Why My TV Design Experience Almost Cost Me a Client

What started as a perceived red flag turned into the perfect chance to explain how we do things differently.

Recently, I had a call with a potential client inquiring about our professional interior design services. This individual was a practical, detail-oriented thinker and came from a no-nonsense industry that didn’t value “fluff”. 

During our discovery call, they paused and said something that stuck with me: “Please don’t take this the wrong way but seeing that you’ve worked on TV made me wonder if that’s really the kind of attention you’d want to bring to yourself.” They went on to describe shows like Trading Spaces or While You Were Out—programs where the results often felt entertainment-driven, lacking depth, and certainly not focused on creating lasting, functional spaces for real families.

And you know what? I loved that feedback.

It gave me the chance to talk about it and inspired me to write this blog post 

In an age where influencers, ads, and perfectly curated feeds are everywhere, authenticity often gets lost in the scroll.

But I’ve always stood firm (sometimes to my credit, sometimes to my own frustration) in only working on things I believe in—if I don’t I either won’t do it, or I won’t endorse it. Period. 

My first experience with design on reality TV came straight out of university, when I was applying as an intern at a design firm I long admired. When I reached the application page, there was a twist: instead of sending in a résumé, applicants were asked to  audition live for  a new reality series.

I remember thinking, OK, cool. I have nothing to lose. If I don’t get the gig, it’s not meant to be. Whatever the outcome, I figured, someone might see my work, and I’d benefit from some exposure.

Spoiler alert: I made the cut—and the experience shaped so much of how I operate as a designer to this day. It taught me how to think like a designer, source and organize information efficiently, manage timelines and expectations, and—let’s be honest—how to show up and carry myself professionally, even on camera. This wasn’t an internship. It was essentially a designer bootcamp.

Years later, when I was approached again to participate in a new series, I was excited—but discerning. What drew me in wasn’t the promise of airtime, but the integrity of the brand: a commitment to investing in the right professionals for the job—not the lowest bidder, or the guy with a cousin in construction. I had worked hard to earn my title as a licensed interior designer, and I wasn’t about to toss that aside for 15 minutes of fame.

Even within the time crunch and production constraints of TV, I always made it my mission to design homes that reflected my clients’ individual needs and lifestyles.

I took pride in leaving each family I was assigned to with a space that truly worked for them functionally, aesthetically, and emotionally. Many of those homeowners have reached out to let me know how much they still love their spaces, or to refer new clients, and that means everything to me.

TV design isn’t without its challenges. Were there moments we had to re-film scenes or stage decisions for storylines and dramatic effect? Of course. Did we work within budgets, source from partner brands, and receive the occasional donated product? Yes, yes, and yes. But none of that ever changed my approach: my designs had to be real, and they had to work for real people—period.

As someone who has been behind-the-scenes and in front of the camera, I believe these TV shows have the capacity to shape the perceptions of entire industries, which is why authenticity is so important.  When done right, they can be an incredible platform to educate, inspire, and uplift, and I feel producers have a duty to portray professional settings as accurately.

So, the next time you see “as seen on TV” in my bio, know that it was never about the drama or the spotlight. It was about the joy of using my skills—on screen or off—to create meaningful, livable, beautiful spaces that truly serve the people who live in them. And I’m proud of that phase of my career. I learned so much, got to work with some awesome people, and it was a pretty cool experience overall.

Curious about how we bring joy and function to every space—on TV and in real life? Let’s chat

Click here to book a discovery call or explore how we can design your next dream space together.