Today we’d like to introduce you to Terri Brien.
Hi Terri, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for design started when I spent summers with my grandparents. I was born in Alaska, but they lived in California, and my grandmother and I would watch old Hollywood movies together. I was enamored by the glamorous sets and how they made you feel. In 7th grade, I had the opportunity to take an introduction to interior design elective, and from that point on, I knew that was the path I wanted to follow.
I’ve now been in residential design for over 20 years, starting off as a design assistant and then working my way up to the designer role and eventually managing a team of up to 7 designers. Before going out on my own in 2022, managing and mentoring a team of designers, all while handling my own projects, taught me the importance of process, clear communication, and guiding clients through what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming experience. Balancing my own client load while managing a team under pressure to push projects forward quickly often came at the expense of both creative freedom and the client experience.
In 2022, I launched Terri Brien Interiors with the goal of creating space for more creativity and providing clients with a truly elevated experience. I wanted the freedom to be thoughtful and intentional in every aspect, from the way we layer textures and materials to the way we guide clients through renovations, new builds, and furnishings. My approach is centered on listening: understanding how someone lives, what brings them comfort, and how their home needs to function. From there, I craft designs that balance beauty with practicality, while layering in warmth, texture, and character.
Looking back, it’s been a combination of experience, passion, and trust from wonderful clients that’s brought me here. Today, I’m grateful to run a studio that not only reflects my design philosophy but also allows me to create homes that truly feel like a peaceful retreat for the families who live in them.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. In the beginning, I slowed myself down by focusing too much on perfection, wanting flawless systems, thoroughly documented processes, the perfect website, branding, and collateral before really going after projects. There’s nothing wrong with those things, but I let the idea of perfection hold me back when what I really needed was to just begin.
Even now, I’m always learning and staying current with the latest design business tools, but I’ve learned not to let that stop me from moving forward. Another challenge is that Southern California has no shortage of interior designers, so standing out in a very crowded space has been an ongoing process. What’s helped me most is leaning into my years of experience and my ability to collaborate seamlessly with trades. Once clients or trade partners start talking with me about a project, they quickly see the depth of knowledge and experience I bring to the table , and that has been the biggest differentiator.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Terri Brien Interiors is a full-service residential design studio based in San Clemente. We work on everything from renovations and ground-up construction to furnishing and styling projects. What I really want people to know about our work is that it’s not just about creating a beautiful space for the sake of beauty. It’s abouttaking the learnings from our on-boarding process on our clients daily routines and then creating homes that work for them. Elevated yet livable, layered with warmth, texture, and character.
We specialize in thoughtful, intentional design that reflects the way our clients actually live. I spend a lot of time listening and understanding how a space should function before we ever get to finishes or furnishings. That balance of practicality and beauty is what makes our work feel approachable but refined.
What sets us apart is the combination of experience, attention to details, passion for design and collaboration. With more than 20 years in residential design, I bring a depth of knowledge to every project, but I also believe the best outcomes happen when everyone is working together – clients, designers, builders, and trades. That spirit of collaboration is something I’m proud of, and it shows in the relationships we build along the way.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that our studio has developed a point of view that feels thoughtful, warm, soulful, and personal. While we’re flexible in working within a range of aesthetics – from transitional to a warm modern, or with European, Spanish, or Mediterranean influence – the common thread is always the use of natural materials like stone and wood, along with details like millwork and handcrafted artisanal elements that bring life and character to a space. We travel both in the US and aborad to visit suppliers and sources in order to bring highly curated offerings that you don’t see everday to our projects. What ties it all together is an intentional approach that makes each home feel curated and uniquely designed for the people who live there.
For readers, what I want you to know is that working with our studio means more than just getting a beautifully finished design. It means having a trusted partner to guide you through the entire process – helping you avoid overwhelm, making thoughtful decisions at each stage, and ensuring the end result feels like home. We don’t do cookie cutter design as we feel each home we design should be as unqiue as those who live in it. We want our clients to be happy with not only how their home looks but how it functions long after the glow of the reveal has faded.
How do you think about luck?
I wouldn’t say luck has been the biggest factor in my journey. It’s not that I don’t believe in it, but I know that most of what I’ve achieved has come from working really hard and staying committed to my core beliefs. I’m constantly learning, whether it’s through conferences, conventions, design retreats, and even sourcing products abroad. I also put a lot of energy into building and nurturing relationships with trades and brands, which has led to contractors I respect referring clients my way. Those referrals feel fortunate, but they really come from trust and collaboration built over time.
Even my role on the board for the Interior Design Society OC/LA Chapter came about in a way that might seem like chance, but it was really rooted in showing up. Two board members from San Clemente and I began carpooling to events, and since I would arrive early with them, I naturally offered to help with setup. Eventually, they invited, or coerced me to join the board – not because of luck, but because I had proven myself to be dependable and collaborative.
So while I’ve had moments that feel fortunate, I see them more as the result of relationships, effort, and being willing to show up fully.
Pricing:
- Dependent on size and scope of project
Contact Info:
- Website: https://terribrieninteriors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terri.brien.interiors/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerriBrienInteriors
Image Credits
White Oak kitchen with Green Bar, Firepalce, Bedroom: Molly Rose Photo. Green Kitchen: Shleby Bourne Photography. Bahtroom with painted vanity and oak tower: Josh Bustos Photo
