Everyone wishes they could have a brain that could design the interior of a home to absolute perfection. The simple fact is we don’t all have those creative inclinations, so professional help is often a non-negotiable.

Cintia Dixon is the founder and principal designer of Tlina Design – a interior design firm that offers a comprehensive range of professional services and staging.

Cintia was able to answer a few of our questions about her business, Tlina Design and the wider interior design industry.

Cintia, where did your passion for interior design originate?

I grew up in Salvador, Brazil, where I was captivated by the Brazilian culture. Food festivals, street markets, music and colourful clothing surrounded me. For me, it was almost impossible to not fall in love with the city. Because of my early childhood, I developed a keen eye for all things related to design and colours. I’ve been chasing my passion ever since.

How do you hone your craft and passion?

Everyone has to start somewhere. Whilst we all want to reach our goals as quickly as possible, the simple fact is it takes time, effort and dedication to get there. I studied hard at university and attained a Bachelor’s degree in hospitality. With this degree in hand, I managed to get an event planning job at a popular resort in Salvador.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without working hard at university and in my early work. For me, the most important thing is to be willing to accept feedback and work hard. If you are considering a career in interior design, you need to be willing to experiment and push the boundaries.

What makes Tlina Design different?

One of the big things that differentiates our firm from others is our commitment to our clients’ vision and functionality. We welcome new perspectives on living and working environments, dispensing with aesthetic agendas in the hope of offering an interior design that works well with our clients. For us, it’s about tailoring your interior design solutions – balancing progressive design with sensible, practical traditionalism. Clients often come to us looking for the best home for the most affordable rate. We endeavour to balance these two goals as best as we can.

How important is client collaboration in your design process?

Client collaboration is arguably one of the most important aspects of our line of work. It’s important to keep in mind that a well-designed home is never static. On the contrary, a beautifully-designed home is dynamic and always changing. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t build in elements that are timeless and never go out of fashion. The best homes do this.

Our process begins with a definitive design concept, which we create in conjunction with the client. At the end of the day, the client’s needs exceed anything else, so it’s very important that we listen and respond. Adapting to different client needs is crucial when it comes to interior design. Our brand promise is to guarantee high-quality services, underpinned by a seamless customer experience that is fun and stress-free.

How would you describe your firm’s design style?

While we can certainly work across a wide variety of different interior designs, I believe that classic contemporary would be our most popular and effective design scheme. Indeed, classic contemporary is built on simplicity and timelessness. It plays on texture, clean lines and simple colours and tones.

We take the basic elements of this and apply it to more calculating principles, like scale, rhythm and contrast. The result is a highly functional and engaging space that works well for you. We want our clients to have long-lasting memories in their homes. Having a beautiful home that you love and admire is a key assurance for this to happen.

What would be your advice to people contemplating a career in interior design?

Working in interior design can be stressful and tiring – there’s no doubt about that. But it can be an incredibly rewarding career if you have a passion for it. Interior design is very much a career where you need to be properly invested and passionate about what you do.

Another piece of advice would be to explore all your options. Learn as much as you can about the field – whether that be through education or practical experience. You should talk to as many people in the industry as possible. Talking to established figures can help you pick up some good tips and tricks about designing the best homes.

Tlina Design is a great and reliable interior design firm. They’ve worked across a range of styles and rooms, while focusing primarily on blending contemporarily vibes with traditional classicism. If you think your home could do with a makeover, then make sure you get in touch with the team at Tlina Design for a consultation.

We would like to thank Cintia for answering a few of our questions about Tlina Design and the interior design industry. You can follow up with Cintia at www.tlinadesign.com