Sey Interiors
Kristen Reyes
Interior Designer
Warm, layered interiors built to support real life.
For families who want a home that works as well as it looks.
When Kristen Reyes walks into a home for the first time, she is not thinking about paint colors or furniture arrangements. She is noticing how a family moves through the space, where frustration shows up in daily routines, and which rooms feel disconnected from the rest of the home. This construction-minded, people-first approach grew from an unconventional foundation: years spent in commercial architecture working on large corporate and multifamily projects before bringing that same rigor into residential work.
Sey Interiors specializes in large-scale renovations for busy professional families who have found a home with potential but whose layout no longer works for their lives. Reyes serves as both creative partner and project advocate, coordinating architects, contractors, and vendors while guiding every detail from early planning through installation. The result is homes that feel collected, intentional, and deeply personal. Elevated and layered. And built, above all, for the way families actually live.
Why Sey Interiors is on our list
Kristen brings an unusual combination of construction literacy and design instinct to every project. She sees the full picture of a home from the first walk-through, identifying what needs to change, what can stay, and what most people would miss entirely. Her commercial background means she manages complex renovations with the same rigor she would bring to a large-scale buildout: clear process, strong coordination, no surprises.
She is best suited for families who are ready to invest thoughtfully and want a designer who will lead, not just follow. If you are looking at a home with real potential and need someone who can see it, plan for it, and execute it, Kristen is one to know.
Q
Tell us who you are and what you stand for in your work.
A
I founded Sey Interiors as a full-service residential design studio specializing in large-scale renovations for busy professional families. Before that, I spent years in commercial architecture working on large corporate and multifamily projects. That background fundamentally shaped how I approach design today. I bring a highly organized, construction-minded process into the residential space: balancing creativity with technical knowledge, project leadership, and strategic decision-making.
Growing up surrounded by construction and craftsmanship gave me an early understanding of how homes are actually built and how design impacts the way people live. When I transitioned to residential work, I carried that foundation with me alongside a deep conviction that beautiful homes should support real life.
Our work is rooted in creating layered, character-driven interiors that feel warm, elevated, and connected to the people living in them. We are not chasing trends or repeating a signature look. We focus on homes that feel collected, intentional, and tailored to each client and property. A large part of our work also involves helping families navigate the complexity of renovation with clarity and confidence, coordinating architects, contractors, and vendors from early planning through installation.
“We focus on designing homes that feel collected, intentional, and tailored specifically to each client and property.”
Q
Tell us about a working relationship that felt exactly right. What made it work?
A
One that immediately comes to mind was a full-home renovation for a family who had purchased their home because they loved the neighborhood and saw the potential in the property, even though the house itself was disjointed and no longer functioning well for daily life.
From the very beginning, the relationship worked because there was genuine mutual trust. They came in with inspiration and ideas, but they were also open to having their assumptions challenged and willing to look at the home as a whole rather than room by room. The renovation involved significant layout changes, reworked circulation throughout, relocated rooms, and underutilized spaces transformed into areas that actually supported how their family lives. Because they were busy professionals with demanding schedules, our ability to lead the process and create clarity throughout construction became just as valuable as the design itself.
What made this especially meaningful was that they were emotionally invested in creating a home with personality and longevity, not simply something visually impressive in the short term. They appreciated craftsmanship and the balance between beauty and livability. They cared about how the home would feel during everyday moments, not only when they were entertaining.
That level of trust gave us the freedom to push the design further and make decisions confidently. The strongest work comes from clients who understand that great design is a collaborative process.
“They cared about how the home would feel during everyday moments, not only when they were entertaining.”
Q
How do you design for the way a family actually lives, not just the way a home looks in photos?
A
A home can photograph beautifully and still fail the people living in it every day. That gap is something I think about constantly.
We spend a great deal of time learning how a family actually functions before making any design decisions. We want to understand how mornings flow, where clutter tends to collect, how the family gathers, whether children need a real homework space, how often clients entertain, and which parts of the home feel disconnected or underutilized. Those details shape the design just as much as the aesthetic direction.
Growing up in a large family gave me an early feel for how much the functionality of a home shapes daily life, especially in busy households. My commercial design background also continues to influence how we think about durability and performance. We often say that if a material can hold up in a busy office or an airport, it can probably handle a toddler.
Livability influences nearly every decision we make, from layout revisions and storage solutions to material selections, lighting placement, and furniture arrangements. Good design creates a home that supports daily life in a way that feels effortless, functional, and meaningful for the family living there.
“If a material can hold up in a busy office or an airport, it can probably handle a toddler.”
Q
What are you looking for on a first home visit?
A
On a first visit, we are paying attention to far more than finishes or furniture. We are evaluating how the home functions, how it feels to move through the space, and where there may be untapped potential that is not immediately obvious.
Circulation comes first. How the family naturally moves through the home, where bottlenecks occur, where sightlines feel disconnected, and whether spaces are being fully utilized. Clients often arrive focused on a kitchen or bathroom they dislike, while we are already noticing that the real issue is how the entire home connects and flows together.
We also look closely at natural light, ceiling heights, architectural character, and the overall proportion of rooms. My construction background means I am simultaneously clocking practical details that clients may not immediately notice: lighting placement, outlet locations, HVAC constraints, cabinetry opportunities, and how materials will actually perform over time.
Equally important, we observe how clients are living in the space emotionally. Which rooms they gravitate toward, where stress shows up in their daily routines, and what parts of the home already feel meaningful to them. We are not simply assessing what the home looks like today. We are evaluating what it has the potential to become.
“We are not simply assessing what the home looks like today. We are evaluating what it has the potential to become.”
Q
Tell us about a project that has stayed with you.
A
One project that has really stayed with me is a kitchen renovation we called #projectchickensoupforthesoul. The original kitchen had a typical 1990s layout with multiple 45-degree angles that left the space feeling closed off, inefficient, and short on storage.
What made the project especially meaningful was that some of the most transformative changes were not part of the original request. Early on, we recognized that opening the kitchen to the adjacent family room and breakfast nook would fundamentally change how the home functioned for this family. Better circulation, a stronger connection between spaces, a kitchen that could actually become a gathering point. We proposed the change. They said yes.
The finished space is beautiful, but what stays with me most is the breakfast nook. We designed a custom banquette with an integrated cork board where the clients' two daughters pin artwork, notes, and small pieces of their everyday life. When I occasionally see photos of the family using the space, the board is covered in drawings and reminders that the room is genuinely being lived in and loved.
The moment the project felt complete was not the photoshoot. It was realizing over time that the family actually uses the space the way we hoped they would. They gather there, entertain there, celebrate there. As a designer, that is the most rewarding outcome you can ask for.
“The board is covered in drawings and reminders that the room is genuinely being lived in and loved.”
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