We recently connected with Cira Raab and have shared our conversation below.
Cira, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Where do I get my resilience from? Honestly, it’s a mix of stubbornness and a deep belief that I don’t have to be defined by the way other people treat me. Every time I’ve been underestimated or treated poorly, it sparks this feeling of, ‘I can do better — and I will.’ I see it as motivation to prove, mostly to myself (and maybe a little bit to the universe), that I can thrive without needing anyone else’s permission. I try to turn it into fuel — a reminder that their behavior says more about them than it ever could about me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an interior designer with pretty humble beginnings — no trust fund, just a deep love for spaces that tell stories. As a kid, I was fascinated by homes — whether it was sleepovers at yuppie McMansions or meandering cocktail parties full of aging artists and intellectuals, I loved seeing how spaces reflected the people inside them.
That’s still the magic for me: helping my clients turn their lives and personalities into something tangible through design. I started as a one-woman show, and now I have a small but mighty team, plus a crew of moonlight installers who help me answer the call when inspiration (or chaos) strikes. They’re creatives I admire and who have cheered me on every step of the way. Building spaces — and a team — with real heart behind them is honestly the most exciting part.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful for me — when I’ve actually remembered to apply them — are:
1. Trusting your gut. We’re literally animals with instincts for a reason.
2. Being gentle with yourself. The way you talk to yourself matters. I try to practice positive self-speak — even when it’s hard to do.
3. Taking breaks. Seriously. Creativity needs breathing room. I work a lot, often at odd hours, but I stay in tune with myself. Sometimes that means working late into the night — sometimes it means being outside, or ditching my phones for a few hours & disappearing for a bit,
For anyone early in their journey, I’d say: trust yourself even when it’s scary, speak to yourself like you would a good friend, and don’t underestimate the power of stepping away once in a while.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone who sees what I do as an artistic endeavor, not just a service or transaction. I’m at my best when clients trust me to really get them — to intuitively hunt for their pieces, make choices on their behalf, and always keep their psyche, lifestyle, and aesthetic at the center of it all.
Honestly, in a perfect world, I’d love for clients to invite my team and me to live in their home or vacation property for a week or two. Being immersed in the space allows us to bring it to life in a way that’s deeply personal, layered, and thoughtful — without dragging the client through every tiny, exhausting decision. It’s an act of trust, but it’s also a wise investment: when you give creatives room to breathe, the magic happens.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cirajames.com
- Instagram: @cirajsraab
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cirajamesdesign/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cira-j-s-raab-b05267264
- Other: houzz: https://www.houzz.com/pro/webuser-501923/__public
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
