We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Rice-maldonado a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sarah, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
When I first started my business, taking risks seemed scary. I wanted to play it safe because I thought it was the best choice in the beginning. Building my portfolio and clientele really helped build my confidence. That, in turn, helped me develop the ability to take more risks. I also realized that in taking risks, I was growing faster than I was when I was going the safe route. My designs became better as well. I pushed myself and my team to do more complicated and intricate work which has ultimately made our team stronger and clients happier..
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My company, Sarah Rice Design, is a full service residential interior design firm. We handle the entire design process from creation to installation. From the moment we meet clients at the consultation, we’re listening and observing – seeing how we can make our clients’ homes feel like a unique sanctuary, customized to their style and functional for their everyday life. We provide the design including mood boards, floor plans, samples and 3D renderings. We hire and oversee the contractors and tradespeople. And we’re there, on site, to make sure everything is done right. Not only do we oversee the project, we are also hands on with installation. My team has experience with everything from built-in partition walls, wallpaper, board and batten, and custom shelving to accent decor placement and floral arrangements. Our portfolio showcases a wide array of design styles as well as our in-house abilities.
In the recent months, we’ve partnered with Rockin’ Remodeling. With their incredible talent, we’ve been able to increase our remodeling capabilities. Additionally, we are moving offices and in the process of remodeling our website. We can’t wait to share all the new updates with everyone!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My top three would be the ability to communicate effectively, staying solution oriented in stressful moments and knowing that it’s ok to say, “I don’t know but I will find the answer.”
In my industry, we have to communicate with a variety of people from vendors to tradespeople to clients. Knowing how to communicate your plan and ideas is extremely important. It’s also important that you get clear communication from the people around you. One of my rules for myself and my team is if you aren’t clear on something, do not assume. Ask questions.
Inevitably, stressful moments happen on site. It’s easy to stay stagnant when you’re frustrated. However, that only creates more problems. Stay solution oriented – research, ask your team or manager for suggestions on how to solve the problem, look into your past experience and see if there is something that may help. Forward progress is always the goal. Even if there a hiccup in the timeline, you can do your best to prevent even longer delays by being proactive and solving the issues at hand.
When I first started, I was nervous to admit when I didn’t know something. I thought putting up a front that I knew it all would benefit me. However, as I gained more experience, I realized that even though I’d learned a tremendous amount, there is always something else I need to learn about because my industry will continuously change and evolve. I also learned that clients appreciated my honesty and subsequent follow through with the answer.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I have loved and tried so many different avenues of creativity. I fell in love with photography in my pre-teen years. After exploring that, I tried my hand at drawing and then eventually painting. All the while, I continued to read more about interior design and even attempted to make my childhood bedroom into a version of the sophisticated spaces I saw in my mom’s design magazines. Through all of this, my parents were extremely supportive. They provided all the tools they could to help foster my ever-growing curiosity. They encouraged me to try new things. And they applauded my efforts. They attended my art shows and celebrated all the big and small moments with me. I am so grateful for them. Now that I have my son, I want to do the same for him. Wherever his passion takes him, I want to provide him with the tools and emotional support he needs to dive in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahricedesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahricedesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahricedesign
Image Credits
Photos by Artist Couple LLC
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