What draws a designer to a room that hasn’t been built yet? For Decorilla’s contemporary interior designer Stacy, it all starts with what already exists: the architecture and the wear on its surfaces. Today’s spotlight follows her material-led approach to interiors and her work as a part of our creative team.
Meet Interior Designer: Stacy Drew
Stacy’s interest in design grew out of an earlier fascination with buildings. She kept noticing how spaces carried history in their construction or in the way light shifted through them over the course of a day. Over time, interior design became the practical extension of that observation.
Growing up in Nova Scotia also leaves a trace visible in how she works. Stacy’s references tend toward raw materials and interiors shaped closely by the landscape outside them. Even her own dining room captures the same instinct: a beat-up farm table sits under a south-facing loft, with a sightline through to a backyard where deer wander past. Stacy lived in the house for a while before redesigning any of it, which is how she tends to approach client work, too.
As one of Decorilla’s interior designers, Stacy builds rooms around the pieces her clients already care about; often, a chair or a textile. The rest of the material direction follows from there. Lighting enters the plan early and gets layered across the room as a structural element.
Love Stacy’s design philosophy and sense of style? See what you can create together, and start a project with her today!
What first sparked your interest in interior design?
I’ve always had an intense fascination with buildings themselves: what they’ve been, what they are, and what they could become. I’ve also been drawn to the layers of history within a space. Interior design felt like a natural extension of that curiosity, and the opportunity to take what exists, understand it, and thoughtfully guide it into its next chapter.
How would you describe your design style, and what sets it apart?
I think of my style as elevated but approachable. I want a room to feel finished and intentional, but still comfortable enough that you actually live in it. Moreover, I love bold moments, like a striking light fixture or a rich upholstery. Or a statement piece that anchors the room, balanced with warmth and restraint. I’m less interested in perfectly matched sets and more engaged in tension: old and new, structured and soft, polished and organic. That balance is what gives a space its depth.
I think what sets my work apart is that I don’t design around trends. I design around meaning. Every piece in a room should either have purpose or personality. I build spaces around the elements that speak to my clients and let that guide the entire story of the room.
Who or what inspires your work and design choices?
I’m inspired by how people actually live in their homes. I think about habits, routines, how someone starts their morning or winds down at night. Design isn’t just visual; it shapes daily life.
I’m also inspired by spaces that feel a little unexpected. Not chaotic, but not overly safe either. The rooms that stay with you usually have a bit of a special something baked in. That’s where personality lives.
Is there a must-have item or element that you always include in your designs?
Layered lighting. Always. A room isn’t finished without ambient, task, and statement lighting working together. A great light fixture can completely transform a space; it adds sculptural interest and mood in a way that few other elements can. I also almost always include something with warmth, whether that’s wood or layered textiles, to make a space feel lived-in.
What current design trend are you most excited about right now?
I’d say that I’m less excited about a specific trend and more encouraged by a broader shift happening right now. There’s a growing movement away from fast, influencer-driven aesthetics and spaces that look good online but don’t necessarily support real life.
I’m seeing more people question what they actually want in their homes and how they feel living in them every day. Since we’re spending more of our lives at home, quality and functionality matter more than ever. That mindset shift feels meaningful and long overdue.
If you had to choose a favorite room in your home, which one would it be, and why?
My dining room, without question. It centers around a big, beat-up old farm table that carries more patina than polish, and I love that about it. It’s where everyone gathers, where the phones disappear, conversations linger, and board game rivalries begin.
We have comfortable, cozy dining chairs, and the room opens up into a loft that floods the space with south-facing natural light. From the table, you can also see straight out to the backyard, where deer often wander through. It’s simple, but it feels grounding.
For me, that room represents what home is supposed to be: connected and well-loved.
Do you have a favorite design magazine or blog you follow? What do you love about it?
I’m drawn to contemporary design publications like Azure and The Local Project, both of which approach architecture through context rather than trend cycles. The spaces they feature feel rooted in landscape and built to last.
I also appreciate Kinfolk for its emphasis on slow living and intentional design. That philosophy resonates with me, especially growing up in Nova Scotia, where homes often feel connected to the coastline and community. There’s a quiet restraint in Maritime spaces that aligns beautifully with that slower, more considered approach to living.
What do you find most rewarding about being an interior designer?
What I love most is knowing that a space will quietly shape someone’s daily life. Helping clients feel more grounded and confident in their own home, that’s the part that stays with me.
I also find designing for children especially rewarding. As adults, I think, we often underestimate how special and important a child’s space is to them.
How do you tackle challenges that arise during a design project?
Design always involves constraints. I focus on what matters most in the space and make decisions from there. When priorities are clear, the solutions usually are too.
What do you love most about working in online interior design?
Working online as one of Decorilla’s designers removes a lot of noise. It allows me to focus on the foundations. It also reflects how people live now. It’s flexible and removes geographic barriers, allowing clients across the globe to access professional design without traditional constraints.
Ready for your ideal Decorilla designer match?
Start a project with Stacy if you love her work! Or, schedule a Free Interior Design Consultation to find your perfect match among Decorilla designers today!
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