Valerie Schmieder
Principal Interior Designer, ASID, IIDA, NCIDQ
Why did you choose your career in Interior Design?
My passion for design started in my childhood. I was influenced by both my parents who lived design everyday as owners of a furniture store in northwestern Illinois. Our dinnertime talk often revolved around design banter, planning someone’s new home or remodel. Design is truly in my blood.
What is the best design advice you've been given?
Know the rules, and know when to break them.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is a toss up between the schematic design phase and the installation phase. The art of problem solving to create a design that reflects a client’s vision is most rewarding, but seeing it come to fruition is the enduring reward.
Staff Says:
Val’s mind never stops churning. She can sketch and design while problem solving and coming up with a new, brilliant concept.