Industry Spotlight: Raili Clasen

We recently connected with Raili Clasen, owner of Raili CA Interior Design, to talk about her fearless design choices and how she goes about infusing her personality into her designs while also providing the perfect space for her clients.

Did you always plan to pursue design?
I didn’t know what an interior designer was until about 10 years ago. My mom used to buy things at garage sales and nail them up in our home.

How did you get started with interior design?
My interior designer moved out of the country weeks after we hired her. I decided I was the best person for the job. With zero experience, I might add.

What would you say is your specialty/niche?
California, Pacific Ocean style with fun, whimsy and unexpected details.

From where do you draw inspiration?
Every single place I go—from work to dropping kids off at college in the South to European vacations. I always bring back a few wow ideas.

What’s your favorite part about being a designer?
Every day is new, different and unexpected. I also love working as a team on each of our projects. Our team is full of funny women!

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?
Our greatest challenges are usually dealing with the problems and issues that come with ordering from hundreds of vendors. Late deliveries, broken fixtures, incorrect shipments—all those problems give us headaches, and then we have to work through them with both the clients and the contractors. Those are never fun calls.

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned as a designer?
Less is more! We have grown so much in the last few years, and as nice as that sounds, more people, more projects, more stress. My goal is to shift down these next few years and expand into more collaborations, finish my book and some other non-design studio projects that are under lock and key.

What sets you apart from other designers with similar styles?
I don’t follow a rule book. Our projects have a very cool, happy vibe, and our clients always love the little “out of the box” details that sets their home apart.

What are you currently loving in the design world?
The endless amount of different styles. I love following designers that are the opposite style, but who stay true to their own brand.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a designer?
Do not try to be anybody else. If a client wants you to design their house like designer X, run!

What’s your best piece of advice for clients?
Trust! I’m not sure about other designers, but our best projects have been with clients who trust the process and collaboration with the creative team.