About RIAD Studio

I’m Emily Schwamb, the founder of RIAD Studio and a trained interior designer specializing in full-service residential design for custom homes, renovations, kitchens, and additions.

My interest in design started early. At five years old, I was already sketching elaborate dream homes - complete with interior ski slopes and bowling alleys! That childhood fascination with space planning and problem-solving eventually led me to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in interior design.

I began my design career on the hospitality & resort team for a large architectural firm in Denver. But, after moving back home to Minnesota in 2007, I transitioned to designing residential projects, including 15 years in a design-build role with an established general contractor. That experience shaped the way I work today: with equal attention to beauty, function, construction realities, and the hundreds of decisions that determine how a home feels in daily life. This year - 2026, marks my 20th year of practicing design!

When I made the decision to start this studio, I chose the name RIAD for two reasons:

RIAD stands for Residential Interior Architectural Design, a phrase that reflects the studio’s focus on the foundational decisions that shape a home: layout, flow, cabinetry, hard finishes, lighting, materials, and built-in details. Today, RIAD Studio describes this work as full-service residential design from layout to finish.

The name also refers to the traditional Moroccan Riad - a home organized around an interior courtyard or garden. I’ve always loved that idea: a home designed around privacy, natural light, air, views, and connection to nature. That balance of function, beauty, shelter, and calm is central to the way I design.

RIAD Studio Core Values

1. Stewardship

Great design is an act of stewardship - respecting what exists, making wise decisions, and creating homes that will serve families beautifully for years to come. Stewardship is at the heart of every project. RIAD Studio honors the trust clients place in us by thoughtfully caring for their investment, their home, their time, and their vision.

2. Honesty & Truthfulness

RIAD Studio communicates openly, sets realistic expectations, provides thoughtful guidance, and approaches difficult conversations with kindness. Clarity is valued over assumptions, and integrity over convenience.

3. Authenticity

Rather than imposing a signature style or following expectations for what a home should be, the design process is guided by the unique character of each client, each home, and each project. Every decision is made with the goal of creating spaces that feel deeply personal, enduring, and true to the people who live in them.

4. Curiosity

Every home and every family has a story worth understanding. RIAD Studio listens carefully, asks thoughtful questions, and remains open to learning throughout the design process. Curiosity uncovers opportunities, solves problems creatively, and leads to more intentional design.

5. Kindness

RIAD Studio approaches clients, contractors, tradespeople, and collaborators with empathy, professionalism, and generosity, recognizing that the best projects are built on strong relationships. Complex projects inevitably involve questions, revisions, and occasional mistakes; when they do, RIAD Studio does our best to resolve them with grace, assume the best intentions, and work collaboratively to find thoughtful solutions together.

If you’re looking for thoughtful design guidance for a custom home, renovation, kitchen, or addition, I’d love to hear about your project.

-Emily