by Samara Goodman

Samara Interiors

This year will be Samara Interiors' fifteenth year in business! How did I get here?!? With heartfelt gratitude for all who helped make this possible, please read below to find out how I went from a civil servant to an entrepreneur with a rewarding and thriving interior design business. 

Career Path

My career path was once as structured and predictable as the federal guidelines I used every day. For years, I held a steady, secure position within a government agency, analyzing data and writing compliance reports. The work was important, but the rigid structure often suppressed creativity stemmed from my first love: art and art history. The part of me that craved color, texture, and creative expression felt stifled. I frequently spent my lunch hour browsing the showrooms in the Washington Design Center, which was conveniently located just across the street. Throughout my school years, I had spent countless hours in museums, galleries, and art classes studying color theory, art, and the architectural detail of historical interiors. But pragmatic thinking had steered me towards a different career path, convincing me to trade my sketchbook for report writing. But the seismic shift in my life came not from a government memo, but from the arrival of my third child.

Rediscovering Creativity

Balancing the escapades and schedules of three young children upended everything. My focus shifted from compliance reports to design problem solving. Our house, once a quiet, functional space, was now a vibrant hub of activity. Now I wasn’t just living in a house; I was managing the flow of life within it — planning meals, creating durable play spaces, and trying to reclaim adult serenity in a sea of primary-colored plastic. I quickly found that true home design is about function and resilience as much as aesthetics. I started applying the principles I’d learned in art — scale, balance, and thoughtful use of color – to solve real-world problems. How do you create an attractive living room that can also withstand toddler playdates and crushed Cheerios? How do you incorporate efficient storage without sacrificing style? How do you create safe and accessible living spaces while maintaining one’s aesthetic?
 
This was my "aha" moment. The impersonal environment of my government job seemed miles away from the vibrant, creative problem-solving I was now doing every day. The passion for art that I’d shelved years ago, combined with what I had learned about universal design at my government job, was the perfect foundation for designing functional, beautiful, and curated homes for others navigating their busy lives. 

Making the Leap

So in 2011, I made the leap. I left my government job and pursued a formal interior design certification. Today, through Samara Interiors, I help my clients weave their own story into the fabric of their homes. We don't just decorate; we create client-centered spaces that are both works of art and resilient sanctuaries. I've traded bureaucracy for beauty, finding my true calling in designing homes where practicality meets style, ensuring that every person can live elegantly.

For more information, contact Samara Goodman.