Andi Leon turned a longtime interest in homes and interiors into a career in design after attending Heritage School of Interior Design. Since graduating, she has gained experience across residential design and custom home construction and launched her own interior design studio, Dandi Studios. We caught up with Andi to hear more about her path into the industry, her experience at HSID, and what she’s building today.
Tell us about your background and what led you to interior design.
I was born and raised in Bellevue, Washington, and have always been drawn to homes, interiors, and the way a space can make you feel. I attended Biola University in Southern California, where I played collegiate softball and graduated in 2019 with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing Management.
After graduating, I moved back to the Seattle area and began working in home staging. Around that same time, I started at Heritage School of Interior Design Seattle by taking the Fundamentals of Interior Design course. When COVID changed so much of everyday life, I decided to use that season to pursue design more seriously and continued at HSID to earn my Master Certification.
Growing up, I never would have described myself as a creative person. I always associated creativity with being artistic, but I was constantly rearranging my bedroom, moving furniture around, and thinking about how a room could look or feel different. As I got older, I realized creativity can show up in so many different ways, and interior design became that outlet for me.
What ultimately drew me to design as a career is that it goes so much deeper than making things look good. Our homes are the backdrop to so much of our lives. There is something really meaningful about getting to help create those spaces for people.
How did your experience at HSID prepare you for your career?
My experience at Heritage School of Interior Design really gave me the foundation I needed to take my interest in interiors and begin turning it into an actual career.
One of the things I appreciated most was how approachable and applicable the program felt. My biggest takeaway was the technical skills set I developed. Learning how to sketch plans and work in programs like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Revit gave me tools that I still use in my work today.
Those skills became especially valuable as I moved into residential construction and custom homes. Understanding how to read and create drawings, communicate design intent, and work within programs used throughout the industry helped prepare me for opportunities that came after HSID.
There is so much about interior design that you continue to learn through hands-on experience, and I am still learning every day, but Heritage gave me the tools and foundation to get started.
What has your career path looked like since HSID?
After completing the Master’s Program, I became a design assistant for Michelle Yorke and later Andrea Braund. I learned so much from both of them about the design process, working with clients, custom furniture, and the level of detail that goes into creating a thoughtful home.
I went on to work for a spec-home builder and then a custom-home builder, where I gained a completely different perspective through construction, new builds, and working alongside builders and trades.
In 2022, I took a leap of faith and started Dandi Studios. I’ve continued building Dandi alongside my work in the custom-home industry, and I’m now working toward growing the business into my full-time career.
Looking back, I can see how each experience gave me something I would eventually need. At the time, I couldn’t always see how all the pieces would connect, but I’m incredibly grateful for the journey so far.
Tell us about Dandi Studios and what you’re working on now.
Currently, I’m focused on continuing to grow Dandi Studios and have several exciting residential projects underway throughout the greater Seattle area.
One project I’m especially excited about is Shore Lane, a new construction custom home on Lake Sammamish. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved from the early design phases, selecting and designing everything from cabinetry, lighting, plumbing, tile, stone, flooring, and architectural details to the furniture and finishing touches that will eventually bring the entire home together.
Projects like Shore Lane are exactly the type of work I hope to continue growing through Dandi. I love having the opportunity to work on a home from construction through furnishings and seeing all of those individual decisions eventually come together as one cohesive space.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
There have been a lot of small moments along the way that I’m proud of, but two projects in particular have felt like milestones for Dandi Studios.
Meydenbauer Bay was a full-home remodel overlooking Meydenbauer Bay in Bellevue. We made significant changes throughout the home, including a major structural change in the kitchen that completely opened up the space and changed the way the home functions. Seeing that project completed and professionally photographed was one of those moments where I could step back and really see how far Dandi had come.
Another project I’m really proud of is Robb Lane, a kitchen remodel in Phoenix, Arizona, completed through virtual design and consulting. Being able to successfully design and help execute a project in another state gave me a lot of confidence in what Dandi could become and showed me that the business did not necessarily have to be limited by location.
More than anything, I’m proud of seeing Dandi continue to grow. Every completed project, client who trusts me with their home, referral, and new opportunity feels like another small milestone.
What are your future goals for Dandi Studios?
My biggest career goal is to continue growing Dandi Studios into my full-time career and build a design studio known for thoughtful, highly personal residential interiors.
I would love to continue taking on larger-scale custom homes, new construction, full-home remodels, and furnishing projects where I can be involved from the earliest design decisions through the final installation.
While the Pacific Northwest will always be home, I would also love to continue expanding Dandi beyond the Seattle area and take on projects nationwide. Ultimately, I want to keep creating beautiful work, continue learning, build strong relationships within the industry, and grow Dandi in a way that feels intentional and sustainable.
What advice would you give someone pursuing a career in interior design?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. It’s easy to convince yourself that you need more experience, more knowledge, or the perfect plan before taking the next step, but so much of the growth happens after you start.
I’ve also learned how important it is to lean on your trades. Contractors, cabinet makers, electricians, plumbers, fabricators, installers, and other tradespeople have an incredible amount of knowledge and experience. Ask questions, listen to their recommendations, and respect their expertise. At the same time, don’t be afraid to ask why, explore another solution, or advocate for the design when you believe there is a way to make it work.
There is no one right way to build a career in design. So much of my own career has come from saying yes to opportunities, being willing to start at the bottom, asking questions, and learning from people who know more than I do.
Confidence often comes after you start, not before. Stay curious, work hard, be willing to learn, and don’t be afraid to start before you feel completely ready.
Follow along with Andi’s work and latest projects at dandistudios.com and on Instagram at @dandistudios.
Inspired by Andi’s story? Learn more about the interior design programs at HSID Seattle and start your own path toward a career in design.