Today we’d like to introduce you to Lataira Wilson.
Hi Lataira, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I actually got started in interior design in August of 2020, when I reached out to Haute & Polished Designs. At the time, I was in college pursuing my degree in photography, but I had also always been interested in interiors. I grew up watching HGTV and going through model homes with my mom, always having an opinion about the décor and what I would do differently. But outside of that, I really didn’t have any formal design experience.
My original goal was actually to combine photography with home staging. I imagined eventually having my own business where I could stage a property and also handle the photography, so I wanted to get hands-on experience in interior design rather than only learning about it from a distance.
That’s what pushed me to Tishelle on Instagram and ask if she needed an intern. Thankfully, she gave me the opportunity, and I’ve been with Haute & Polished ever since.
When I first started, I was really learning everything from the ground up—understanding the direction of the firm, helping with mood boards, learning how to put different elements together, and figuring out what my own design style was. When I look back at some of my earliest designs compared to what I create now, I can really see the difference. Back then, I didn’t necessarily have a clear direction. Now, after years of experience, I’ve developed a much stronger design eye and a better understanding of how to take a client’s vision and elevate it.
That’s something I’ve really learned about design: it’s not just about what I like. It’s about collaborating with the client, understanding what they want, and then bringing my own creativity and expertise to it so that the final design feels elevated and intentional.
Today, I’m a Junior Interior Designer, and I’ve started leading projects from beginning to end. That’s been a huge part of my growth because I’m getting more experience with the entire process—not only designing, but also being client-facing, handling procurement, communicating my ideas, and becoming more confident and firm in my design decisions and the value I bring to a project.
I’m also still in school. I earned my associate’s degree in photography, and now I’m pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Spanish. I’ve always had an interest in Spanish, but working on our project in Playa del Carmen, Mexico really reinforced for me how valuable learning another language can be. It opens doors professionally and personally, and it’s a skill that no one can take away from you.
So, when I think about where I started versus where I am now, it’s really been a process of discovery. I came in knowing almost nothing about the actual interior design industry, and I’ve learned so much through experience, mistakes, opportunities, and simply doing the work. Now I’m leading projects, working directly with clients, continuing my education, and becoming much more confident in who I am as a designer. It’s definitely been a roller coaster, but a really rewarding one.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say that the journey has been completely smooth, but I also wouldn’t say that the challenges came from not enjoying the work. For me, the roughest part was really my confidence.
When I first started, I knew very little about the actual interior design industry. There were terminologies I didn’t know, processes I didn’t understand, and honestly, there are still things I’m learning today. But I think that’s true in every industry. Things are constantly evolving. Processes change, technology changes, and now we’re all learning how to navigate things like AI within our industries. You’re never really finished learning.
In the beginning, though, not knowing made me extremely timid. I was basically my principal designer’s shadow. You could see me, but you probably weren’t going to hear much from me. I wanted to absorb everything, but I was also afraid of saying the wrong thing or speaking on something I didn’t fully understand.
I think part of that insecurity also came from knowing that I didn’t take the traditional route into interior design. I didn’t go to school for design. I didn’t have a degree or certification telling me, “You’re qualified to do this.” I interned at a firm because I wanted hands-on experience, and I learned by actually doing the work.
For a while, it was difficult to validate myself because I was comparing my path to people who had that formal education. Eventually, I had to recognize that my experience is also a form of education. I’ve made mistakes and learned from them. I’ve worked directly with clients. I’ve been involved in projects from beginning to end. I’ve handled procurement and worked with contractors. I’ve even worked internationally in Mexico, helping navigate contractors, selections, schedules, and execution. Those experiences taught me things that I couldn’t have learned without actually being in those situations.
I also realized that when a client hires you, they’re not necessarily asking where you went to school. They want to know: Can you understand my vision? Can you execute it? Can you solve problems when they come up? And at the end of the day, can you create a space that I love?
That’s where my confidence started to shift.
