Earth to Ether: Spaces That Breathe with You.
This is where your home stops being just four walls and becomes a living, breathing reflection of you. A space that vibes with your unique energy, feeling both fresh and inviting.
Your home isn’t just about where you live — it’s about how you feel when you walk in. It’s a cozy, safe place where your soul can kick back, be itself, and tell your story through every color, texture, and flow.
Design here isn’t just pretty—it’s purposeful. Together, we’ll create a sanctuary that supports your growth, sparks your joy, and feels like a big, warm hug at the end of the day.
Are you ready to step into your story? Let’s turn your vision into a space that feels like you.
Tara Riley Interior Design
Portfolio
Welcome to My Interior Design Portfolio — a creative journey that began in 2009 and continues to evolve today.
Inside, you’ll discover a carefully curated showcase of work: from my early design concepts at The Art Institute of California – Sunnyvale, to detailed hand and CAD renderings, transformative home stagings, complete remodels, rebuilds, and heartfelt volunteer projects.
Each project reflects my deep passion for shaping spaces that harmonize functionality with beauty — environments that inspire, comfort, and tell a unique story. I invite you to explore, find inspiration, and experience how thoughtful design can transform not only a space, but the way we live within it.
Tara Riley
Hello! I’m Tara, and I’ve been designing spaces long before I knew it had a name. As a kid, my room was a revolving canvas — rearranged at least once a month, each time telling a slightly different story. Sometimes, I’d sneak into my mom’s living room, armed with an eye for balance and a flair for surprise, to give her space a fresh new look. These days, I can’t even watch home design shows without feeling a surge of emotion — a mix of awe, longing, and just a hint of envy that I’m not the one crafting the magic. Creating beautiful, functional spaces isn’t just what I do — it’s woven into the fabric of who I am.
Passions & Hobbies
Music | Dancing | Intuition | Tarot | Costumes | Photoshoots | Fur Babies | Ocean | Beaches | Macrame' | Family Connection| Nature | Navigation | Travel | Space Planning | Event Execution
Core Design Skills
Organized, detail-driven designer with hands-on experience in residential design, staging, and remodels. Skilled in transforming spaces into functional, aesthetically inspiring environments aligned with client needs. Strong foundation in design software, space planning, and presentation — eager to contribute fresh ideas and energy to an innovative design firm.
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Space Planning & Concept Development
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Mood Boards & Material Selection
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Hand Drafting, Rendering & Presentation Boards
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AutoCAD | SketchUp | Revit | Illustrator | InDesign | Photoshop
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Interior Finishes: Flooring, Walls, Windows, Cabinetry, Lighting, Fixtures, Furniture & Décor
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Home Staging & Visual Merchandising
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Client Consultations & Project Coordination
Interior Designer | Creative Space Planner | Visual Storyteller
Interior Design Roles
In this space, you'll discover a vibrant overview of my professional journey, highlighting my skills, experiences, and achievements. Dive into my background in design, where creativity blends with functionality and see how I can add value to your team. I appreciate you taking the time to explore my story!
Click on the images to go to company websites.
Querent Design
Lucky Penny Interiors
Visuallyrics
Interior Design Entrepreneur
Bay Area to Northern California
2009-Present
I consult with clients to define their goals, needs, and budgets, then develop design concepts through sketches, mood boards, and 3D models using AutoCAD and SketchUp. I plan layouts to ensure optimal functionality, flow, and safety, while selecting finishes, furniture, lighting, and décor that align with the design concept and budget. In addition to managing projects, timelines, costs, and material procurement, I oversee construction and coordinate with contractors and tradespeople to ensure a cohesive result. I also design websites and marketing materials to support a unified brand and visual presentation.
La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings
Showroom Visual Designer
Chico, Redding & Sac., Ca.
Aug. 2015-Oct. 2017
I styled and maintained visual displays across five showrooms, creating inviting vignettes that showcased furniture, lighting, and décor. Collaborating with sales staff and clients, I developed design solutions that enhanced both aesthetic appeal and functionality. Additionally, I assisted with in-home set-ups and represented the brand at home shows, ensuring a cohesive and inspiring presentation of the company’s design vision.
Frugal House
North State Symphony Fundraiser
Master Bedroom Designer
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"Best In Show"
Chico, Ca.
April-June 2018
Award-winning bedroom design celebrated for creativity, functionality, and sustainable style. Part of a home showcase featuring local artists using repurposed, DIY, and donated items, with proceeds benefiting the North State Symphony.
