Some career paths aren’t linear — they evolve with life, experience, and a desire to build something of your own. For Juliet Fernandez, interior design came after a successful career in corporate IT project management, eventually becoming the foundation for a new creative business.
Today, Juliet is the Founder and Lead Designer of Inspired Spaces Design Studio, based in Ajax and serving homeowners across Durham Region and the GTA. By combining design expertise with project management, she delivers beautiful, fully managed renovations that take the stress off her clients.
We caught up with Juliet to talk about her journey from IT to interior design, building a business after becoming a mother of two, and how studying interior design online helped her confidently launch her studio.
Image Source: Interiors by Graduated #IDIstudent Juliet Fernandez | Photography by @mangophotography.ca.
I'm Juliet Fernandez — Founder and Lead Designer at Inspired Spaces Design Studio, an interior design studio based in Ajax, serving homeowners across Durham Region and the GTA in Canada. I bring both Design and Project Management disciplines to every project by designing beautiful spaces and managing the renovation end-to-end — so clients get the home they envisioned without the stress of overseeing it themselves.
When I was really young, I wanted to be a doctor and as I got to high school, I wanted to be an Architect.
I built my 12-year career in corporate IT project management and made the pivot to interior design after the birth of my second daughter. I wanted to build something of my own and Interior Design felt like a logical choice, having spent my childhood seeing my builder dad create beautiful homes.
In my alternate life, I am an IT Project Manager supporting system delivery projects. If I wasn’t a designer, I would have continued doing the same.
Kind, warm, honest
As a child, I trained in Indian Classical dance (Bharatanatyam); I have become a student of the arts again this past year, which brings me such joy. When I dance, all stress and worries disappear.
Image Source: Interiors by Graduated #IDIstudent Juliet Fernandez | Photography by @mangophotography.ca.
After my kids and husband leave for the day, I start my day with a workout session. Then I freshen up and get started on work. Each day is different but involves some variation of design work, business management, content creation, site visits, showroom visits, and networking. Part of the career pivot is to slow down so I pace myself to be present for my family and make time for my dance practice.
A latte in the morning is non-negotiable, as well as my workout. I also spend time during the week looking at the work of other designers for inspiration and get an understanding of how trends are being applied.
I love a combination of Transitional and Organic Modern design and the symmetry and richness of Art Deco. The renovation of my own home followed this style and my intention with every design is to create spaces that feel considered and meet the homeowners’ lives.
I visit showrooms, attend design shows (the Interior Design Show in Toronto is one of my favorites), look at other designers’ works to gather inspiration. I sometimes just start new design without any direction to see what I come up with.
I do a mix of both. I use trendy elements that make sense for the overall design. My design philosophy leans toward timeless over trendy — I'd rather a client love their space in fifteen years than regret chasing something that peaked in 2024. That said, staying current is part of the job.
I have a love for bold tones and wallpaper but I like to balance it with softness so that the boldness can stand on its own. I also like to incorporate clients’ interests into the design (I recently completed a sci-fi-infused basement renovation based on client’s love for all things sci-fi).
I have carved out a home office in my basement. It is a moody home based-studio with dark walls, pops of colour, and designed with the same intentionality I bring to client projects. As a busy mum who can lack privacy in other parts of the home, I protect this space and don’t usually allow anybody in here.
Growing my client roster in Durham Region and the GTA, completing my IDI commercial design course, and becoming an established name in the area.
Every decision gets made before anything is built. That principle — resolving everything on paper before a trade arrives on site — is the foundation of my entire process. It's what eliminates the mid-build panic, the costly changes, and the compromises that leave homeowners underwhelmed at the end. That’s not to say that minor changes or decisions won’t come up during build, but they should be minor and easily resolvable since the bulk of the decision-making should have been done during the design phase.
Intentional scheduling. I protect time for fitness, dance, and my family the same way I protect time for client work — by putting it in the calendar and treating it as non-negotiable. Given my busy life, balance is something I have to design.
The moment a client sees their design for the first time and it's exactly what they imagined — or better. And as the space comes to life during the build phase.
Instagram has been a genuine part of building Inspired Spaces where I have been sharing my projects, connecting with local businesses, and establishing credibility in the Durham Region market. Its also a good place to see other designers’ work.
Completing the Dream Home renovation (my own home) and seeing the professional photographs. It was a surreal, “I did that?” moment.
I think I would love to collaborate with my dad on a project. We have very similar personalities and there’s a high probability that we would butt heads, but he has been a builder for close to four decades and most of what I know about design and construction comes from seeing him work, so it would be an honour to collaborate with him.
Image Source: Interiors by Graduated #IDIstudent Juliet Fernandez | Photography by @mangophotography.ca.
Manage the design and build for a full home renovation.
I see myself as the owner of an established, fully booked design firm working on interesting projects.
A full new custom build.
Baking sourdough bread.
Yellow, it reminds me of sunshine.
“Change is the only constant”.
Matilda by Roald Dahl. As a child I have read that book more times than I can count.
IDI (of course), but also accounts of various Canadian designers. Dart studio is my favorite.
I don’t have one favourite brand, I like products and styles offered by various brands. That said, I love working with Daniel House Club because they offer a wide range of products and brands that they make the procurement process so easy! I also love designing in SketchUp and Coohom but I favour Coohom for the ease of use.
Olivia Botrie of Dart Studio in Toronto.
Ajax, my home!
Intentional, cohesive, managed.
As I was looking for online programs during my maternity leave, IDI course stood out to me due to its comprehensive curriculum and ability to be self-paced. I was so excited to learn that I completed the course in 4 months, including the Advanced Modules in Kitchen & Bathroom Design and SketchUp.
The structure of the course — it teaches us to create a design and project management process from start to finish including teaching us to create templates to make our workflows easier.
In addition to learning the modules, do your own independent learning. Treat every assignment as a real client project. Read other materials to supplement your studies, practice using design software, and create designs just to explore your creativity because the more you practice, the better you get.
I have gained the confidence to establish my own design studio and it has armed me with the knowledge to complete 2 projects out here in the real world.
Image Source: Interiors by Graduated #IDIstudent Juliet Fernandez | Photography by @mangophotography.ca.
I have wrapped up 2 projects — a main floor renovation and a basement renovation. I am actively seeking new clients.
Thinking about a career pivot? Juliet’s story proves it’s never too late to start fresh, trust your instincts, and build something that’s truly yours.
From corporate life to creative business owner, she turned a long-standing passion into a thriving design studio — and you can too.
If you’re dreaming about a future in interior design, there’s no better time to take that first step. Explore studying online with IDI and start creating a career you’re excited to wake up to.
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