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Traditional institutions shut Dominique Calhoun out of pursuing interior design, but she didn’t let it stop her.
“The real-world experience, when it comes to this business, is just as important as the classroom experience.”
Dominique Calhoun, Remix Living
Instead, she built her Philadelphia-based firm, Remix Living, with the goal of widening access to both the field and the services it provides.
The company offers tiered interior design packages — including lower-cost DIY options — and creates hands-on training opportunities for aspiring designers through partnerships with programs like Drexel University’s co-op initiative. The model is shaped by Calhoun’s own struggle to enter the field without a formal design background, and her effort to reduce industry gatekeeping.
“We try to give access to design at many different levels and not have people feel like design is not accessible because of what their tax bracket is,” she told Technical.ly.
Calhoun’s desire to be an interior designer goes all the way back to high school. When she applied to design school, her top-choice program rejected her, so she pivoted to studying fashion merchandising and business administration instead.
Dominique Calhoun (Courtesy Remix Living)
The itch to pursue interior design never went away. She was inspired to revisit a career in design while renovating the first house she bought at 22, but established Philadelphia firms turned her down because she didn’t have formal training in the field.
So, she did it on her own. Calhoun launched Remix Living in 2016, quickly learning that keeping her prices low and showcasing her work on social media helped grow her business organically, she said.
“At that time, I was just doing my own house, which was a blank palette for me to showcase my work,” she said.
An internship that gives back
Calhoun makes it a priority to mentor the next generation of interior designers, hoping to help break down the barriers she once faced.
After a decade, she built the company up through “trial and error,” she said. Now, she’s looking forward to growing her team, mentoring aspiring designers and someday moving into the hospitality space.
Initially, Calhoun was hesitant to take on any interns because she didn’t feel like she had enough time to put together a valuable program for them, she said. When Drexel University approached her to host a co-op program, though, she decided it was time to give back.
Remix Living showroom (Courtesy Remix Living)
Remix Living hosted its first co-op cohort last year and plans to do it again, she said. Students from the program work with the firm for six months to gain paid, real-world experience while learning about both the creative and business sides of the company.
Students also participate in the company’s free consultations. It’s an opportunity for people to get design advice, while also giving students a chance to interact with potential clients, she said.
“The real-world experience, when it comes to this business, is just as important as the classroom experience,” Calhoun said. “I am grateful that we’re able to give back to these students.”