Why I said no to a 6-figure project (and what it taught me about designing for the right kind of success)

Have you ever been offered something that looked perfect on paper but felt completely off in your gut?

A few months ago, I received an inquiry from a high-profile couple in New York. Their penthouse had just undergone a full renovation and they were looking for a luxury designer to furnish it from top to bottom: art, lighting, furniture. Budget? Generous. Timeline? Reasonable. On paper, it was the dream.

But within the first five minutes of our call, I knew I wasn’t going to take the project.

Here's Why.

They didn’t want a home, they wanted a showroom.
The brief was filled with words like “nothing too bold,” “neutral,” “we just want it to look nice.” They wanted to impress, not express. And more importantly, they weren’t open to being challenged on it.

But that’s not what I do. I don’t design for perfection.
I design for depth, for emotion, for people who want their home to reflect who they are now and who they’re becoming.

Because real luxury isn’t sterile. It’s not copy-paste Pinterest boards. It’s personal. It’s layered. It’s alive.

What Working With Me Actually Looks Like

Let me tell you about a client I did say yes to.

She had just gone through a massive life change: an international move, the end of a long relationship and a leap into a new career. Her new home in the West Village felt like a shell: white walls, echoing rooms and a closet full of clothes she no longer recognized.

When we first sat down together, I didn’t ask for Pinterest boards. I asked her questions: about her mornings, what smells reminded her of childhood, what kind of silence she wanted to feel when she came home.

Together, we designed a space with Klein blue tiles in the kitchen: bold, unapologetic and vibrant. A terrazzo floor for groundedness. Brass lighting that shimmered but never shouted. We custom-built a banquette because she loved the idea of long dinners and unexpected guests. The art? All by French artists: her roots, her pride, her story.

The installation took one day. She walked in and said:
“For the first time, it feels like my home knows me.”

Why I Only Work With a Few Clients at a Time

I said no to that 6-figure job because design is not a transaction for me; it’s a transformation. And transformation needs truth, trust and openness. I don’t do quick fixes. I don’t do empty luxury. I do spaces that breathe with you.

I work with a handful of clients each season. We go deep.
I choose every piece: furniture, lighting and art with intention. And when everything’s arrived, I install it all in one day. No stress. No dragging timelines. Just you, reflected back in your space.

If This Speaks to You…

If you’re at a turning point and finally ready to express…

Let’s talk.

Send me a message through my site. I work with a few aligned clients each season and I’d love to know if you’re one of them.

Written by Carole Vaudable, interior designer

Kitchen proposal designed by Carole Vaudable Interior Design.