Meet Tiffany Thompson, Founder of Duett Interiors

Known for her elevated and eclectic spaces, Tiffany Thompson stands out through her distinct style and fresh approach to interior business. We've been long inspired by Tiffany and are lucky to call her one of Spoak's advisors and one of the design experts behind our design curriculum.

Tiffany's projects have been featured in several leading outlets, including Remix My Space on HGTV/Discovery+, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Rue Magazine, and more. Most recently, she was named a "New American Voice" by Architectural Digest and as a 1stDibs 50 Honoree.

In this interview, we're excited to share Tiffany's story and hear how she achieved her goals and overcame obstacles along the way.

Read on to learn more about Tiffany and shop a few of her favorite things!

Describe yourself in 3 emojis.

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Please tell us who you are and how you found yourself in the field of interior design.

Hi! My name is Tiffany. I'm originally from Queens, NY, but currently reside in Portland, OR. I am the Principal and Owner of Duett Interiors, a residential interior design firm. It's so funny because I think interiors actually was what I was destined to do, but I didn’t know it was a career path or anything I could truly be challenged by and obsessed with. I started working in sports at Nike Inc. and stumbled into interiors once I purchased my first home, and I’m so grateful I did.

We're so grateful to work with talented designers like yourself. How does working with Spoak align with your personal goals as a designer and business owner?

Spoak is an incredible platform for aspiring designers, seasoned designers, and home enthusiasts to create designs that evoke emotion and can become safe spaces. It’s a great platform for pursuing creative outlets and building your network within the Spoak community. Specifically speaking about being a business owner in the design field, it can be incredibly lonely trying to figure things out and not having proper mentorship or guidance. I love that Spoak creates that for the members. Members can connect with other designers and hone their craft by practicing skills and taking design classes. Ultimately, if I can contribute to Spoak and help a future designer out, it’s a huge win!

Where do you find your inspiration these days?

Inspiration comes from everywhere for me. I do a lot of saving and searching via Pinterest, Instagram, and browsing design platforms. My latest thing is falling into a wild black hole on Youtube. There are so many content creators around the world sharing their processes and their finished projects. I find it so inspiring.

What has been an obstacle that you have overcome in your business?

Learning how to run a business. I always say that in the early stages of my career, I was a designer that happened to have a business—but last year, I made a point to change my mentality and run it like a business (that happens to be in the design field). That mind shift has been game-changing. We often don’t know what we don’t know and learn through mistakes and experience.

What's your favorite project that you have worked on? Alternatively, do you have a dream project or client in mind?

My favorite projects are the ones I am currently working on. They have reinspired me in a way I didn’t know was possible. Also, they are all so different—from modern homes and contemporary homes to single homeowners and newly formed families. It’s always the storytelling around the property for me that truly inspires me. My dream client will forever be Rihanna.

Do you have advice for someone just getting started in interior design?

The best advice I can give is not to initially say no to any projects. Take on everything, even if it’s not your aesthetic. That experience will help you learn how to communicate and work with clients (even if it’s friends and family at first), define your work style, and master problem-solving. It’s a great experience; you can always add it to your portfolio. Also, advocate for yourself. Tell people what you are doing and the type of work you want. You’d be surprised once people know your goals and how they will help you in the process.

What's something that you're looking forward to in the future? What can we expect to see from you in 2023?

I'm looking forward to having an incredible team that I can build with, and we can create some memorable projects for our clients. I am so obsessed with the process that every experience is valuable to me. I have a few projects in 2023 and 2024— a new build in Minnesota, a modern Miami home, two Portland homes, and the most exciting… We are renovating our property! I’m so excited to share that with everyone.