You know that moment on renovation shows when they swing the first sledgehammer and everything suddenly feels exciting? Here’s the thing they never show: the magic that happens WELL before the first hammer hits the wall.

If your first taste of interior design came from binge-watching HGTV, you’re not alone. The before-and-after reveals, the dramatic demos, the impossibly fast turnarounds — it's TV magic at its finest. But here's the thing: while HGTV makes for great entertainment, it often skips the most important part of a design project — reality.

Have you ever walked into a room and felt an immediate, unexplainable sense of calm? Perhaps it was a corner bathed in the warm glow of morning sun, or the quiet presence of a leafy plant. As an interior designer, I can tell you this feeling is no accident. It’s the result of a space that works in harmony with your biology. It’s a design that speaks to the ancient blueprint hardwired into our brains.