Get to Know the Designer: Alisa Dragt-Hoffman

One of the first things you should know about Alisa Dragt-Hoffman, aside from the fact that she knows a thing or two about interior design, is that she owns 32 globes.

Yes, 32.

Alisa grew up on a farm outside of Willmar, Minnesota, and started college at the University of Minnesota studying journalism. After having her daughter, she took some time to figure out what she really wanted to do, went back to school for interior design and found a career that has inspired her ever since.

Alisa has been working as an interior designer for the past 21 years, including 14 years with McDonald Remodeling. We sat down with her recently to talk about her work, how she helps homeowners navigate what can feel like a million decisions, what people tend to overthink….and why you probably shouldn’t leave your light fixtures until the end.

Start With Why

As an interior designer at McDonald Remodeling, Alisa steps in once the overall space plan is established, working alongside our designers and guiding homeowners through the many selections that bring that design to life. But before she starts pulling tile, countertops or cabinet samples, she wants to understand why a homeowner is remodeling in the first place.

“Is it purely functional, is it cosmetic, or is it a combination of both? Why we’re doing it — and what their hopes for the space are.”

It sounds simple, but the answer helps guide just about everything that comes next. How do you want to use the space? What isn’t working now? How do you want it to feel when we’re done? Do you have young children or a busy household that calls for materials that can stand up to more wear and tear? Or does your lifestyle give you more freedom to choose something visually striking that might require a little more care?

Those conversations help Alisa narrow the seemingly endless number of choices into ones that make sense for that homeowner, their lifestyle and their project.

Knowing What You Like Is the Easy Part

Most homeowners come into a remodel with at least some idea of what they like. According to Alisa, the harder part is getting from “I like this” to all the individual decisions required to create it.

“You may know what you like, but there are a lot of choices out there right now. If you like a wood kitchen, you still have to choose what species of wood, the cabinet design, what stain color. And that goes for every piece of your remodel.”

And there are a lot of pieces.

That’s where having someone walk through those decisions with you makes a difference. Alisa loves helping homeowners narrow the choices, pointing out how one decision affects another and keeping the overall design moving in the same direction.

And when someone gets stuck between several options? She has a trick.

“Which one do you like least? Because there’s one that you like least. And then you just start taking options away one at a time.”

Sometimes figuring out what you don’t want is a whole lot easier than choosing what you do.

For Alisa, one of the most rewarding parts of being a designer is discovering what brings each homeowner joy and finding creative ways to bring that into their space. This bathroom remodel in Plymouth, MN, is a great example of the personality and creativity that make every project unique.

And Yes, It's Okay to Be Nervous

There’s another part of remodeling Alisa doesn’t gloss over: it’s a big investment.

“Remodeling is a significant investment. We take that seriously. There’s a lot of conversations that go into it from talking about how you want the space to feel to how you’re going to use it. We ensure every box is checked.”

The goal isn’t to rush someone into a decision. It’s to talk it through, understand what matters and help homeowners feel comfortable with where they land.

Alisa Does Not Have a Poker Face

Her words, not ours!

Before homeowners see countertops, tile, cabinet hardware and fixtures, Alisa has already done some editing behind the scenes. She isn't interested in putting 47 options on the table just because they exist. She'd rather show you choices that work with the direction you've established together.

But what happens if you fall in love with something that wasn't part of the plan?

“If you really, really love it, there is always a way. We will find a way to make it work.”

Because ultimately, it’s your home. As Alisa points out, the goal isn't to create a space she loves, it's to create a space you love.

Don't Underestimate Your Lighting

Ask Alisa which selection homeowners tend to underestimate and her answer comes quickly: lighting.

Light fixtures can have a surprisingly big impact on how the entire room comes together, yet they're sometimes treated as an afterthought once the bigger selections have been made.

Her advice?  Save some attention — and some budget — for them. You’ll be glad you did.

Things Are Getting Warmer

One design shift Alisa is happy to see? Warmer colors and materials making their way back into homes.

“Things are getting warmer. We’re moving away from grays and warmer colors are coming through. Wood cabinetry, warmer countertops, warmer tile.”

And this one happens to fit her personal style pretty well.

“I’ve always leaned more that way naturally so it’s fun to see it being embraced by others.”

Of course, Alisa isn't interested in choosing something simply because it's trending. What matters more is whether it works for the house and, most importantly, whether the homeowner loves it.

This remodel of a historic St. Paul home honors its past while thoughtfully reimagining the layout for the way its owners live today. Rich wood finishes and warm tones celebrate the home’s original character, blending timeless details with modern function.

Why We Make Selections Before Construction Starts

This is one of the places where Alisa sees McDonald Remodeling's process making a real difference.

“We select all of your materials and finishes prior to signing your contract so that we can ensure they are here and ready in time. This allows us to build your schedule and stick with that schedule without having to pause because we’re waiting for a decision or waiting for something to arrive.”

Alisa points out that the more you have set ahead of time, the fewer surprises there are once your home is under construction. Materials can be ordered and schedules can be built around actual lead times. This avoids those dreaded stories of having the construction stalled while waiting for a single element of the design to arrive.

It takes more work up front. But it also makes for a much smoother remodeling experience.

A Few Fast Ones

And, of course, we couldn't let Alisa go without a quick round of this-or-that.

Timeless or a little unexpected? “A little unexpected.”

Historic character or clean contemporary? “Historic character.”

Dinner out or dinner at home? “Takeout.”

Plan everything or wing it? “A little bit of both!”

Book or binge-watch? “Depends on my mood. Both."

Apparently, even in a game of this-or-that, Alisa likes to keep her options open. We’ll chalk that up to years of knowing there’s always another option!

There's More to Design Than Picking Pretty Things

We wrapped up our interview by asking Alisa what she wishes more homeowners understood about what an interior designer actually does.

“We’re not just ‘picking things out.’ We do have fun in that we’re looking at a lot of beautiful things. But it’s also very detailed, and we’re taking a lot into consideration: safety, codes, pricing. There is so much going on behind the scenes as we’re helping people pick out all the pretty things.”

And that statement sums Alisa up pretty well. She loves the creative side of design, but she’s equally focused on the details that make a space actually work. Spend a little time with her and you quickly get a sense of the steady, quiet confidence she brings to the process. She’ll help you sort through the options, tell you when something isn’t quite right and keep working with you until the pieces come together.

And somewhere along the way, you might have to ask her about those 32 globes.