Interior Design Intern / Studio Assistant

Interior Design Intern / Studio Assistant Liz Tapper Interiors | Solana Beach, CA Part-Time | In-Person + Project Site Visits 

About Liz Tapper Interiors

Liz Tapper Interiors is a full-service residential interior design studio specializing in refined, livable homes throughout San Diego and Southern California. Our work spans luxury new construction, remodels, and full-home furnishing projects, with a focus on creating thoughtful, elevated spaces that feel both beautiful and deeply personal.

We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and design-minded Interior Design Intern / Studio Assistant to join our team on a part-time basis. This is a hands-on role ideal for a student or someone early in their design career who is eager to gain real-world experience within a fast-paced residential interior design studio.

The intern will work closely with our design team to support the day-to-day organization of the studio, maintain our design and sample libraries, assist with sourcing and vendor coordination, prepare for client presentations and installations, and help with the many details that keep our projects moving.

This is an opportunity to gain exposure to the full residential design process while becoming an important part of the behind-the-scenes operations of the studio.

Responsibilities 

Design Library & Studio Organization

• Maintain the organization, cleanliness, and overall presentation of the studio and design library
• Organize fabrics, wallpaper, tile, stone, wood, finishes, hardware, catalogs, and other design materials
• Keep the design library current by incorporating new vendor collections and removing or returning discontinued and outdated samples
• Maintain an organized system for samples being used across active client projects
• Assist with sample returns, organization, and tracking
• Help organize vendor materials, catalogs, pricing resources, and other studio references
• Assist with maintaining COM binders and other project materials and documentation
• Keep office and design supplies stocked and organized
• Help ensure the studio remains polished, organized, and client-ready

Design & Sourcing Support

• Assist designers with pulling fabrics, hard materials, finishes, and samples for active projects
• Request samples and product information from vendors and showrooms
• Assist with sourcing furniture, accessories, lighting, materials, and other project items as directed by the design team
• Support the organization and preparation of materials for client presentations and design meetings
• Help organize presentation samples, tear sheets, finish selections, and other client-facing materials
• Assist designers with local showroom visits and sourcing trips as needed

Vendor Coordination

• Communicate with vendor representatives and showrooms regarding samples, product information, availability, and materials
• Coordinate local sample pickups and returns
• Help keep vendor resources and studio material libraries up-to-date
• Build familiarity with LTI's vendor network, products, and resources
• Assist with project-related pickups, returns, and deliveries as needed

Installations & Accessory Library

• Maintain an organized inventory of LTI accessories, styling pieces, and other items available for client projects and installations
• Keep accessory inventory current so the team can easily identify what is available, what is being used on a project, and what needs to be sourced
• Assist with pulling and organizing accessories for upcoming installations
• Prepare, label, pack, inventory, and stage items prior to installation
• Assist with installation days, including unpacking, organizing, styling support, inventory management, and general assistance to the design team
• Help organize and return unused accessories, samples, and materials following installations
• Assist with receiving and inspecting smaller project items when needed

Project & Studio Support

• Attend site visits, client meetings, and installations alongside members of the design team when appropriate
• Assist with project and installation logistics
• Help organize project documentation and materials
• Run local errands for the studio, including vendor pickups, sample returns, sourcing trips, project deliveries, and other office needs
• Support the design team with miscellaneous project and administrative tasks as needed
• Help anticipate studio needs and keep day-to-day operations running smoothly

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed coursework or a degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or a related field preferred
• Strong interest in high-end residential interior design
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail
• Positive, collaborative, and proactive attitude
• Willingness to take initiative and jump in wherever help is needed
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Professional and comfortable communicating with vendors and showroom representatives
• Comfortable with hands-on tasks including organizing materials, packing for installations, moving smaller boxes and accessories, and running errands
• Proficiency in Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Canva is helpful
• Previous interior design, showroom, retail, or related experience is a plus but not required
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required

Schedule

This is a part-time, in-person internship based out of our Solana Beach studio. We are looking for someone who can commit to a consistent weekly schedule, with some flexibility around client presentations, project installations, and other studio needs. Occasional local travel to vendor showrooms, client homes, receiving locations, and project sites will be required.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is genuinely excited to learn the interior design business and wants to understand what goes into executing beautiful residential projects from concept through installation. The right person takes pride in staying organized, notices the small details, and is willing to jump between creative and operational tasks throughout the day. You might spend the morning helping a designer pull fabrics for a presentation, the afternoon reorganizing the sample library and coordinating sample returns, and the following day preparing accessories for an installation.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who is reliable, resourceful, eager to learn, and willing to pitch in wherever needed.

What You'll Gain

This internship offers hands-on exposure to many aspects of a luxury residential design studio, including:

• Material and finish sourcing
• Vendor and showroom relationships
• Furniture and accessory sourcing
• Client presentation preparation
• Project organization
• Installation preparation and execution
• Styling and accessorizing
• Studio operations
• The day-to-day process of bringing a residential design project to life

You'll work directly alongside our design team and gain practical experience that goes well beyond the classroom.