Interior Design Tutor Specializing in Finishes and Styling

Cynette S.

I am an interior designer with over forty years of experience. I started my journey in interior design in 1975 when I enrolled in Stevens College as an interior design major in Columbia, Missouri. At that time, interior design students had to compile color boards and draft plans, interior elevations, and perspective drawings by hand to complete their coursework. This handwork helped me develop a strong connection between my ideas and the space, which is essential in creating meaningful interiors.

After graduation, I gained confidence in designing spaces because I had made a hand-to-mind connection through my educational experience. Although we now use computer-aided drafting (CAD) to design, using similar approaches to tackle design projects is still crucial. I use the same teaching methods to mentor interns and tutor students, helping them understand material selection and application methods to solidify their designs. For instance, while we now source materials online, collecting samples from vendors and seeing the materials you bring into your design is still vital. It's also more fun to hold materials you plan on using than seeing a picture! While students have limited access to physical resources, we can still focus on bridging the design concept with the interior finish selections and following the idea through the project.

In addition to my forty years of experience in interior design, I also have four years of experience teaching art to elementary, middle, and high school students in a classroom setting. My students worked in several mediums, including acrylic and watercolor painting. I bring my focus on interior design to helping students understand the environments they are creating. I am always ready to assist and mentor in finish selection, style compilation, making specification books, and scheduling. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message. I'm here to help you.