Most interior designers begin client consultations by discussing room dimensions, budgets, and functional needs. Debby Gomulka takes a more comprehensive approach—she observes everything about her clients, from their personal style choices to their travel stories and cultural interests. This holistic methodology has become the foundation of a design process that creates deeply personalized spaces, transforming generic house layouts into homes that feel like authentic extensions of their owners' personalities. Her method reveals why some designers create cookie-cutter spaces while others, like Gomulka, craft environments that tell compelling stories about the people who inhabit them.

The connection between personal style and interior preferences isn't immediately obvious to most people, but for Debby Gomulka, it's fundamental to understanding who her clients really are. During initial consultations, she pays careful attention to all aspects of her clients' personal expression—from clothing choices to cultural references—observing color preferences, pattern combinations, and overall aesthetic sensibilities that reveal personality traits and lifestyle priorities that clients might not articulate directly.

"I love teaching my clients. I love teaching them about color theory. If we're working on a merlot color palette, I love teaching them. A lot of people are afraid of color because that's why the walls are white," Gomulka explains. This educational approach transforms what could be intimidating design decisions into collaborative discovery processes where clients learn to trust their instincts while expanding their understanding of design possibilities.

Color psychology plays a crucial role in this methodology. Rather than imposing color schemes based on current trends or personal preferences, Gomulka explores each client's emotional associations with different hues. She investigates their positive and negative reactions to colors, understanding how these preferences connect to memories, experiences, and aspirations. This psychological dimension ensures that color choices support the client's well-being rather than simply following aesthetic formulas.

The personal style analysis extends beyond color to encompass texture preferences, pattern mixing capabilities, and risk tolerance. A client who confidently combines prints in their clothing might be ready for bold wallpaper choices, while someone who gravitates toward solid colors might need encouragement to introduce subtle patterns through accessories. These observations help Gomulka calibrate her recommendations to each client's comfort zone while gently expanding their design horizons.

Travel influences emerge naturally from these conversations, as clothing often carries cultural influences from places clients have visited or admired from afar. A scarf from Morocco, a jacket inspired by French tailoring, or jewelry from India all provide clues about aesthetic preferences and cultural curiosities that can inform design directions. This connection between personal style and cultural appreciation becomes particularly important in Gomulka's work, as she specializes in creating globally influenced interiors that feel authentic rather than appropriated.

The depth of Gomulka's client discovery process becomes evident in the story of one of her most significant early projects—the transformation of an 1840s mansion that had been converted into eight apartments. The client's vision for this ambitious restoration emerged not from architectural magazines or design websites, but from a childhood memory and a book of Moroccan photography.

"It doesn't necessarily have to always be a historic project with an old building. It can be a brand new construction project, and then what I would do is fuse in some elements that would give it personality according to that client. It would then be tailored to who they are, where they've traveled," Gomulka explains. This philosophy demonstrates how her process adapts to any project type while maintaining focus on personal narrative.

The Morocco-inspired kitchen in this historic home required bringing in a specialized artist from Manhattan to execute ancient wall techniques that would make the space feel authentically aged. The collaboration process involved hours of phone conversations coordinating paint colors and finishes—a level of detail that reflects Gomulka's commitment to realizing her clients' visions completely rather than settling for approximations.

"So, I literally took that vision I created for that client and moved it into a textile design. So, all of those paint colors and chips that we were creating for that design, a lot of my colors are the same, the textile," she reveals. This project became the genesis of her textile line, demonstrating how deeply she immerses herself in each client's story. The fabric patterns themselves derived from logo designs created years earlier, showing how her creative process layers personal history, client vision, and artistic inspiration into cohesive design solutions.

The textile development process illustrates her holistic approach to design. Rather than simply selecting existing products, Gomulka creates new solutions when existing options don't support her vision. This willingness to invest in custom development—whether commissioning artists, developing textiles, or collaborating with craftspeople—distinguishes her process from designers who work within predetermined product catalogs.

Her teaching background informs every client interaction. Just as she educated design students about real-world practice, she educates clients about design principles, helping them understand why certain choices work together and building their confidence in the decision-making process. This educational component ensures that clients feel ownership of their spaces rather than feeling like guests in someone else's design vision.

Gomulka's client process stands in deliberate opposition to what she calls "fast food design"—the mass-produced, one-size-fits-all approach that dominates much of today's interior design landscape. Her critique extends beyond aesthetics to encompass the fundamental relationship between designer and client, questioning whether true customization is possible when designers rely heavily on predetermined product lines and standardized approaches.

"I can take the essence of what happened in that painting and turn it into real life," she explains, describing her ability to translate abstract inspiration into livable spaces. This skill requires not just technical knowledge but also interpretive ability—the capacity to understand what elements of an artwork, travel experience, or cultural reference resonate with a client and how those elements can be integrated into functional interior design.

Her involvement with the international Forum of Innovative Design Association reflects her commitment to elevating design standards globally. The organization brings together designers who share her philosophy of pushing creative boundaries rather than accepting industry conventions. This involvement allows her to contribute to larger conversations about design education and professional practice while staying connected to innovative approaches being developed worldwide.

"Just exactly what I teach my students today, my interns, don't be afraid to push your creativity. Go for it. You've got a creative idea, you've got a vision. Don't try to fit in. It's creative. Creative is abstract. It's not what everybody else is doing," she advises. This philosophy guides both her client work and her mentorship of emerging designers, emphasizing courage over conformity.

The emphasis on authenticity extends to her critique of social media's influence on design. While platforms like Instagram provide inspiration and marketing opportunities, they can also create pressure toward homogenized aesthetics that prioritize photogenic qualities over livability and personal meaning. Gomulka's process deliberately resists these pressures, focusing on creating spaces that serve their inhabitants rather than performing for cameras.

Her client process ultimately reflects a broader philosophy about the role of design in people's lives. Rather than viewing interior design as decoration applied to functional spaces, she approaches it as environmental storytelling that can enhance daily experience and emotional well-being. This perspective requires understanding clients as complete individuals—their histories, aspirations, relationships, and dreams—rather than simply as consumers with decorating needs.

The comprehensive approach to understanding clients represents just one element of this methodology, but it exemplifies her commitment to seeing clients clearly and designing spaces that truly serve them. In an industry often driven by trends and product marketing, Debby Gomulka's client process offers a different model—one that prioritizes individual vision, cultural authenticity, and emotional resonance over convenience and conformity.