Why I gave up Architecture for Interior Design

This post has been on my heart for quite some time now, probably helped by the reactions I get when I state my full professional background: first Architect, then Interior Decorator (interior designer in the making), and recently blogger (as you might have figured it out). I am often asked: "if you are an architect, why become an interior designer or even a blogger"? Like it would be something wrong with you to change your mind and turn to interiors (something that it's not even that far away in the professional field). I mean Architecture - Interior Design is kind of the same thing. So I want to get really honest here and share the whole story with you because in the end, it all comes down to following a dream.

Looking back on this, I realise there were a few key moments in my life that lead me down this path. As I mentioned to you guys when I shared the 10 golden facts that I learned in Architecture School (click here to read), when I was 5 years old I loved to draw interiors. Usually, it was the same thing, a mixture of a Living Room and a Bedroom. There was the usual wardrobe, a chair, a table, and a vase (with flowers), sometimes a window with curtains, but always a bed with a rug. Needless to say that everything was in 2D.

The First key moment - one day, my dad showed me something that changed my whole view on things. He drew a couple of extra lines to my "amazing" 2D bed and I instantly saw it in 3D. It was like a whole new world opened up for me. So many possibilities! Of course, I failed to reproduce that drawing of a 3d bed, I was only 5. But that moment stuck with me for the following years.

Paris church interior architecture details ©Detail Movement

The Second key moment - years later, I was talking with my parents trying to decide what I would like to do when I grow up (as a professional). At that time all I wanted to do was draw, so I thought why not go to an art high school and learn how to paint properly (not the doodles I was doing at the time)? My mom then told me that there was another option to consider - Architecture School. Not being fully convinced I wanted to pursue art, I asked my mom what was she talking about (because I had no clue as to what Architecture was in general). When she told me that you get to study houses and learn how to design them, I was instantly hooked. So much so that from that afternoon on, I decided that I was going to be an ARCHITECT.

The Third key moment - when I was in 8th grade, my mom took me to an exhibition/fair for different high schools. She took me there to see the Architecture High School. I remember seeing lots of drawings, plans, layouts, and architectural models. But what I remember very clearly to this day, was this one model of a wooden holiday house on a sloping land with a river running beneath it. I fell in love instantly. I knew right then that there was no way I was going to miss out on this!!

So obviously I went to Architecture high school, followed by Architecture University, which was a whole different world. Many people I met during that time and even to the graduation point and getting my Architect title, used to tell me: "oh, but Architecture is not that hard. What do you do all day, doodle some plans? Build some models?". The Architecture School was in fact one of the hardest schools you could do for a career, right up there in the top 3, with Medical and Engineering schools! I've been through it, so I know.

All I can say now, looking back on it, is that it was a huge amount of work. But I absolutely loved it!

If you wanted to graduate and learn something in the process - you had to work hard for it. There was no way around it. Which is also a pretty good rule to follow in life, if you think about it. If you want something, you have to work for it. The sooner you learn this, the better.

Miniature models in paris architecture museum ©Detail Movement

House layout model ©Detail Movement

Interior staircase in Villa Savoy by Le Corbusier ©Detail Movement

I loved Architecture Uni, even though it felt like a constant struggle. Not struggling in the sense of what I was learning, but the continuous feeling that people wanted to see me fail. I know my fellow colleagues would back me up on this. I felt like the whole purpose of the school was to either make you or break you. And there were some that eventually gave up in their final years of studies. Maybe that was the whole purpose.

What I learned there was amazing. I decided earlier on that I would learn everything that I can there. If people would not help me learn, I would do it on my own. After all, there are famous architects who never went to school - take Tadao Ando, for example. If he could do it, so could I!

So, this was my mission: learn every secret, peek inside the minds of the teachers that were willing to share their knowledge, and practice, practice, practice. Work until it's perfect, or until you are proud. I must admit that the proud stuff only happened when I did my diploma because I had time to actually do the project properly. Usually, you had about 2-3 weeks (maybe 4 in some cases) per project. And of course, you had around 2-3 projects at a time, plus classes (on a good day)! Less time for sleep though.

But my favourite thing at University was problem-solving. Meaning layouts and floor plans. I used to spend hours after school thinking and trying to come up with the best solution, or if my teacher provided me with one, to try and find another that worked even better.

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This particular skill helped me a lot when I first started to work as a junior architect in an Architecture Studio. I was able to identify problems in layouts, especially when correlating them with other specialities. Because I was honest (and wanted to help out), I started pointing the errors out. The result? Let's just say that I learned to keep my mouth shut pretty fast after that.

During and even after finishing Architecture University, I discovered the so-called "Architect EGO". You know this myth that it's always present around architects. Not only it's a pretty big thing, but it's also almost always present. I used to see it in my teachers too. But there were a couple of them (teachers and architects), who were really humble. I used to seek them out and do the same thing I did in University: try to follow their teachings, peek into their brain, and learn everything that I can from them.

