Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maricel Hecimovich. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Maricel , 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?
I have jumped many timelines just in this lifetime alone, and from a very young age, I learned to become self-sufficient in a dysfunctional family dynamic that God assigned for me. Since then, my life has not followed a linear path with its many twists and turns, especially when it came to love. Love is the source of my resilience. I have searched this mystery ever since I was a little girl. I involved myself in all the wrong relationships for a deep desire to be seen and wanted. After so many heartbreaks and breakdowns, I found that love has always been within me, and those pains were self-inflicted. This revelation gave me the strength to take my power back from people, places, and things that did not serve my highest good; it taught me the art of discernment and detachment. It was no easy task, but through self-isolation and deep introspection, I made it through the other side.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I was born in the Philippines, where I spent the majority of my childhood playing outside and experiencing constant electrical outages (we always had to have candles within reach). My family then immigrated to Hawaii when I was about 11 or 12 years old, but for some reason, I never learned how to swim there (Yes, Filipinos are not known to be good swimmers, but that doesn’t stop us from enjoying the water), and I always knew I would leave the island at some point; that opportunity came, and it led me to Texas. After a few years of settling there and meeting beautiful people, my soul was called to another relocation, this time, it was Chicago. I spent two years experiencing city life; it had its ups and downs, but it was amazing for the most part. Fate seemed to have brought me to Indiana as my final destination (for now). I tried to leave at one point for the Arizona weather, but it brought me back here. I truly believe there’s a cosmic reason for this, and I am just allowing life to unfold organically — trusting the process and enjoying the journey.
The many relocations I made in the past seemed to be motivated by love. I was always moving for a man but also finding joy in the process, whether it was a difficult change or not. However, what I didn’t realize was I was slowly losing myself and giving away my power to these men who were willing to take advantage of it. Losing one’s self almost feels like dying to me, and I knew I had to get out of it. God heard my cry for help and sent me a lifeline. I made a bold move to leave my most recent relationship – a 13-year marriage with two kids – and headed for the path God designed specifically for my soul.
After a series of ego deaths (a.k.a. shedding of the old skin), having peeled off layers of societal programming, and purging self-limiting beliefs embedded in my subconscious, I found myself desiring to do more than what my human mind initially wanted. What resulted from that was to craft homes in a whole new way, and that’s through collaborative efforts, but most importantly, to help our clients live a fulfilling and peaceful life by being one with nature. Bringing unworldly talents from all walks of life (lighting designers, woodworkers, artists, architects, etc.) into the process eliminates redundancy and offers limitless design possibilities. I choose collaborators who operate from the heart and have good intentions. If they are as discerning as I am, it means that their boundaries are solid, and they will not settle for anything less. Another wonderful thing about this approach is that it gives young or experienced talents opportunities to be part of something special while they venture out on other passions — freedom.
Moreover, I have seen too many friends and acquaintances suffer through spending millions of dollars (including myself) on building custom homes, only to end up with an empty giant box. Many of them had to additionally fund the details they truly wanted post-completion because of the costly and undisclosed upcharge on labor and materials. Many of them say, “It will be cheaper if we do it ourselves.” — it’s disheartening. The client should not be limited by set options. They deserve a fully imagined vision come to life and loving guidance on how to achieve that.
My solution to this is to concoct a holistic design vision accompanied by honest and transparent design + management fees and trade estimates presented in each phase—no upcharge for the partnering artisans’ labor and materials. By charging a management fee, I can personally handle all the working components from beginning to end and be the client’s guiding light. The carefully curated furnishings, accessories, and finish selections purchased through the firm are priced at their appropriate retail price. The creators are compensated solely for their time and artistry; in return, our beautiful clients receive a fully materialized vision. It’s about cutting the illusions and truly giving the client an artful product that benefits their well-being.
Furthermore, I focus on a smaller footprint because it is likely for many to achieve a complete design from the inside and out without sacrificing the authenticity and soul of the house. I love the sense of being comforted, not swallowed when entering a home. I allocate the budget fairly to all the right components so nothing gets left behind, especially the important details. Having the intuitive ability to apply those important details where they matter is crucial. Besides, it promotes intimacy and practicality as each room serves a true purpose — no wasted space. It’s about fueling the soul, not the ego.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Self-Mastery, Forgiveness, Patience…everything else is an illusion.
My advice for those just starting their journey is to be okay with leaving people behind who are not in support of their journey. It is one of my hardest lessons because we are heavily programmed to keep people in our lives for a sense of community, even if it means straying away from our path. For me, a long period of isolation gave me the time and space to gain clarity about who I truly am; it was when I received the wisdom I needed to keep moving forward. Self-mastery is earned through trials and tribulations; as long as you are willing to introspect and not project onto others deeply, you have a very good chance of mastering the skill. When you commit to a journey to self, people will trigger you in ways you can’t imagine, even the ones closest to you; this is when forgiveness of others and yourself becomes your number one ally. Letting go of resentment is healing to the soul and will help catapult you to the next phase of your evolution.
Each soul journey is uniquely designed by God. It is our job to stay in our lane while holding that vision, but this requires a great amount of patience. Be okay when things are not moving forward, even when your ego wants to take over. Be okay with the silence. Be okay with the stillness. Enjoy the stillness. Be easy on yourself. No matter how long it’s taking, you will eventually get there. Don’t forget to celebrate small victories. Most of all, don’t forget to fully lean in to trust. Your ego will try to challenge your belief. Your ego will try to judge your lack of movement. Just remember that your ego is an illusion. Your ego is fearful of the unknown. It’s you and your soul on this journey. That’s it.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
For Quiet Luxury Homes, my design approach is highly collaborative to eliminate design redundancy and promote a sense of freedom for other creators to follow their other passions in life. I am always on the lookout for exceptional artisans, such as woodworkers, cabinet makers, upholsterers, mural painters, and artists. I also collaborate with architects, landscape designers, and lighting designers to capture an overall design vision. I love working with people who operate from the heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.minteriordesignstudio.com
- Instagram: @m_interiordesignstudio
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/maricel-hecimovich-07a3a274
Image Credits
Headshots: Squaremouth Studios by Wade Carignan
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