contributed by Amy Johnson [style dominatrix / idea machine / sidekick]
Recipe for a Fabulous Designer: Start with an accountant (no really, stay with me), add equal parts creativity, talent, and determination, throw in a dash of understanding husband, a BFA in Interior Design, and garnish with a great smile and loads of charm. Meet Nancy Luna — the accountant-turned-interior designer who puts the “Star” in this month’s STAR POWER. Literally. She was on TV. But you’ll have to read on to find out more about that escapade.
As a kid, Nancy was always mentally redesigning rooms. When she was old enough to push the furniture around, she started redecorating her bedroom and then her family’s home. Then she became the go-to-gal for friends and family asking advice on paint and wallpaper choices. Art and fashion design were her first loves. But as she grew older, she began visiting her dad’s business and hanging out with his accountant. She showed Nancy how to fill in reports and figure payroll, and Nancy found that she was good at it. With Dad paying for college, she gave in to the pressure to get “a real, paying career,” got her business degree, and began her life as an accountant. An operations accountant, even. About as far as you can get from interior designer.
Road Trip To Her Dream Life
But then, during a fateful road trip, Nancy stumbled across her very first issue of House Beautiful magazine. After devouring it from cover to cover, she had her “eureka” moment — designing interiors was a career! And people got paid for doing it! The design bug was back and stronger than ever. Home she went to convince her husband and family that after 10 years of being a successful accountant she wanted to go back to school and pursue her dream.
Her parents were as practical as ever, advising her to “…go into real estate. That’s where the money is.” Right as they may have been, Nancy’s heart wasn’t in it. Her husband, on the other hand, was willing to work out a plan for how they could make her dream happen. They discussed the sacrifices they would need to make and whether she was truly serious about pursuing this as a long-term career. Nancy knew that when she eventually graduated she’d have an entry-level designer salary — far lower than a seasoned operations accountant’s — and would have only the least-glamorous tasks assigned to her: cleaning the sample room, running for swatches, drafting, and anything else demanded of her. But she felt that starting all over again, while a sacrifice, would be worth it in the end. She was serious, she assured him, so off she went to Art & Design classes on Saturdays at nearby Tarrant County College in Arlington, Texas, while still working as an accountant. Baby steps.
But the bug had bitten hard and Nancy loved her classes. She soon quit accounting to attend the University of North Texas full-time. Her understanding husband even sacrificed his golf habit so they could afford her art supplies. (Does this man have a brother? If so, call me!)
While at school she became involved with the American Society of Interior Designers [ASID] as Public Relations Chair. She’s now an Allied ASID member and is also involved with Texas Association of Interior Designers [TAID]. Making time to get more involved with ASID is currently high on her to-do list. “I think it’s important to be involved with professional organizations. You become familiar with current issues and stay informed on current design legislation as well as getting to know your peers.”
From Barking Frog To Tile Queen
Nancy completed two wildly different, yet both retail-oriented internships while she was in school. She snagged the first internship at a local import furniture store, The Barking Frog, while she was hunting for a grandfather clock for a client. (Enterprising Nancy had clients even while she was a student.) Drawn into the store by its stunning window display, she sweet-talked the owner, who offered design services, into allowing her to submit a resume and become an intern. Nancy did everything from working the sales floor, to going to market as a buyer, to shopping for merchandise, to designing client spaces and creating store displays. Oh, and a little bit of accountant seeped out as she handled accounts payable for her boss — a win-win situation for them both.
After that, Nancy interned at American Tile and became queen of marble and granite. Go ahead, try to stump her! She found this internship through an email sent out by a design grad. Immediately jumping on the chance to learn about the world of tile and flooring, Nancy called American Tile and convinced them to consider a part-time intern, since she was still a full-time design student. Even though this was a retail sales internship, she was asked to bring school project samples to her interview. They must have been floored (sorry, I just couldn’t resist), because she got the internship and went on to learn all there is to know about ceramic and porcelain tiles, marble, and granite. She loved the people and that part of the industry so much that she even considered a position in design sales after graduation.
Baby, I’m A Star!
But the most intense (and rewarding) of all class projects, Nancy tells us, was being chosen to appear on HGTV’s Designer Finals. Talk about having grace under pressure! While still in school — does she ever sleep? — Nancy was selected for an episode of the show that places a homeowner’s room in the hands of a design student from concept to implementation. Check out the stunning results or watch the entire episode.
Full-Fledged Designer (Well, Almost)
Nancy now works full-time as a designer at prestigious Adrienne Morgan Interior Design. (Nancy can’t officially call herself an “interior designer” until she’s passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification [NCIDQ] exam. Passing the NCIDQ is required to become a Registered Interior Designer [RID] in the state of Texas, which has a Title Act.) Adrienne Morgan specializes in high-end residential design services using a mix of antique and contemporary pieces.
