We sat down with Clara Mendez, one of the lead designers at InHouse, to talk about the changing expectations of modern renters, the power of flexible furniture, and why she thinks “perfect spaces” are overrated.

Q: Clara, you’ve been designing residential spaces for over a decade. What’s changed most in how people think about their homes?

Clara: A few years ago, everyone wanted the same look — light wood, white walls, minimal everything. Now people want comfort and belonging. It’s less about perfection and more about personality. I think the pandemic reminded us that homes are lived in, not photographed.

Q: What’s your first step when designing a new space?

Clara: I always start with one question: “What do you do here?” For some, the living room is a movie zone; for others, it’s where they work, eat, or host friends. Once I understand the function, everything else — color, layout, furniture — falls into place. Function first, always.

Q: You’ve worked closely with InHouse on furnished rental setups. How do you make a space feel both universal and personal?

Clara: That’s the biggest challenge! You want a design that’s easy to love, but not generic. The trick is using familiar shapes — soft sofas, clean dining tables — and layering them with small stories: a woven lamp, an art print that feels local, a rug with texture. Those are the details that make someone walk in and say, “This feels like me.”

Q: Do you have a favorite project you’ve worked on recently?

Clara: Definitely The Glass Box. It was a minimalist apartment with huge windows, very architectural. We softened it with linen fabrics, round edges, and muted tones. It became this perfect balance of structure and warmth. The resident told us she never thought she’d love a beige sofa, but now she can’t imagine anything else.

Q: What design advice would you give someone moving into a new place?

Clara: Don’t rush it. Live in your space for a few weeks before buying everything. Notice the light, how you move through the rooms, where you naturally drop your bag or make coffee. A home comes together slowly — and that’s okay. The best designs evolve with you.

Q: What’s next for you and the InHouse design team?

Clara: We’re working on more adaptive layouts — spaces that can change easily with your life. Foldable desks, modular sofas, art you can reconfigure. People’s needs change fast; design should keep up. Our goal is to make design feel less intimidating and more like a conversation.

Closing Thoughts

As Clara puts it, “Good design doesn’t shout. It listens.” That philosophy runs deep at InHouse — every floor plan, every furnished setup, and every designer behind it starts with one simple goal: making spaces that work beautifully for the people who live in them.