become an interior designer

Maybe that's because he's the star of design shows "Merge" (Lifetime) and "Clean Sweep" (TLC), and an art director for VH1. He also owns a successful Interior Design business (www.swellspace.com) that boasts tons of movie and TV celeb clients.

The College Years
At Columbia College, Surmelis studied theater and fine art, and was initially interested in architecture design schools -- but discovered it was math-based, which wasn't his strength. After graduation, he worked as an actor in Chicago and New York, then moved to Los Angeles, all the while remaining fascinated with design.

"I dabbled in design and was in between gigs, so my friends suggested what I knew I should do," recalls Surmelis. "I stopped freelancing and opened my own interior design firm."

Talk, Talk, Talk. . .
While creativity is important if you want to become an interior design, people skills are also key. "I talk to clients and get a glimpse of who they are by asking about their favorite vacation, what colors inspire them, and their favorite childhood memories," says Surmelis. "I play psychologist to figure out what they want."

It's also good to take a non-traditional approach. "My background in theater, fine art, and architecture brought other disciplines into the mix, so it wasn't just about design. The more you have to offer clients, the better off you'll be."

The Trust Factor
Since Surmelis' projects range from one week to several months, it's important to build relationships. "Clients really trust the person they're working with; it's an intimate process," he says. When he helps people see their space in a new light and look outside the realm of possibility, it's all worthwhile. "No words can express the look of joy on the clients' faces at the end," Surmelis shares.

Interning Is a Must
So, how can you secure such satisfying client experience? Get an internship, paid or unpaid, encourages Surmelis. Big firms look great on a resume, but the bigger the firm, the more grunt work you'll do, he admits. At smaller agencies, you'll get more hands-on opportunities.

"The more experience you get, the better equipped youll be to make decisions when you [graduate] and become an interior designer," he says.

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