AI in Interior Design: A Candid Conversation with Sarah Daniele

Jun 12

Listen to the Podcast Episode for a deeper dive

Using AI in Interior Design with Sarah Daniele

Hey there, fellow designers! I’m Jenna Gaidusek, and let’s be real. AI is popping up everywhere, and it’s easy to feel like you have to be some kind of tech genius to even get started. That’s exactly why this week’s AI for Interior Designers podcast felt so refreshing. I got to sit down with my longtime friend, Sarah Daniele. You probably know her as the co-founder of MyDoma, but now she is also leading the charge as Principal of Designer Solutions at both MyDoma and Studio Designer. Here’s the fun twist: Sarah interviewed me. What followed was a real, peer-to-peer conversation about where AI fits into our work as designers and how all of us can start benefiting right away, no matter how “techy” we are (or aren’t).

Making AI Accessible: Real-World Wins for Interior Designers

Sarah and I kicked things off by talking about just how fast everything is changing in our industry. The big takeaway? You do not have to be a tech expert to use AI and see results in your business. The best AI tools are designed to make your life easier, not harder. Our chat focused on super practical ways interior designers can actually use AI, including visual communication and business operations that run smoother with a little help from technology.

Visual Communication: Showing Clients Your Vision, Fast

Sarah started by asking how designers are using AI to communicate their concepts. I shared how much I love the DALL-E integration with ChatGPT. It lets me create fast concept mock-ups, perfect for those early phases when you want to show an idea before investing hours in renderings. Are these AI-generated images replacing our beautiful final renderings? Not at all. But they are an amazing shortcut for exploring ideas and making revisions easier.

We also talked about Visual Electric, a tool I now use all the time. It is perfect for creating branded graphics, social media posts, and even short video clips. Visual Electric is great for keeping your brand style consistent. Standing out with a cohesive look is half the battle in a crowded market.

Another tool I love is Mazing XR. If you have not tried it yet, it turns 2D images into 3D or AR models you can download and use. Think about how much time you usually spend modeling. With Mazing XR, you get interactive visuals for client presentations and product development in just a few minutes.

Efficiency and Workflow: AI for Notes, Proposals, and Client Communication

Sarah wanted to know how I stay organized with meetings and project notes. Honestly, it is all about using AI to do the heavy lifting. For virtual meetings, I use Loom and Zoom to record and automatically generate timestamped outlines and action items. Zoom’s AI features are especially helpful for capturing important points during online calls. For in-person meetings, I rely on Plaud, which records conversations and creates clean, searchable transcripts.

Here is my favorite workflow: I take those transcripts and run them through AI writing tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity to draft proposals, client emails, or meeting summaries. Every detail is there, nothing gets lost, and you get back hours in your week. Sarah and I agreed that this level of organization not only saves time but also helps you deliver a more professional, detail-oriented experience for your clients.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

If you are wondering what might make the biggest impact in your daily workflow, here are the highlights that stood out most to Sarah and me.

You do not need to be a tech expert.
AI tools are built to simplify your process, not complicate it. The right ones are easy to use and give you back valuable time. No advanced skills required.

Quick visual mock-ups really work.
With DALL-E in ChatGPT, you can generate fast concept images for early client presentations. These are not meant to replace your high-end renderings, but they make exploring ideas and gathering feedback so much easier.

Consistency makes your brand stronger.
Visual Electric helps you keep your graphics, social posts, and video clips on-brand and cohesive. Setting up a custom style means your studio’s unique look always shines through, no matter how many projects you are juggling.

3D and AR do not have to be intimidating.
Mazing XR makes it simple to turn 2D images into downloadable 3D or AR models. If you have ever wished you could present interactive visuals to your clients without spending hours in modeling software, this tool is for you.

Workflow tools save more than time—they save energy.
Using Loom, Zoom’s AI Companion, or Plaud for note-taking means you do not have to scramble to remember details from meetings. Plus, when you run those transcripts through ChatGPT or Perplexity, you can quickly draft proposals, summaries, or follow-up emails without missing anything.

The big picture is that AI is here to make your job easier so you can focus on the creative work that truly matters. Even adopting one or two of these tools can help you work more efficiently and present your ideas with more confidence.

Looking Forward: AI as Your Design Partner

One thing Sarah and I kept coming back to is that AI is not here to take over our jobs as designers. Instead, it is here to support us so we can focus on the creative work that makes our projects shine. The more I experiment with AI, the more I realize it is about boosting our strengths, not replacing them.

If you are just starting to experiment with AI or you want to streamline your workflow, I hope this conversation sparks some ideas for you. The future of interior design is all about collaboration, creativity, and making the most of new tools. Thanks to AI, we get to do what we love and spend less time on the busywork.

So, what do you think about bringing AI into your own design practice? Any tools you are curious about or already loving? Drop a comment below or connect with me on Instagram @jenna.gaidusek . I would love to keep this conversation going.