Meet Yelena Alpert

We recently connected with Yelena Alpert and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Yelena , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

It all started when I moved to New York and worked at Conde Nast. It helped me understand that truly creative things are not always for the masses, and you have to step outside your comfort zone to achieve something great that will be noticed. It started out with mixing and matching pieces in my wardrobe—sometimes the most unexpected things go together.

As I ventured into interior design, I started listening to my inner voice more and following my gut. I know my choices are not for everyone, and that’s ok. The key is to embrace positive feedback and not be apologetic about your vision.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Technically, I have two jobs, but they are interconnected. I write about design and edit stories that focus on the commerce side, like where to shop for the best sectionals and area rugs. Then, I work on home projects for specific clients, and it is incredibly helpful to recommend products and decor that I have tried firsthand.

DesignFix is all about curating a curated space, and this comes with many components—paint color, wallcoverings, decor! I can confidently say that I am immersed in some element of design or home project for at least 12 hours each day.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Resilience is probably the most important aspect of starting your own business. When I first started writing, I had to cold-pitch editors and received a lot of rejection emails. This only made me work harder. Now, I write for top-tier publications such as the New York Times, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful.

The same approach goes for finding new clients. I know that nothing happens overnight, and I do not expect that my business will blow up in a month or two. I am in this for the long haul.

I also know that I can’t be all things to all people. My design inclination is to select bold colors, unexpected patterns, and incorporate vintage details. I mix modern with antiques and don’t really follow specific trends or rules. Some people gravitate toward neutrals and sleek contemporary lines and will probably find my style a tad chaotic. That’s fine, I don’t let this stop me from creating my own narrative.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Time constraints are always a challenge. I am always open to new opportunities and aim to give each project my all, but this can be all-encompassing. As a result, I am learning to prioritize and let go of my perfectionist tendencies. That’s not to say that I started slacking off, but I have to identify what requires 100% and what I can just get done. I am also allowing myself to set more realistic expectations. Say, I want to submit a staging report the same day, but I know my mind will be clearer the following day if I am swamped with three back-to-back projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://designfixcle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designfix.cle/

Image Credits

Yelena Moroz Alpert