Meet Molly Lucas

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Molly Lucas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Molly, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something I don’t think ever fully disappears… it just shifts shape as you grow. Some days I feel completely confident, like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Other days, I catch myself questioning what I’m doing, especially when I scroll through social media and see designers with 20 years of experience under their belts.

What’s helped me most is remembering that social media is a curated vacuum. I may follow 75 designers and see their work daily, but in reality, I might be the only designer showing up consistently on someone else’s feed. That perspective shift reminds me that the comparison game is skewed, and my work still has value and impact.

I also believe that every interior designer is unique. Choosing a designer is a bit like entering into a relationship, because you want to feel that trust and connection over the course of a project. Every designer brings a different perspective, style, and process to the table, and that’s what makes our industry so diverse. There’s room for everyone (no pun intended).

At the end of the day, I come back to my clients and the spaces I’ve created for them. Seeing how a home transformation changes their everyday life grounds me far more than any Instagram feed ever could. That’s where I remind myself: this is why I do what I do.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the founder and principal designer of Maison de Molly, a full-service interior design studio specializing in residential, hospitality, and light commercial projects. At Maison de Molly, our work is always client-driven. We take the time to truly understand how people want to live, work, or gather in a space. From there, we curate designs that feel timeless, intentional, and uniquely theirs. Whether it’s a family home, a boutique hospitality space, or a small commercial project, our goal is the same: to create environments that are both beautiful and functional.

I’ve only been in business for a year and a half, and it’s been an absolute whirlwind – in the best way. I’m so thankful I took the leap into entrepreneurship, because it’s allowed me to combine my love of design with the joy of building something that’s truly my own.

Looking ahead, I’m especially excited about growing the hospitality side of Maison de Molly. While residential work will always be close to my heart, there’s something so inspiring about creating spaces where people can gather, connect, and have an experience. For me, design should always have a novelty factor… something memorable and unexpected that invites people to truly interact with the space. That’s the kind of work I want to expand into: design that leaves an impression long after someone walks away.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities have been especially impactful in my journey so far.

1. Adaptability. Being in business for only a year and a half, I’ve learned that no two projects, or clients, are ever the same. The ability to pivot, adjust, and problem-solve on the fly has been invaluable. My advice for anyone starting out is: don’t get stuck waiting for the ‘perfect plan.’ Start, learn as you go, and allow the process to shape you.

2. Relationship-building. Interior design is such an intimate profession – you’re entering people’s homes and lives in a very real way. Building trust with clients, contractors, and collaborators has been essential. My advice here is to treat every project like a partnership. Listen more than you speak, and remember that good relationships often lead to new opportunities. In fact, most of my referrals come directly from industry partners, which shows just how powerful strong, authentic connections can be.

3. Vision paired with resilience. There are moments of doubt, times when imposter syndrome creeps in or when a challenge feels bigger than you. Holding onto your vision while also having the resilience to push through those dips has been key. For those early in their journey, I’d say: find your ‘why’ and come back to it often. It will ground you when things get hard and keep you moving forward.

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that entrepreneurship is less about having all the answers and more about showing up consistently, staying open to growth, and trusting that each step is building toward something bigger.

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?

The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is scaling the business. As a young studio, I’m at that pivotal point where I have to ask: do I intentionally stay small and boutique, or do I begin building out a larger team? There are benefits to both. Staying small allows me to be deeply involved in every detail, which is something I love. But hiring and growing a team would allow Maison de Molly to take on more projects and serve clients at a greater scale.

Right now, I’m very much in the trenches of figuring it out – running the business day-to-day while also stepping back to think about the bigger picture. I’ve been connecting with mentors, refining our processes, and thinking critically about what kind of company culture I want to create if I expand.

The truth is, interior designers often get the ‘diva’ reputation, it can feel very Devil Wears Prada in a lot of design firms. A part of my heart really wants to offer something different: a space for young designers to grow, feel supported, and experience a healthy, inspiring work environment.

It’s not an easy decision, but I believe these growing pains are part of entrepreneurship. For me, it’s about finding the balance between growth and maintaining the personal, client-driven experience that Maison de Molly is known for.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Movie Theater shots: Dave Bryce Photography
Headshot: Kelsey Cunningham Photography

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