Laura Merchant
Laura Merchant is a seasoned interior designer and Senior Designer at Interior Elements, where she specializes in commercial interiors and workplace environments. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, she brings nearly two decades of experience designing functional, visually compelling spaces for clients ranging from law firms and banks to corporate offices and professional service organizations. Her work spans new construction projects, office relocations, and workplace refreshes, all with a focus on creating environments that support both productivity and employee experience.
Laura began her career in both residential and corporate design before discovering her passion for commercial interiors. Over the years, she has grown within her field, advancing from interior designer to senior designer and project manager. Known for managing a high volume of projects simultaneously—often 40 to 50 at various stages—she skillfully balances design development, client presentations, product procurement, and on-site project oversight. Her ability to translate drawings into fully realized, functional spaces has made her a trusted partner to clients and colleagues alike.
Committed to continuous learning and professional growth, Laura stays current with evolving building codes, workplace trends, and design innovations through ongoing education and active involvement in the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). She has also served in leadership roles within her local IIDA chapter, further contributing to the profession. Recognized for her performance and dedication, Laura has earned distinctions such as Designer of the Year at her firm and consistent inclusion in its legacy group—reflecting both her talent and her commitment to excellence in design.
• Registered Interior Designer
• NCIDQ Certified
• Mississippi State University- B.S.
• Designer of the Year
• Legacy Group Member for Six Years
• International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a commitment to continuous learning, a strong focus on serving my clients well, and a willingness to listen, ask questions, and learn from others along the way.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Someone told me once, don't just go sit at your desk and put your earphones on. You learn so much just from listening to those around you and how they're responding to a client or responding to a co-worker. That's just, I feel like, just always be listening and trying to figure out how you can be a better person yourself, like, at your job.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would just say, do it. I love my job because every job I do is different. It gives me a chance to meet clients, find out what they want, and try my best to exceed their expectations, so that when a project is finished, they're always like, wow, this is even better than I thought it was gonna be. I would just say, when you do get into whatever profession, if it's not interior design, just ask the questions, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Someone told me once, don't just go sit at your desk and put your earphones on. You learn so much just from listening to those around you and how they're responding to a client or responding to a co-worker. Just always be listening and trying to figure out how you can be a better person yourself at your job. And don't be afraid to ask questions, especially when you're brand new, trying to figure it all out.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I feel like some of the challenges that I don't know that I would call them challenges now, but I feel like it's something that we all just kind of are watching to see how it plays out, is just this whole new world of AI. We're trying to find ways to use it productively and how can it help us. But I feel like so many people are like, oh, well, I'll just get online and put this in this system and ask AI what to do for this design portion that I need, as opposed to relying on a true person to help you. I do think there's ways that the AI is very effective and can help, and then there's just things about it that's very uncertain to see how that's gonna be. That's the thing I would say that I'm interested to see how it goes over the next few years.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are continuous learning, delivering exceptional client service, actively listening and asking thoughtful questions, and supporting the recognition and leadership of women.