Chronicles Of A Traveling Interior Designer: Journal Entry One
For this post, I’m getting a little more personal. Instead of talking about the latest AI interior design tools or the newest trends, I want to share what I’ve been up to as a traveling interior designer and how I’m making it all work. Honestly, I thought writing this might be a little therapeutic.
AVOID COSTLY (AND UGLY) DESIGN MISTAKES
So, what have I been up to? Let’s take it back a bit. I wasn’t always a traveling interior designer, but I have always been a bit of a jet-setter. Since my early 20s, I was constantly on the move—sometimes visiting up to six different countries in a year. And yes, I know that’s a very privileged thing to say. My reasoning? I love adventure, I love experiencing new cultures, and I’m naturally curious. Oh, and I love salsa dancing. So, travel quickly became a big part of my life. Plus, I’ve always loved gazing at architecture.
My Interior Design Bizz…
Somehow, I juggled running my own boutique interior design firm in downtown Toronto while also traveling abroad. It wasn’t always easy, but I made it work.
If you want to learn more about my backstory, read here.
Pivoting To Become A Traveling Interior Designer
Over the last three years, though, my business started to pivot. I went from running a full-scope boutique firm in Toronto—driving around in my car, shopping for clients, staging homes, doing just about everything under the sun—to reassessing what I really wanted. Those were exciting years, full of growth. I sharpened my design skills, built amazing relationships with clients, and developed my business.
But about three years ago, my life changed dramatically. I faced a tragedy I didn’t think I’d have to face for a long time: losing a parent. Around that same time, my business also slowed down. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Maybe it was rising interest rates in the GTA, maybe people’s financial stress, or maybe other factors I couldn’t quite identify. All I knew was that, despite years of hard work, the stability I hoped for wasn’t there. I began rethinking my whole life and business.
That’s when I realized I wanted to expand my horizons. I didn’t want to be limited to serving Toronto and surrounding areas. Don’t get me wrong—I had some wonderful experiences working with people there (and some not-so-wonderful ones). But I felt like I needed to get smarter with my business and strategy.
So, I started blogging. While I didn’t expect it to become a money-maker overnight (and it didn’t), I knew it would boost my website’s SEO—and it did, slowly. Around that same time, I also began offering online interior design services on my website, hoping to connect with a broader audience.
I kept blogging, kept adjusting, and kept moving forward. Life was teaching me new lessons and redirecting me in different ways. My business slowed down in some areas, but I leaned into my new strategy.
I Took A Huge Risk
Then in late 2024, I faced another perceived setback—something that shook my stability again. But around that same time, something exciting happened: one of my blog posts went viral, which was: The Best and Worst Interior Design AI,A Designer’s Review. That little spark gave me the courage to take a big risk.
That risk was leaving Toronto.
Now, what does “leaving Toronto” really mean? Honestly, I’m still figuring it out. In April 2025, I moved out of my condo, sold my belongings, and left with a one-way ticket to Montreal. Montreal was my first stop in this new life as a traveling interior designer. It was the perfect starting point—familiar enough, with a friend living there—but also different enough to push me out of my comfort zone. I spent time working with online clients, blogging more aggressively, and improving my site.
And then, some magic started happening. Since February 2025, I’ve quadrupled my blog views, set up Google ads (i would help if you’d click on a few 😉), landed new online interior design clients, and even secured a handful of brand deals.
Suddenly, this dream of being a traveling interior designer felt possible. Now, I’m not saying “I’ve made it” yet—there’s still a lot of growth ahead—but for the first time, I can see the path unfolding.
After Montreal, I took a one-way ticket to Croatia. Why Croatia? Well, I’m Croatian by heritage, but born in Canada. I always felt a longing for a “home” I never got to experience. I wanted to embrace everything my Balkan-Mediterranean roots had to offer while scaling my online business.
So here I am, currently in Croatia. My new business strategy is working—slowly in some ways, quickly in others. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities and growth. In some moments, it feels like I’m dreaming. In others, it feels too good to be true. And yes, sometimes I panic.
Has it been difficult being a traveling interior designer? In short—yes.
Traveling means wanting to enjoy the country you’re in, see family and friends, and soak up the culture. At the same time, scaling a business requires focus, which can be challenging when you’re constantly planning your next move. Add in the pressure of keeping a healthy lifestyle and juggling life’s curveballs—and yes, it can feel overwhelming.
But I’ve learned that as a business owner and traveling designer, it’s always going to be a juggle.
“If you can’t juggle, don’t join the circus.”
— Daniela Alilovic, 2025
So, I’ve learned to embrace the craziness of this new life. I’m working with amazing online clients, growing my blog, collaborating with brands, and continuing to figure out how to scale this dream.
Where to next? Lithuania. Stay tuned to see what I get up to there.
And if you’re wondering…
What Does A Traveling Interior Designer Do?
Well, in today’s world of online design, basically anything a traditional full-service interior designer can do, I can do virtually. Whether it’s a one-room design, answering a few questions, helping with architectural finishes, or designing an entire house—I offer tailored online interior design services (wink wink).
Click Here To Shop My Favourite Home Goods
Let’s design your space together, virtually.
