BRETT DAMPIER DESIGN
DESIGN STRATEGY + INTERIOR DESIGN
Hello! I'm Brett.
I've always been fascinated by the relationship between people and place. We shape our environments but our environments also shape us. They can reveal our values, experiences and aspirations while also influencing the way we behave, connect and feel. Because environments can affect us so deeply, the way we design them matters. By establishing a clear vision at the outset, the project is not only beautiful & cohesive, it becomes a reflection of the values and goals of the people who inhabit the space.
Since childhood, I’ve been subconsciously studying the art of creating a meaningful home & life. When I was a child, I wanted to be a waitress. I loved setting the table, having great food, & creating a memorable experience for others. Not a lot has changed in this regard, except, perhaps, my definition of what I wanted to be. As I grew older, I realized my purpose was creating beauty, connection & intention through design.
I'm an interior designer with 15+ years experience, a Masters in Interior Architecture and a B.A. in Psychology & Italian Studies from U.C. Berkeley. I built my career at AvroKO, a top hospitality design firm, creating award winning restaurants & hotels around the world for clients like Ritz Carlton & Joie de Vivre. I led projects that were featured in publications such as the New York Times, Travel & Leisure & Interior Design Magazine and won awards for Hotel of the Year in various competitions. Brett Dampier Interior Design was established in 2018 to focus on historic renovations & residential design in the San Francisco Bay Area. I now work from North Idaho with clients and brands across the country offering Design Strategy and select Interiors projects.
I'm endlessly curious. I collect observations the way other people collect inspiration images. Whether I'm wandering a farmers market, noticing the lighting in a café, studying why a hotel lobby feels calming, or reading about environmental psychology, I'm always asking the same question: What makes a place feel the way it does and what message is it communicating? They're all laboratories for understanding the relationship between people and place. That curiosity eventually revealed a pattern in my own clients that led to a shift in the focus of my work.
I saw that clients often came to me overwhelmed by options and not sure how to choose. They struggled with identifying their style vs. what was trending and making consistent decisions. They second guessed themselves leading to costly changes and delays. It wasn't enough to have inspiration images and a list of needs. They needed a framework for making decisions with a consistent point of view that connected to them on a deeper level to give them confidence and make the process easier. This is what led to a new vision of how to work together and what I offer clients today with Design Strategy.
Design should intentionally support the life you're trying to live. I've learned that every successful project has a North Star —a clear understanding of who a space is for, how it's meant to feel, and what role it should play in someone's life. When that vision is defined, design becomes surprisingly intuitive. Materials, furniture, layouts, and finishes stop competing for attention because every decision can be measured against a shared purpose. Strategy isn't a separate phase of the project. It's the foundation that allows every creative decision to become more intentional.
Clients who enjoy this process are often curious, thoughtful decision makers who want more than just a pretty space. They are people and brands who value collaboration and quality and who want to translate their vision into a physical space.
My goal isn't simply to help you create a beautiful home. It's to help you create an environment that reflects who you are, supports who you're becoming and makes every decision feel intentional.
FUN FACTS:
California girl forever — nothing compares to that golden light and the spray of salty ocean air
Childhood hero: Martha Stewart
Favorite part of any trip: Wandering farmers markets, hippie co-ops, or gourmet grocers. My husband jokes he could lose me for hours — and he’s not wrong. Bury me at Erewhon.
Food is my love language: Cooking and sharing meals with people I love is everything
Favorite hobby: romanticizing everyday moments
Favorite time of day: lamp o’clock
The more tech the world adds, the more candles I light — analog life for the win
Firm believer that life feels best lived in rhythm with the seasons
Phrase I say most: It’s the journey, not the destination