LLStyle PRO Spotlight: Combining Beauty and Function with Designer Nureed Saeed

For interior designer Nureed Saeed, the joy of design is all about the hunt. “The idea of the hunt for what’s new and what’s beautiful, and having the eye for it, is what established it for me.” she says.

Nureed is the owner and creative director of design firm Nu Interiors, a firm that operates out of both New Jersey and Northern California. Nureed started the business nine years ago while still living in New Jersey where she fell in love with the art of design, specifically in more logistically challenging spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.

“I love the idea of putting that puzzle together, and figuring it out,” she says. “It culminates all the ideas of the left and right brain: project management and execution, along with design tastes and understanding how things work together visually.”

After moving to Berkeley, California, from New Jersey four years ago, Nureed was equally splitting her time between coasts with her business—until COVID hit and put a quick stop on any coast-to-coast travel. Since then, she’s firmly established Nu Interiors in California, but she still takes on projects in her home state.

The design firm takes on all varieties of home renovation projects, but specializes in bathrooms and kitchens where Nureed gets to put her problem-solving abilities to work. “There’s something I love about the functionality of bathrooms and kitchens,” she says. “There are constraints to what we can and can’t do to make it all work in one space.”

With a “small but mighty” team of design assistants, drafters, and contractors on both coasts who act as on-site project managers, Nureed can serve her clients and keep projects running from across the country. The biggest challenge of working with her clients, she says, is taking their wish lists and finding the best way to bring them to life. With tools like Pinterest, Instagram, and Houzz at her clients’ fingertips, it can be a difficult task translating dreams into reality.

“It’s my job to pull that puzzle apart and ask the client, ‘why do you like it? What do you like about it?’ I’m a little bit of a home or remodeling therapist in some ways, because I’m trying to help them piece together why this space isn’t good for them, and figure out how to make it work.”

Prior to Nu Interiors, Nureed spent over 15 years in the fashion industry as buyer, merchandiser, and product developer for major brands like Kenneth Cole, where she learned the importance of everyday function in design. “I approach things with a practical eye, so if something that appears functional isn’t, it doesn’t need to be there,” she says.

Operating bi-coastal can make working with vendors and sticking to project timelines a challenge (re: nightmare), but Nureed says working with LL Flooring Pro representative Johan Helmel for projects on both coasts has made the process of securing high-quality flooring a breeze.

“I don’t try to make any concessions when it comes to flooring,” she says. “If you don't have the floors right, nothing in the space will look how you want it to. The flooring is the largest surface area in the space, so it sets the stage for everything.”

Tips for Designers Working with Contractors

Be practical: “Especially with kitchens and bathrooms, contractors know that the dream needs to align with reality. Keep your budget and timeline firmly in mind when mapping out your dream space. In the end they’re the ones making sure everything is to code.”

Strike a balance: “From fashion to interior design, function is key. If there’s something in the space that appears functional and is not—perhaps a faux pocket or a fake drawer panel—it’s not serving any purpose.”

Build a partnership: “Be willing to partner with your contractors. Because of the two-way relationships I’ve built, my contractors are willing to push the envelope and listen to my ideas, and help to figure out how to make my visions into reality.”
 

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In this video, designer Heather Fox talks about renovating a home while combining organic and modern elements for a bright and welcoming style with a touch of edge.