California Closets
CAD Closet Designer
Los Gatos, Ca.
Aug. 2014-Aug. 2015
I designed custom storage solutions using CAD-based software, guiding clients through material and design selections while carefully considering their budgets. I coordinated installation processes and managed project timelines to ensure each design was executed efficiently and met the client’s expectations.
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California Renovation
Roseville Carpet One
"RCO"
Interior Designer & Project Manager
Chico, CA
Oct. 2017-June 2018
I consulted with clients to define their goals, budgets, and project requirements, then designed layouts and selected materials, furniture, lighting, and décor to bring their vision to life. I produced detailed sketches, plans, and 3D models using SketchUp to communicate design concepts effectively. Throughout each project, I managed timelines, budgets, and material sourcing while coordinating closely with contractors, architects, and tradespeople. I ensured all designs complied with building codes, safety regulations, and accessibility standards, and supervised on-site installations to deliver polished, functional spaces before presenting the final designs to clients.
Tamara Mack Design
Interior Design Internship
San Francisco, Ca.
3 months in 2011
I supported staging and design projects in residential spaces, assisting with sourcing materials, creating design boards, and preparing for installations to ensure smooth project execution and cohesive final presentations.
"Hey Lady! I could fill up 3 pages saying a "proper" goodbye, but just know you'll go down as one of the most badass produce people & i'll be sure to check in on you & your upcoming macrame' business! I love you lots & will miss you!! :("
"Tara, Thank you for making the store look fresh again! It looks great! We love how you are a self starter & have a great attitude. Keep up the awesome work :) Cheers!"
"Tara! You are absolutely crushing it at the front desk! With minimal training, you have taught yourself so much & continue to amaze us everyday with your incredible work. Your lighting-fast speed & efficiency are truly impressive, & you never waste a single moment. We know that the front desk can be a challenging & overwhelming place, but you handle it all with grace & skill. You are simply amazing!"
"Tara was very friendly, very compassionate, very insightful. So much of what she saw was right on the money. (Even Though it didn't make sense to her) I loved the fact that she was tech savvy and recorded the zoom and posted a private video on the her youtube for me to watch later. She even pulled a couple of cards after we got cut off for more clarification to wrap the reading up. All in all great reading. 😀"
THE ART OF: Teaching Workshops & Community
My workshops reflect my passion for sharing creativity, design, and community engagement. I have taught arts and crafts workshops for all ages that foster creative growth, as well as led an 8-week Interior Design program for children featuring a field trip to La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor. These programs emphasized the Elements of Art and Design (line, shape, form, color, value, space, texture) and the Principles of Art and Design (balance, emphasis, movement, pattern, repetition, rhythm, proportion, variety, unity).
Beyond teaching, I create interactive experiences such as offering on-the-spot tarot readings at the Lunar Market in Chico, Ca—designing an inviting, mystical space that sparks curiosity and intuitive connection. For those seeking ongoing inspiration, I offer personal intuitive insight to your desires, hopes and aspirations at One Who Seeks, in addition I share hundreds of complementary tarot readings on YouTube.
My volunteer work extends to several community-focused design initiatives, including the Frugal House showcase North State Symphony fundraiser, IIDA Project Build with Inn Vision, the Chocolate Festival, and much more. Each project has given me the opportunity to merge design with purpose, enriching both individual lives and the greater community.
Academic Journey
My creative path has been shaped by a foundation in photography, expanded through graphic design, and refined with a focus on interior design.
I began at Chabot College in Hayward, CA, where I studied Photography (2003–2004). There, I developed a trained eye for composition, lighting, and perspective — skills that continue to influence how I frame and present design concepts today.
Building on that visual foundation, I worked on Graphic Design from Brooks College, Sunnyvale, CA for one year (2005). This program strengthened my knowledge of typography, branding, color theory, and digital tools, giving me a deep understanding of how to create compelling visual stories.
Finally, I pursued my passion for spaces at The Art Institute of California – Sunnyvale, nearly completing a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (2009–2012). Here I mastered space planning, CAD, rendering, materials, and presentation techniques while learning to balance creativity with functionality in residential and commercial design.
Together, these experiences gave me a versatile creative toolkit — blending photography’s eye for detail, graphic designs visual communication, and interior design’s ability to transform spaces into inspiring environments.
Click the images to see my academic transcripts.
Get in Touch
“Design is storytelling through space,
I craft interiors that feel like home while inspiring a deeper connection to life within them.”
Paradise, Ca 95969