Hiring a commercial interior designer early in your build-out or renovation isn't overhead — it's one of the most effective ways to protect your budget and timeline. Robin Pasley explains why interior design functions as a core structural element of any successful commercial project, not decorative finishing applied at the end. Business owners who bring their designer in before plans go to permitting avoid change orders, miscommunication with architects, and the expensive rework that happens when a space doesn't reflect what the client actually needed.
Randi Lynn Johnson: So, Robin, I've heard from some people they don't like the idea of bringing in an interior designer because they're afraid it's going to slow the process down. Have you heard this?
Robin Pasley: I've heard this — and the cost and the timing of things — from a couple of different people in the past.
Randi Lynn Johnson: Which is not good, because a business owner wants to save time and money, so it almost feels like two strikes against you from the get-go.
Robin Pasley: It does, but if I know you — and I do a little bit — those are actually things you can help save: time and money. This is where it's difficult, because I think some people think of interior design as the icing on the cake instead of part of the cake. Maybe like the cream filling in the middle of it.
Randi Lynn Johnson: Oh yeah, maybe a little like curd in the middle — something tasty.
Robin Pasley: They think of it as something we can just add at the end. So even when we're working with architects, we often get the call to work on the project when the plans are finished and they're ready to go to permitting — but the client just wants help selecting materials.
Robin Pasley: One of the reasons we've found this to be problematic — or at least challenging for our client — is that we learn so much about the function of the space, the workforce that's in it, the clients they're going to serve, and the history of the company. That knowledge almost always affects the layout, not because we want to change things, but because it inevitably does. I think it's just a difference in perspective. I have so much respect for architects, but we see things differently.
Randi Lynn Johnson: Yeah, so you're not an architect.
Robin Pasley: No, I'm not.
Randi Lynn Johnson: And you don't want to be an architect.
Robin Pasley: I don't want to be one. But I think what we offer genuinely complements architecture. There's overlap — if we had a Venn diagram, we'd see architects and interior designers sharing common ground. But we also see things they're not thinking about. They're looking at structural elements — this wall, this window — while we're looking at functionality, aesthetics, and all the factors that affect the overall commercial interior design.
Robin Pasley: We found that if we can come into the project early and actually partner with the architect — not to step on toes or take anything away from what they want to bring — but to share what we've learned, we can streamline the whole process. If we come in early, we get connected to business owners. A lot of times that connection comes through the commercial real estate agent helping them find their space, the architect who's already been connected to the owner, or the general contractor. In all of those situations, if we can get brought in early — when they're just starting to talk about the space and learning about the business — we can partner with the architect and the GC to bring the right information in early and eliminate the bottlenecks.
Randi Lynn Johnson: So now we've added costs.
Robin Pasley: Think about it — they've secured funding for one thing, but they really wanted something else that they just didn't take to the bank the first time. So now we're going back around. I'm not exactly sure why engaging us early still feels premature to some people. I think the perception is that we're the icing: we don't need the icing yet, we're still mixing the batter. But if those three entities — the architect, the commercial real estate agent, and the general contractor — can imagine us as early partners who bring perspective from the start, everything changes.
Robin Pasley: And mostly it's about us getting introduced to the business owner and being allowed to have that interview where we learn about them. That's what helps us shape what's necessary. Yes, we might add some costs — but it's not wasted money. It's the thing the client actually wanted: the look they were trying to achieve, the feeling, the spatial branding they hadn't fully articulated yet. When we dig deep with them, we find that an element really is part of their values — and it's important for them to have it, whether it's functional or visual.
Randi Lynn Johnson: On our next podcast I want to unpack a little more about working with business owners, so we'll revisit that. In the meantime, all you GCs, architects, and commercial real estate professionals — call Robin early. Getting her in early ultimately helps the whole process. It's going to be a dream. Everybody wins.
Robin Pasley: Absolutely. Everybody wins.
Recorded in our studio at 616 N. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80903
PASLEY COMMERCIAL INTERIORS is Colorado's trusted partner for growth-focused commercial interior design. As a woman-owned, NCIDQ-certified firm based in Colorado Springs, we blend spatial branding, client experience design, and turnkey interior solutions that help businesses make powerful first impressions and win their ideal clients. Our direct-to-manufacturer dealership simplifies the commercial furniture procurement process — reducing costs, cutting lead times, and delivering measurable ROI for every client. With deep expertise in workspace strategy, branded environment design, and commercial space planning, we transform business identities into client-converting spaces that inspire loyalty and drive revenue. From boutique and medical aesthetics buildouts to hospitality, multi-family, and franchise commercial projects, PASLEY COMMERCIAL INTERIORS delivers both impactful aesthetics and bottom-line results — because your space should work as hard as you do.
H.B. Pasley, Branding & Business Growth Advisor
616 N Tejon St
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
To request our complete Press Kit, call or schedule a conversation via our Contact Page.
.avif)
