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Inside the minds of the people behind the interior design that makes cities, and cities are a collection of people.
And so it’s no surprise that the city’s top interior designers have taken a break from their careers in the last few years.
That’s because they want to focus on what’s most important in life, says Sarah McLeod, a principal at design firm Austin’s Urban Design Institute and author of the forthcoming book Inside the Minds of the People Behind the Interior Design that Makes Cities.
For designers, it’s more important to focus more on what the customer wants, rather than on what their job entails, says McLeod.
McLeod’s research, conducted over the last two decades, found that the people who do the most interior design work are the ones who really care about the things that matter most to them, like family, friends, and community.
The more people are involved, the more they care, says MacLeod.
“It’s about being part of the solution, not the problem.”
McLeod has worked with a handful of interior designers who are currently working on projects for the city.
She says their work has inspired her to explore her own personal inner-workings as a way of getting to know her clients.
In an interview with ABC News, McLeod shared her thoughts on what it means to be an interior designer.
What I wanted to explore was how do you work with clients who want to spend their lives in their homes, while also living in a city?
What does it take to really work with people who live, work, and play in a big city?
In my own life, I worked on projects that involved working in multiple cities, not just in one.
I found that it was much easier to work with individuals who could handle living in different cities, rather it was difficult for me to work on projects where I was working with multiple people.
What’s so interesting about interior design is that it’s a collaborative space.
There’s always a collaborative element, says Austin architect and design teacher Mary Eichner, who teaches urban design classes at UT Austin.
“When you talk to people, they can be a little more individualistic and the more you get to know them, the easier it becomes to be able to communicate your values and ideas,” she says.
McLodles work with the city, but it’s not all about architecture.
Her book also features interviews with designers who’ve built homes or apartments for people of all ages.
McLaurent is one of them.
“What I find is that there are people who have been working for years and years and have a real love of the city,” she tells ABC News.
“They have an affinity for the people around them, and they have a deep connection to the city that really touches them.”
McLaurer, who has been working in the city since 1995, is one person in particular who has built a large apartment on the back of her car.
Her building, called the Biltmore, is a one-of-a-kind home that features a huge living room and dining room, a living room, and dining hall.
In the video below, McLaury and her wife, Michelle, talk about the inspiration behind the home and what they hope it will accomplish for the community.
And in her own words, she says: “There’s a lot of things about the Bitterroot that I’m trying to get a little bit of out there.”
This video was produced by the Austin Design Institute.
More from ABC News: What’s driving your passion for interior design?
What’s your favorite city to work in?
We’re your host Emily St. James.
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