Hi! I'm Brad Smith, and welcome to Omni Home Ideas.
I'm a husband, father, Certified Interior Designer, project manager, former freelance writer, and passionate advocate for beautiful, functional living spaces. I love transforming homes and especially enjoy tackling design challenges that others haven't solved before—helping homeowners create spaces they never thought were possible within their budget.
My journey into interior design started with one desperate phone call from a client who had spent $15,000 on a kitchen renovation and was in tears because she hated walking into her own home. That conversation changed everything.
My journey into interior design didn't start the way most people expect. I actually began my career as a freelance writer, spending over five years crafting web content and blogs. But it was one particular moment—one frustrated phone call from a client—that completely changed the trajectory of my life.
The moment that changed everything
Brad during his freelance writing days, 2016
I'll never forget this conversation. It was 2016, and I was working as a freelance writer when I got a call from Sarah, a client who had hired me to write content for her home renovation blog. But she wasn't calling about writing—she was calling because she was in tears.
"Brad," she said, "I've spent $15,000 on this kitchen renovation, and it looks worse than when I started. The contractor says everything is fine, but I hate walking into my own kitchen. I don't know what to do."
Something about her desperation struck me deeply. I found myself asking detailed questions about her space, the layout, the materials they'd chosen, the lighting. As we talked, I started sketching ideas on paper, thinking about traffic flow, about how she actually used her kitchen with her two young kids.
Three hours later, I had walked her through a complete redesign approach—repositioning the island, changing the cabinet hardware, adding task lighting, and creating a coffee station that would keep her morning routine smooth. The total cost to fix everything? Less than $3,000.
When she called me back two months later, crying again—but this time from joy—I knew I had found my calling. "Brad, you saved my kitchen. You saved my mornings. You gave me back the heart of my home."
That's when I realized that interior design wasn't just about making spaces look pretty. It was about understanding how people actually live, and creating spaces that improve their daily lives. And I was surprisingly good at it.
From creative writing to interior design
After that transformative experience with Sarah's kitchen, I started paying attention to spaces everywhere I went. I found myself mentally redesigning restaurant layouts, noticing why some waiting rooms felt comfortable while others felt sterile, understanding how lighting affected my mood in different environments.
My background in creative writing actually turned out to be incredibly valuable. Writing had taught me to think about narrative flow, about how to guide someone through an experience, about the emotional impact of every word choice. Interior design, I discovered, follows many of the same principles—except instead of guiding someone through a story, you're guiding them through a space.
But I knew that intuition and natural ability weren't enough. If I was going to help people transform their most important spaces—their homes—I needed formal training, proper credentials, and a deep understanding of design principles, building codes, and industry standards.
So in 2017, while still working as a freelance writer, I made the decision that would define the next chapter of my life: I applied to Pratt Institute's Master's program in Interior Design.
My Pratt Institute experience
Getting accepted to Pratt Institute was just the beginning. The Master's program in Interior Design is intensive, comprehensive, and designed to transform students into professional designers who can handle any space, any challenge, any client need.
What the Pratt Institute program covers
Pratt Institute Interior Design studio - where theory meets practice
The Pratt curriculum exposed me to every aspect of professional interior design:
Design Theory and History: Understanding the evolution of interior spaces and psychological principles
Space Planning and Layout: Optimizing traffic flow, functionality, and spatial relationships
Building Systems and Codes: Electrical, plumbing, HVAC integration, and accessibility requirements
Materials and Finishes: In-depth study of fabrics, flooring, and wall treatments
Lighting Design: Natural and artificial lighting strategies for different spaces
Sustainable Design: Environmentally responsible and energy-efficient solutions
Project Management: Timeline management, budget control, and contractor coordination
Computer-Aided Design: Mastery of AutoCAD, SketchUp, and 3D modeling software
The program culminated in a comprehensive capstone project where I designed a complete 3,500 square foot co-working space from concept to construction documents. This project taught me more about real-world design challenges than any single experience in the program.
Building Omni Home Ideas from the ground up
In 2017, fresh out of Pratt Institute with my Master's degree, I faced the same challenge every new business owner encounters: nobody knows who you are.
