For Brenda Villalobos, pursuing a career in interior design was years in the making. After spending time traveling throughout Europe and immersing herself in architecture, craftsmanship, and design from around the world, she realized she could no longer ignore the creative passion she had carried with her for years. Determined to build a future that felt aligned with who she truly was, Brenda enrolled at Heritage School of Interior Design and began turning her dream into a reality. Today, she is working as a designer while continuing her education through the HSID Interior Design Master Certification in Denver, Colorado.

Tell us about your background and what led you to Heritage School of Interior Design Denver.

I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, in a Spanish-speaking household. My family is originally from Mexico, and my parents immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s. I grew up in a very traditional environment where success was often tied to stable, conventional career paths, typically something in business. I understood that mindset, but it never fully felt like me. I always felt drawn to creativity, beauty, and spaces or experiences that make people feel something.

Before attending HSID, I spent a few years working in administrative roles. Around that time, I got married in 2019, right before COVID, and by late 2022, my husband and I decided to take a leap and move to Europe for a year. I left my job that December, and that decision ended up being a turning point for me.

During that year, we traveled to nine different countries, and I was completely immersed in new cultures, architecture, and ways of living. I found myself constantly observing, learning, and taking everything in, from the design of spaces to the pace of life. It shifted my perspective in a way I hadn’t experienced before. I began to slow down, appreciate things more deeply, and really reflect on what I wanted my life and career to look like moving forward.

That experience ultimately gave me the clarity and confidence to pursue something that felt more aligned with who I am.

When did you realize you wanted to pursue interior design as a career?

I’ve always been drawn to interior design. Even when I was younger, I would rearrange my bedroom in the middle of the night and was constantly looking for inspiration. I always knew I had a creative side, and I took art classes throughout high school and college, but once I found myself on an administrative path, it felt hard to figure out how to actually turn that into a career.

That really shifted during our time in Europe. I remember sitting in a small bar in Granada, Spain, talking about everything we had already experienced and realizing how much the architecture, the art, and the level of craftsmanship had been impacting me the entire time. It was the details for me, the textures, the materials, and the way everything felt so intentional and layered. I could sit and study it for hours and not get tired of it.

In that moment, it all kind of came together. I turned to my husband and said,

“When we go back, I don’t care how, I’m going to make this happen.”

A few months after we got home, I was given an opportunity to work at an interior design firm in an administrative role, and that became the foot in the door I needed to start building a career in design.

What drew you to Heritage School of Interior Design Denver?

The moment I started working at my former interior design firm, I knew I wanted to expand my knowledge and take it seriously. I connected really well with one of my coworkers, and she had completed her master’s degree at HSID in Seattle. Hearing about her experience made it feel a lot more real and attainable.

I had actually looked into Heritage School of Interior Design years prior, but at the time it felt out of reach. As I started doing more research, I realized they offered a part-time option for the Fundamentals of Interior Design Certification, which made it possible for me to take that next step while still working.

I enrolled for the Fall 2024 semester, and it felt like everything finally started aligning.

What are you doing now, and what are your future career goals?

I am currently working as a Designer at Kim Layne Interiors, and the experience I have gained so far has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve been able to start developing my own style and see it come to life in our clients’ homes, which is something I once saw as an impossible dream.

Looking ahead, I want to continue building on that foundation, gaining experience, refining my perspective, and growing as a designer. Eventually, I would love to have my own interior design firm and create spaces that feel thoughtful, layered, and deeply personal to each client.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from?

I’m really drawn to spaces that feel layered and collected over time, where you can see a sense of history balanced with more modern elements in a way that feels natural. I love when a space feels intentional without feeling overly designed.

A lot of that perspective came from my travels, the different cities we visited, the people we met, and the spaces we experienced along the way. It made me more aware of craftsmanship, materials, and the small details that give a space character. That’s something I try to bring into my own work, creating spaces that feel timeless, lived-in, and thoughtfully put together.

What has your experience at HSID Denver been like?

Going to HSID has been one of the hardest but most rewarding things I’ve done. Balancing school while working full time was not easy. There were a lot of late nights, a lot of stress, and moments where it felt overwhelming, but I always knew why I started, and that kept me going.

I originally thought I would only complete the Fundamentals of Interior Design Certification, but as I got more immersed in it, I realized how much I truly loved it and wanted to keep going. Now I’m on track to finish the Interior Design Master Certification, which is something I never could have imagined for myself.

Heritage School of Interior Design gave me the tools, knowledge, and confidence to step into the role I’m in now as a designer. It not only helped me grow professionally, but also personally, by pushing me outside of my comfort zone and showing me what I’m capable of.

As Brenda continues growing her career in interior design, you can follow along on her journey through Instagram and her website. To learn more about Heritage School of Interior Design’s Denver programs, visit the Denver campus page.