When Credit is Lost but Pride Remains: An Interior Designer’s Reflection
Watching your work come to life is one of the greatest joys as a designer. But imagine turning on your television and seeing your designs—a layout painstakingly sketched, a color palette thoughtfully chosen, even your schematic floor plans—presented as someone else's creation. That’s exactly what happened to me.
The entry mood board, E-design rendering and final design as shown on the show.
Designing a home is more than picking pretty finishes or arranging furniture—it’s about pouring your heart into every detail, creating a story in every room, and making someone’s dream home come to life. That’s exactly what I did for this gorgeous colonial revival home in Syracuse, NY that was being eyed for demolition by the local government.
When a friend and colleague brought this home to me with the request for me to bring it back to its former glory, while also infusing their individual personality and style, I jumped into the project head-first. And thus, Project McAllister was born. From the moment I saw this stately home in person, I could feel it’s undeniable potential to be a beautiful home again. Reimagining it back to life was a labor of love that spanned months, and no matter what’s happened since, I’m incredibly proud of the work I did.
This historical house stood vacant for almost 30 years
The Beginning of Something, the End of Something Else
Here’s how it happened: after I finished the design for the first floor, my friend decided to use my design renderings to apply a television show—without my knowledge. In spite of that, I was pretty excited at first, thinking it would be an incredible showcase of all the work we’d done. And though I made it clear I wasn’t interested in being on camera, I expected to be credited. My friend had signed a contract with me months before that clearly laid out my intellectual property and professional copyright. I could’ve asserted this from the beginning (and in retrospect, I should have). But, I didn’t want to create a stir; I didn’t want to ruin this opportunity for my friend.
Pretty naively, I even helped them at the beginning of the process with the network’s production team, participating in multiple video calls and supplying design help outside of the scope of our original design agreement. All with the mind that I would be given a proper call-out in the credits of the show.
The truth of things was later revealed that the network was not interested in crediting me as the designer for this project, and my friend was not willing to fight for it either. It was a huge blow. And when the episode aired, as painfully expected, Abode Above’s name was nowhere to be found. Not once was it mentioned that they worked with an interior designer for months on the home’s design. What’s worse, my former friend was on camera taking credit for all of my design ideas. I think that part hurts most of all.
A Shining Design Comes to Life
The project’s first floor schematic design plan, an aerial view.
The kitchen, before demo
Even with that sting, though, I can’t help but feel proud of what I created.
That kitchen? A clear showstopper. I reimagined the whole layout, tearing down the walls to birth a larger, longer space that made room for a gorgeous kitchen with an island with waterfall counters. I configured a creative cabinet layout with plenty of storage and a beautiful copper farm sink. The terrazzo backsplash? A thoughtful and deliberate nod to her husband’s Italian heritage and a way to create visual interest for the shelves that would hang above the sink. I was so incredibly intentional about keeping the vibe timeless but fresh with the combination of old and new elements that spoke to it’s new life.
The kitchen mood board, E-design rendering and final design as shown on the show.
The living room, before demo
The before images of the living and dining room spaces are a poor illustration of just how dilapidated this space was, but through all of that I could still see the potential for cozy evenings in, lively dinner parties and treasured family memories. I imagined that it would become the heart of the home, featuring restored trim, rich colors, and cozy, layered textiles that balanced elegance with comfort. The most noticeable thing about the space was it’s bright and unique color story. I opted to use bright yellow and forest green on the walls and ceiling to modernize the traditional styling of its former glory. Though, in the end the design had some small changes, likely due to the network’s strict use restrictions, it was my design that shone through to create a gorgeous result.
The living room mood board, E-design rendering and final design as shown on the show.
The primary suite was a creative highlight—designed with a touch of whimsy and function, including a window bench seat with extra storage and a charming sense of comfortable luxury. The darkly bold bedroom, with its sensual and dramatic color story, is one of my favorite spaces. Its deep plum walls invite relaxation and a feeling of sophistication, proving that bedrooms can be more than just places to sleep—they can be statements, too.
The primary bedroom mood board, E-design rendering and final design as shown on the show.
The main bathroom, before demo
And the main bathroom? This small-footprint bath took advantage of a stunningly beautiful wallpaper paired with timeless tile that made it a true gem. The design delivered on blending classic style with a contemporary edge by repurposing an old dresser into a vanity and leaning into the use of bold colors. The navy and deep red color story in this space create a feeling of drama that makes this bathroom feel even more impressive.
The bathroom mood board, E-design rendering and final design as shown on the show.
Being an interior designer means pouring yourself into every design project, whether or not the world gives you the credit you deserve. It’s about the joy of creation, the passion for making spaces beautiful, and the satisfaction of knowing you’ve done something meaningful. It’s bittersweet that I wasn’t along for the ride of the realization of my design vision for this home, but every idea that was brought to life was a piece of my soul.
Losing credit stings, but it doesn’t define me. If anything, it’s made me more determined to honor myself and my work moving forward. I’ll keep creating, keep pushing design boundaries, and keep loving this craft. Because at the end of the day, this is what I’m meant to do—and no one can take that from me.
