Interior Design Assistant Internship Jobs in Boca Raton, FL

Design Assistant

The Kitchenworks  •  Fort Lauderdale, FL

If you've ever walked into a beautifully designed kitchen and felt something — that pull to run your hand along the cabinetry, to imagine what you'd cook there — this role might be for you.

The Kitchenworks is a 36-year-old, family-owned design-build firm specializing in bespoke kitchens for clients who care deeply about craftsmanship, quality, and getting it right. We're the exclusive South Florida dealer for Dutch Made Custom Cabinetry, plus authorized purveyors of Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Viking, and other fine appliance brands. Our projects range from $75,000 to well over $250,000, and our clients — many with $50M+ net worth, often international — expect, and deserve, meticulous attention to every detail.

We're hiring now and moving quickly. If you're the right fit, we'd like to have you in our Fort Lauderdale showroom within three weeks.

What This Role Is — And What It Isn't

This is a support role. You'll be the operational backbone behind our Lead Designers — keeping 20–30 active projects running, tracking hundreds of moving pieces, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. Our Lead Designers handle creative direction, client sales, and original design. You make their work possible.

If you're a senior designer looking to lead your own projects, this isn't the seat for you — and we'd rather tell you that upfront. If you're someone who finds genuine satisfaction in being indispensable behind the scenes, who likes seeing complex projects move on time because of your systems, this is exactly the seat for you. There's room to grow into a Lead Designer role over time, but only after you've mastered the operational reality first.

What You'll Actually Do

Project Coordination & Tracking

•      Maintain real-time status on 20–30 concurrent projects across various stages

•      Track orders from placement through delivery and installation

•      Coordinate scheduling between clients, contractors, vendors, and our installation team

•      Manage deliveries, logistics, and rush orders with precision

Vendor & Purchasing Management

•      Communicate daily with cabinetry manufacturers (Dutch Made, Grabill), appliance distributors (Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele), and specialty vendors

•      Request and compile quotes; enter and process purchase orders

•      Follow up relentlessly on open orders and lead times

•      Build relationships with vendor reps who will take your calls

Design Support

•      Make AutoCAD redline revisions to existing kitchen plans and elevations

•      Prepare materials, samples, and folders for client presentations

•      Conduct site visits to verify field measurements and assess project conditions

•      Free up our Lead Designers — especially Yanina, our top performer — to focus on selling

Client Experience

•      Serve as a reliable point of contact for project status updates

•      Greet showroom walk-ins with the warmth and polish our clientele expects

•      Anticipate needs before they become problems

Who Thrives Here

You may love to cook or serve others. Not as a requirement — as a clue. People who are passionate about food and service understand why our clients invest in these kitchens. You get it intuitively.

You're genuinely organized, not performatively organized. You have systems. You don't drop balls. When you're juggling 25 projects, you know exactly which three need attention today.

You have a humble spirit. One of our core values is "Humility First" — it's the foundation of real growth and meaningful relationships. You're confident in your abilities without needing to prove it constantly. You ask questions. You admit mistakes. You're coachable.

You own it. When something goes sideways, you don't point fingers. You figure out how to fix it and prevent it next time.

You find satisfaction in serving others. Supporting designers, helping clients, solving problems for contractors — this energizes you rather than drains you.

Qualifications

Required

•      Associate's degree or higher in Interior Design, Architecture, or related field

•      2+ years in a role requiring high-volume detail management — design coordination, project administration, luxury showroom operations, or similar

•      Working AutoCAD literacy — you can open a drawing, make redline revisions, and save a clean file

•      Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Outlook

•      Exceptional written and verbal communication

•      Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for site visits

Strongly Preferred

•      Direct experience in residential kitchen, bath, or custom cabinetry

•      Familiarity with kitchen-specific software (Chief Architect, Mozaik, 2020 Design)

•      Experience with project management or CRM software (Buildertrend, QuickBooks Online, Salesforce, or similar)

•      Background in luxury goods, high-end retail, fine hospitality, or working with $50M+ net worth clientele

•      Bilingual or trilingual (English + Spanish or Portuguese is a meaningful plus given our South Florida client base)

Compensation & Benefits

•      Base salary: $52,000–$70,000 depending on experience

•      401(k) with company contribution

•      Health insurance (company-contributed options)

•      Vision and dental insurance options

•      Life insurance and disability coverage

•      Paid time off and paid holidays

Growth Path

This role is a deliberate operational seat — not a designer-in-training program. You'll get good at running 20+ projects without dropping a thing, building real vendor relationships, and developing fluency in luxury cabinetry and appliances. From there, two paths typically open: growing into a Senior Project Coordinator or Operations Manager role on the ops side, or, for those who develop strong design instincts and put in the years, transitioning toward a Lead Designer. Several of our current Lead Designers started in support roles. We hire for who you are now, not for who you might become — but we promote from within when the work earns it.

To Apply

Send your resume along with brief written answers to these three questions. I would read them carefully — they matter more than your cover letter.

1. Tell me about a 90-day stretch where you owned a high volume of details and didn't drop one. What was your system, and what did you learn from it?

2. On a scale of 1–10, what's your honest AutoCAD level, and when did you last use it? Be candid — we'd rather know upfront so we can plan your ramp-up.

3. Why The Kitchenworks specifically — not some other Design Firm? What pulled you to apply here?

The Kitchenworks has been designing kitchens that work for our clients since 1989. We are an equal opportunity employer.

The Kitchenworks is a premier design house specializing in custom cabinetry and fine appliances, with showrooms in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Fort Wayne, IN. Celebrating over 35 years in business, the company offers personalized design services, collaborating closely with clients to create timeless and functional living spaces. As an exclusive dealer for Dutch Made and Grabill Cabinetry, The Kitchenworks provides industry-leading, handcrafted cabinetry options. Their appliance offerings include top-tier brands such as Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Monogram, and more, catering to both residential and marine projects. With a commitment to quality and attention to detail, The Kitchenworks transforms kitchens into the heart of the home, ensuring each project reflects the client's unique style and needs.