What has made the journey smoother is the environment I’ve had at Haute & Polished Designs. Tishel has created an environment where I’ve been able to learn, ask questions, make mistakes, and take on different roles. She’s gradually given me more responsibility and allowed me to be heard, while also being there to correct me when I need it. Having that support has allowed me to build confidence through actual experience instead of feeling like I needed to know everything before I could participate.
And I’ve learned that it’s okay not to know something. Ask the question. It’s okay to say something incorrectly. Learn from it and get it right the next time. It’s okay to make a mistake. Make note of it and don’t repeat it.
So I would say the roughest part of my journey has been learning to trust myself and recognize the value of the experience I’ve gained. The smoothest part has been having an environment that allowed me to grow through those uncomfortable moments.
Now, I’m much more comfortable with the fact that design is always going to require you to pivot. Something changes with a client, a contractor, a product, a schedule—you adjust. At this point, we’re pivot masters. And through every change, the goal is still to execute with excellence.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We work across residential, commercial, and international interior design projects, and my role allows me to be involved in pretty much every stage of that process.
As a Junior Interior Designer, I’m part of a project from start to finish. That can begin with speaking to a potential client when they first express interest in working with us and helping guide them through what our process looks like. From there, I’m curating mood boards, developing the design direction, sourcing pieces, presenting designs to clients, communicating with vendors and contractors, and helping with the execution of the project through installation day.
I think what sets me apart is actually how I entered this industry. I didn’t come into interior design already knowing everything or through the traditional design-school route. I started as an intern with very little knowledge of the industry and learned through hands-on experience. I had to ask questions, make mistakes, accept constructive criticism, observe, and continuously apply what I was learning.
Now, I’ve gone from being that intern to actually leading projects, and I’m also the head of our internship program. That’s something that’s really meaningful to me because I was the firm’s first intern. When I started developing the program for the interns who came after me, I thought about both what I had when I was starting out and what I wish I would have had. I try to combine those things to create an experience that’s tailored to each intern, because not everyone comes in wanting the exact same career. Someone may already have an idea of the direction they want to go in, and I want their experience with us to help them explore and develop that.
What I’m most proud of, though, is my growth.
I went from knowing almost nothing about the professional side of interior design to being trusted to lead full projects and communicate my design decisions to clients, vendors, and contractors. I’m proud that I’ve learned how to receive constructive criticism without allowing it to discourage me. I can take that feedback, figure out what needs to change, and use it to become better.
And I’m still developing my confidence. One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed in myself is that I’m learning not to constantly second-guess my decisions. I’m becoming more confident in my design eye, my experience, and what I bring to the table. I think being able to look back at where I started and compare that person to the designer I am today is probably what I’m most proud of.
How do you think about happiness?
Honestly, serving others makes me happy. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can’t serve people all day, nor would I want to! But I’ve realized that I genuinely enjoy seeing people happy and knowing that I was able to contribute to that in some way.
One of the biggest ways I’ve always done that is through cooking. I come from a family of six, so I’ve been cooking for a decent amount of people since I was young. There’s something really rewarding about preparing a meal, putting it in front of everyone, and seeing people genuinely enjoy something that I made. Food has always been one of those things that brings people together in my family.
Recently, my mom and I actually started creating a family recipe book that we can keep in the kitchen and eventually pass down. Now that the first grandson is here, I think we’re looking at family traditions a little differently and thinking more about what we want to preserve for the next generation. I love the idea that one day someone in our family could open that same book and make a recipe that we’ve been making for years.
So I think what makes me happiest is creating experiences for other people, whether that’s through food, helping someone when I can, or simply doing something that makes someone smile. There’s a sense of fulfillment I get from knowing that something I did made another person’s day a little better. And when that can also preserve a tradition or create a memory, that makes it even more meaningful to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hauteandpolisheddesigns.com
- Instagram: hauteandpolisheddesigns
- Facebook: hauteandpolisheddesigns
- LinkedIn: hauteandpolisheddesigns