Because how do you know if someone is worth your time (and if you can learn anything from them)? You see if they show off, push their work and their way of thinking onto you or not! If they don't, that's a person worth sticking with. That's my opinion anyway.

2 years after finishing my studies, the economic crisis that hit the building world in Romania was pretty bad, it had caught up with everyone. There were few people left that were still building things. This meant no new projects, no studio income, and no salaries to be paid. I remember that, although things were starting to look grim, I always managed to "find my happiness". How? I used to spend hours after work, relaxing and looking at interiors or styling images on Pinterest.

And then a thought occurred to me.

I always loved Interior Design (I was drawing rooms since I was a kid), but I never really acted on it. No matter how bad something got, looking at interiors would always calm me down and make me happy. Not so much with Architecture, which was weird given the fact that I loved it and even majored in it.

Something was off. I felt like a change started inside my heart. I wasn't so sure anymore that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wasn't very happy with what Architecture was providing as "comfort food" for my soul. But Interior Design has always been there, in the background, waiting for me to remember. I just forgot about it for a really long time.

One day on my way back from work, I was on the bus looking out the window. I can recall the moment because the Sun was peeking through the busy streets. I remember feeling very lost and not knowing what to do with my life. There was this economic crisis on one hand, and on the other, I felt like Architecture wasn't really for me anymore. But then it hit me. I remembered that bed and rug that I always used to draw! I remembered I was absolutely in love with interiors and that I always wanted to pursue it, but somehow it got left behind.

I decided then and there that I was going to pivot and pursue interior design from that point on. Start again and learn everything from scratch. After all, this is what I always loved, looking at interiors on Pinterest, always making small interior sketches, always buying interior magazines... It was perfect! How did I not see this before??

And to see how things fall into place for you once you discover your dream, a couple of days later after this decision, I saw a post on my Facebook about a short 3 months course in interior decoration.

Architecture models by Zaha Hadid ©Detail Movement

Architecture models by Zaha Hadid in Paris exhibition ©Detail Movement

So I started to save a bit of money on the side (every month) so that I can do this course. And a couple of months later, that is exactly what I did! I learned a lot from it too, but the best part was the practical part. I got to see, touch and feel fabrics. I loved being surrounded by colours, patterns, and textures. I got to think and discover a whole different world. My heart was full of joy again. I realised that while Architecture was very hard, this felt even harder to do. So I welcomed the challenge. Plus, the level of creativity? Ufff - to the roof!

Soon after (well, months after), I decided to just go for it. I was so lucky to have the full support of my husband, my family, and a few close friends. I ignored all those "you can't do it", "why risk it", "you don't know what you are doing", and "you'll fail". Thinking about them now, I realise that they actually helped me to be more decisive about the next step of my life, and of course, do it!

London street lights ©Detail Movement

In 6 months - I quit my job as a junior architect, moved to London, did another interior decoration course, and managed to land a job in a famous design studio! Don't get me wrong, I've worked my ass off for this. AGAIN. But I was willing to do that. There are no shortcuts to these things. You have to go through them and be prepared to work for them.

 I was ready to start from the bottom and work my way up while learning all that I can, plus in my case, a lot of stress and sleepless nights (it felt like Architecture University again), and all in a different language. It took courage and maybe a bit of madness to risk everything, but in the end, it paid off. I discovered that if you don't risk it, nothing will happen. And in the end, all you'll be left with will be that "what if I went for it"?

I learned a lot since then.

I learned a lot about myself in the process.

I don't regret for one second making this choice. Even though Architecture was my original path (and I loved it), I love being surrounded by mood boards, fabrics, going on installations, and styling flats way too much! It makes my heart sing and I hope this feeling never goes away!  I'll never be sorry for majoring in Architecture, because it was such a beautiful part of my life, and I learned a lot that can help me in interior design.

I realise now that everything comes in your life at the right moment and that I am on my way, following my dream! What could be better than that?

That's why I've started this blog as well. I wanted to share my experience and my knowledge with you, because who knows? It might be that someone out there feels just like I did, lost and looking for a "sign". And just as that Facebook share changed the course of my life, so maybe this blog post can help change someone else's life. 

So here is my advice to you.

Never linger, take a deep breath in and take that first step, see where it takes you. Just start somewhere. After all, it's your dream and only you can make it happen.

So if you know someone who is feeling a little bit lost, share this post with them. Who knows, it might help them take the next or first step toward their dream. It's that what we all want in the end?

Raluca x

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All images that are credited as '©Detail Movement', are done by Raluca Vaduva for Detail Movement. All rights reserved. All pictures that are not my own, I credit them to the best of my knowledge & research, to their offline/online sources. I do not claim ownership over them in any way. If you see your picture on this site and do not wish for it to be displayed, please get in touch and I will remove it or add additional notes at your request.