The local ASID chapter job bank was the source for this plum job. Nancy had been scouring the site regularly her entire senior year to get a feel for what was out there and at the time, there wasn’t much. She knew she’d need to really sell her skills, her talent, and herself when she graduated. The listing was initially for a temporary position, but Nancy leapt at the opportunity to find any job, especially one conveniently located in Arlington, where she lived. With gas prices skyrocketing last summer, this was a double blessing for our fearless designer. A fabulous double-interview — first with Project Manager Cynthia Jones, then with Adrienne herself — and a couple of nail-biting days of anticipation later, and Nancy was in. So far this “temporary” position has lasted 10 months.
Low Chick On A Fabulous Totem Pole
She may be an entry-level designer, but in this small shop, Nancy’s able to do a little bit of everything. Duties include calls to vendors to place or follow up on orders, or simply to research product. Shopping for a client, checking up on subcontractors, completing AutoCAD drawings, running to the design district to pick up samples or photograph merchandise, making follow-up phone calls to clients — whew! There’s always something (or 20 somethings) to do. Twice-weekly meetings keep the shop running smoothly and everyone up to speed. Nancy’s a whiz at juggling all the tasks on her list as well as all those that aren’t, but just “pop up” throughout each day — the contractor who missed a deadline or the delivery that didn’t get made. What’s the best part about the design industry for this powerhouse? “A typical day is not that typical!”
Ultimately, Nancy’s sure she made the right decision to switch from her left-brain accounting job to her true calling in interior design. Talk with her about design and instantly she radiates happiness and confidence. “My career in design is what I thought it would be and so much more! It’s so satisfying.” If only there were extra hours in each day for Nancy to soak up even more of the design knowledge that she craves. Of Adrienne Morgan Interior Design she says, “This is how I thought it would be, but I’m really fortunate to have found a blossoming firm that I can grow with and allows me to grow with it. I’ve been given the opportunity to work in areas that an entry-level designer may not have in a larger firm.”
School’s Out, But Exams Still Loom
Now about that NCIDQ exam she needs to pass in order to be a licensed interior designer in Texas . . . how’s that coming along? Well, Nancy’s going about that study process with the same organization and determination that she attacked her design degree with — meeting weekly with an IIDA Study Group and blocking out study time on the weekends. “I definitely made the right decision in enrolling [in the study group], the prep information is invaluable.” Something tells me Nancy’s going to do just fine come October.
Now For The Fun Part — What Makes Nancy Tick?
What are your favorite comfort foods? My mom’s red enchiladas and chile con carne with homemade tortillas, of course! If Mom’s not available — chicken salad!
Any summer vacations planned? Galveston, Texas! My whole family (that’s 16 on my side) and my husband and I have rented a beach house for a week. We’ve never done this with the whole family (please pray for me!) — that’s 8 adults and 8 kiddos ranging from 6 months to 19 years old. It should be fun, I’m looking forward to it and I’m sure there will never be a dull moment. In September we plan to go to Mexico for my cousin’s wedding. This will also serve as another short vacation, and I can’t wait!
What’s on YOUR home improvement list? Not much, I really need to get rid of the hundreds of design magazines that I have and start my overdue Spring cleaning. (Um, Nancy — it’s July.) My husband and I plan to start house hunting soon, so I guess purging is at the top of my list.
What will you be reading over the summer? Since I’m prepping for the NCIDQ exam, my recreational reading has been put on hold. Currently on top of my list are David Ballast’s Interior Design Reference Manual, A Guide to the NCIDQ Exam and Simon Reznikoff’s Specifications for Commercial Interiors. Yes, I know, it sounds very exciting!
What do you hope to be doing in 2010? Wow, that’s just four years. Hopefully I’ll be working for Adrienne Morgan Interior Design as a project manager, managing and designing projects. At the moment I want to learn all that I can about interior design and growing with AMID will certainly lead me in the right direction — after all I’m learning from one of the best!
Try your best to stump Nancy Luna with a question on porcelain or ceramic tile, granite, or marble by emailing her at Nancy@amorgandesign.com.
To bridge the gap between the student / educational community and the professional / manufacturer community of the interior design world, and not to die of boredom while we do it.
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Recipe for a Fabulous Designer: Start with an accountant (no really, stay with me), add equal parts creativity, talent, and determination, throw in a dash of understanding husband, a BFA in Interior Design, and garnish with a great smile and loads of charm. Meet Nancy Luna — the accountant-turned-interior designer who puts the “Star” in this month’s STAR POWER. Literally. She was on TV. But you’ll have to read on to find out more about that escapade.
