Professionally educated and trained, interior designers coordinate with architects, engineers, and contractors to design indoor environments that are pleasant, safe and functional. Some designers specialize in large projects such as hotels, hospitals, airports or major office buildings. Others work on a smaller scale, helping clients to design their private homes. Pamela Bayer is a Hudson-based interior designer, whose credits include mega-homes and vacation retreats on the Atlantic, high-rise apartments, condos and offices in New York City, the restoration of historical suburban houses, restaurants and recently the design of television studio sets.

Q: Why did you decide to become an interior designer?

A: I started out with Ralph Lauren and Peterman Industries in New York City as a consultant with fashion. I thought I would be staying in fashion. Then Ralph Lauren launched a home fashion line and it was an easy transition to home fashion, so I ended up doing that. I began working with an interior designer and went to school and shadowed architects and builders to learn everything that I could about the field. When the interior designer I worked for decided to relocate from New Jersey to Florida, many of her clients stayed with me.

Q: Did you ever think about doing something else?

A: Honestly, I thought I was going to stay in the retail clothing industry. That was what I was passionate about when I started my design career. But, when Ralph Lauren started their home fashions line, which really was the first home fashion line of products, I realized that was a broader opportunity and transitioned into it.

Q: What is your working day like?

A: With offices in Hudson as well as New Jersey, I travel a lot. My clients are in the East Coast - New York, New Jersey, Connecticut - and in Hudson, Akron, Shaker Heights and the surrounding communities. My day starts early. Because interior design is part of the construction and building industry, we start at 7 a.m. and stop at about 6 p.m. Then in the evenings I see clients.

Q: What gives you the greatest satisfaction?

A: Repeat customers. I have one that has been a client for 11 years. My greatest satisfaction is that call back.