomplishments or being overly humble, mirror this behavior by minimizing your own visible status or accomplishments to create balance. Avoid the appearance of constant bragging, which can be perceived as being "blissfully unaware" of others' contributions.

• Value the Interior with Equal Weight: Recognize that granular finish specifications, space planning, and interior detailing require the same technical prowess as structural envelope design. Treat interior detailing and space planning as non-negotiable components, understanding that the architectural vision cannot be fully realized or functional without the interior counterpart's specific technical expertise.

• Model Professional Boundaries: Cultivate a workplace culture where professionalism is maintained with absolute clarity. Professional respect is a baseline of equality; ensure that job sites, client meetings, and social events are safe, respectful spaces where every practitioner is valued for their expertise.

Our firm is highly successful because we pair a brilliant, artistic vision with an unshakeable business infrastructure. The future of the built environment doesn't belong to isolated titles or outdated hierarchies; it belongs to integrated, collaborative teams who understand that the space we live on the inside is just as important as the structure we see from the outside. Let’s build that future together.

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