I started Omni Home Ideas with a simple mission: help homeowners create beautiful, functional spaces without breaking the bank. But turning that mission into a sustainable business was harder than I expected.
The early struggles
My first year was humbling. I attended every networking event in Dallas, joined the local chamber of commerce, and reached out to contractors and real estate agents. I must have had coffee meetings with 200 people that first year, and most of them led nowhere.
The breakthrough came through content creation. Drawing on my writing background, I started publishing detailed guides about home improvement and interior design. But instead of generic advice, I focused on specific, budget-conscious solutions for real problems I encountered with clients.
Building connections in the Dallas design community, 2018
When I wrote "How to Make a Small Living Room Feel Twice as Large for Under $500," it struck a chord. That article got shared thousands of times and brought in my first wave of serious inquiries.
Growing the business
Word of mouth became my most powerful marketing tool. Every satisfied client referred friends and family. Sarah, whose kitchen transformation had originally inspired my career change, became one of my biggest advocates, referring over a dozen clients in my first two years.
Today, Omni Home Ideas has completed over 352 projects, from small apartment refreshes to complete home renovations to commercial spaces. We've helped clients with budgets ranging from $2,000 to $200,000, always focusing on maximizing impact while respecting financial constraints.
My design philosophy and approach
After working with hundreds of clients and completing over 352 projects, I've developed a design philosophy built around one core principle: "Great homes improve lives, and great design should be accessible to everyone."
The three pillars of my approach
A perfect example of function meeting beauty - a client's transformed living space
Function First, Always
Before I consider color schemes or furniture placement, I spend time understanding how my clients actually live in their space. Every design decision must serve a functional purpose.
Budget-Conscious Luxury
I believe luxury comes from thoughtful design, not expensive materials. A $50 lighting change can transform a room more dramatically than a $5,000 furniture purchase.
Sustainable and Timeless
I focus on creating timeless foundations that clients can update with accessories and small changes as their tastes evolve. Sustainability matters too.
Client success stories and transformations
The Dallas Loft That Changed Everything
The Challenge: Marcus and Jennifer had purchased a 1,200 square foot loft in Deep Ellum with soaring ceilings and great natural light, but the previous owner had made some questionable choices. The space felt cavernous and cold, with a kitchen island positioned right in the middle of the traffic flow.
The Solution: Instead of moving walls (expensive), we used strategic furniture placement and room dividers to create distinct zones. The key insight was repositioning the kitchen island to create a natural separation between living and dining areas.
Timeline: 4 months from design to completion
Budget: $85,000 total renovation
Results: 8 friend and family referrals since completion
What clients say about working with me
"Brad didn't just redesign our kitchen—he completely changed how our family functions in our home. His ability to understand how we actually live, not just how we wanted things to look, made all the difference. The new layout saves me 20 minutes every morning, and my kids actually clean up after themselves now because everything has a logical place."
Sarah and Mike Johnson
Complete kitchen renovation, Plano, TX | Budget: $45,000 | ★★★★★
"I was skeptical about hiring an interior designer because I thought it would be expensive and impractical. Brad proved me wrong on both counts. He helped us create a home office that increased my productivity and somehow cost less than what I was planning to spend on my own."
Jennifer Martinez
Dallas, TX | Budget: $8,500
"Working with Brad on our restaurant design was the best business decision we made. He understood that every square foot needed to generate revenue, but he also created an atmosphere that keeps customers coming back. Our sales increased 23% in the first six months."
My writing focuses on practical, actionable advice that homeowners can actually implement. I especially enjoy tackling design challenges that other sources haven't fully addressed, helping people solve specific problems they're facing in their homes.
My favorite article categories:
Creating comprehensive design guides for homeowners
Creative solutions and inspiration for transforming any space.
Recently, I've been focusing on creating comprehensive guides that walk homeowners through entire project processes, from initial planning through final installation. These step-by-step resources help people avoid common mistakes and achieve professional-quality results.
I hope you find these articles helpful, and please contact me if you need personalized design consultation for your space.
Ready to Transform Your Space?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your design goals and see how we can bring your vision to life.
Sarah and Mike Johnson
Jennifer Martinez
Dallas, TX | Budget: $8,500
David Chen
Restaurant Owner, Dallas, TX
Creating comprehensive design guides for homeowners
