Meet Stephanie Mahaney

We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Mahaney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, 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 think resilience is rarely something you seek out. More often, it’s something you uncover when life demands it. There have been several pivotal moments in my life that forced me to pause and reassess, and more importantly to take stock of what was truly important to me and prioritize accordingly. This foundation served me as I launched my own firm, and I’m so proud of the growth we’ve had: What started as a one-woman operation has since become a nationally recognized design studio with a team of passionate creatives.

Now, nearly 14 years later, we’ve completed projects from Florida to Maine and everywhere in between. Most meaningfully, I now run the firm in partnership with my husband Chris, a custom home builder. We’ve co-founded Bloom Building and Construction and together, we offer a fully integrated Design-Build experience—crafting custom homes that are tailored, intentional, and rooted in the unique lives of our clients. Whether it’s a 2,000-square-foot beach retreat in Palm Beach or a sprawling 7,000-square-foot pool barn in coastal Maine, our work continues to center around wellness and joy. Every space is designed with care, shaped by the same intentionality to prioritize the things that are most meaningful to our clients. In the end, the experiences that came from situations where life called for me to build resilience are the same ones that have enabled me to bring this vision to life, and I’m grateful for those opportunities.

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?

I am the Principal Designer and Creative Director for Stephanie Rae Interiors. We are a full-service interior design firm focused on creating homes that feel personal, intentional, and deeply connected to the people who live in them. What I love most about what I do is that every project is different—each home tells a new story, and I get to help bring that story to life through space, light, texture, and detail.

What makes our work feel really special is the relationship we build with our clients. For many, we’re not just designing a house—we’re creating a home they’ll raise their kids in, retire in, or escape to when they need peace. It’s incredibly personal, and I take that responsibility seriously. I believe good design is about more than aesthetics—it’s about wellness, flow, and joy.

Professionally, I’m most excited about the continued growth of our Design-Build model. My husband Chris and I co-founded Bloom Building and Construction, which allows us to offer a truly integrated experience for our clients—from early design concepts and budgeting through construction completion. It’s a more streamlined, collaborative process and the results have been incredible. Our clients feel more supported, and the final product reflects that alignment.

Looking ahead, we’re expanding our reach into new markets—including seasonal projects in Maine and potential product collaborations that reflect our coastal, casual, wellness-driven aesthetic.

Ultimately, my goal is to continue doing work that feels meaningful—building homes that people truly live in and love.

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?

Looking back, I’d say the three things that have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, curiosity, and communication.

Resilience was key from the very beginning. There were a lot of moments where things didn’t go as planned—personally and professionally—but learning how to stay grounded and keep going anyway made all the difference. My advice for anyone starting out is to embrace the messy parts and keep going. They often lead to the most growth.

Curiosity has been just as important. I didn’t go to school for interior design, so I had to learn everything on the job—and I did that by being endlessly curious. I asked questions, listened closely, stayed late, and said yes to opportunities that stretched me. I also did the same on the construction side, which has allowed me to be an asset to the build team on new construction projects. Focus on being open, asking questions, being a sponge, and surrounding yourself with people who are willing to teach.

Communication might be the most underrated skill in this industry. Design is so collaborative—between clients, contractors, architects, vendors, and trades—and being able to clearly and respectfully communicate your ideas, boundaries, and expectations is everything. The more confident, honest and transparent you are, the more trust you’ll build with the team around you. My advice here: don’t be afraid to speak up. Practice saying things clearly and confidently.

Every path is different, but those three qualities—have helped guide mine, and I lean on them both personally and professionally.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

One book that’s influenced me—both personally and professionally—is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. While I don’t subscribe to every aspect of Rand’s philosophy, what resonated deeply with me was the idea of staying true to your creative vision, even in the face of resistance or doubt.

If you haven’t read it, the main character is an architect who refuses to compromise his values or design integrity just to please others or fit into a mold. That sense of conviction—of designing with purpose, clarity, and independence—is something I connected with early on. Design is everywhere now, especially with social media, so it can be easy to get caught up in trends. The most impactful and lasting spaces are the ones that feel deeply authentic to the space and the client that lives there.

One of my biggest takeaways is the idea that real artistry isn’t about being loud or flashy—it’s about being grounded in something true. That’s what I try to carry into my work: not just creating spaces that look beautiful, but designing homes that reflect the lives and values of the people who live in them. I always want the end result to feel intentional, not performative.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stephanieraeinteriors.com
• Instagram: @stephanieraeinteriors

Image Credits

VEN1089 – Venjamin Reyes
VEN1135 – Venjamin Reyes
C2CA1615 – Rush Zimmerman
2C2A8066 – Rush Zimmerman
2C2A8117 – Rush Zimmerman
@2C2A8492 – Rush Zimmerman
Stephanie Rae Interiors 002 – Carmel Brantley
Stephanie Rae Interiors 003 – Carmel Brantley