July 29, 2019

Meet Elizabeth Leahy of Leahy Interior Design in North County

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Leahy.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Elizabeth. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always had a creative side, and even from an early age, I was drawn to artist fields. I spent fifteen years in marketing, and yet, was still searching for more. My last marketing position was with San Diego Home and Garden/Lifestyles magazine. That position ignited a spark in me to pursue a deeper understanding of the creative design process and so I took a decorative arts class at a local community college and before I knew it I was pursuing a degree in Interior Design. Once I completed my education, I was fortunate enough to be selected to participate in the San Diego Historical Society Showcase House, not once, but twice. Interior Design allows me to express myself artistically and technically, while also guiding my clients into the best choices for their ideal space. Once I completed school, I wanted to showcase my technical and business skills and so took, and passed, two national design exams. Conquering these exams substantiated my competency in space planning, kitchen, baths, plumbing, electrical, mechanical systems and corresponding building codes. On that test taking journey, I met like–minded well-educated designers who wanted to stand apart from many decorators found in the marketplace. One of my goals is to educate the consumer about the benefits of working with a designer who has demonstrated competency with an education, experience and examination. It was also important to me to give back to the design community that supported me, and so over a decade ago I submitted photos for a virtual tour the NKBA San Diego Chapter was launching. The president at the time called me and said I was the first person to submit. Since I was that organized, he suggested that I should help with the project. From that point on I was in charge of the virtual tour. The following year I became the VP of Communications. I have also held the positions of Government Relations, Strategic Planning and Academic Relations. I have held the Communications position three times.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Design is an ever changing and fast–moving field. I have to be current on all building code changes and the corresponding technology to showcase those plans to clients. Continuing education is important, and I’ve found myself going back to school to take AutoCad, Revit and now Chief Architect. The consumer wants instant gratification and seeing things in a three–dimensional format is no longer a luxury, but an expectation. A good designer must constantly be looking for the next big technology boom. Virtual reality and augmented reality is now just an app away. These cutting-edge technologies require a time-consuming commitment to learning. Thankfully, I love to learn, so I’m always willing to jump in and find the most efficient way to show my clients the three–dimensional view of their space.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m a collaborative interior designer. I don’t impose my personal aesthetic onto a project, I want my clients voice to be heard, and the look of their home to represent their vision. It’s my job to facilitate that vision, and make sure that all the principals and elements of design are met in each individual space. It’s important to me for my clients to feel that their home is their sanctuary and a respite to come home to at the end of the day. I enjoy working with clients who are willing to take risks and allow me to take them outside of the box. If we don’t allow ourselves to be pushed a bit out of our comfort zone, how else will we grow?

What were you like growing up?
As a little girl I recall spending hours wrapping gifts, so that the wrapping paper alone was a present. I was the little girl that always colored outside of the lines, because experimenting is how learning takes place. As a family, we spent hours in our garden tending to fruit trees, vegetables and blooming flowers. This taught me to look at nature as an ever–evolving place in which we grow. Curiosity is what keeps us young.

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