Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Stuart. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Stephanie, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Becoming a resilient interior designer has a lot to do with both skill set and mind set. It involves developing a set of skills, mindset, and practices that enable you to navigate challenges, adapt to changes, and bounce back from setbacks. I grew up in an entrepreneurial family and learned a lot about both from my dad. I have a strong support network and surround myself with a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and like-minded entrepreneurs to bounce ideas off. When I learned to prioritize self-care by eating well, exercising and meditating it made a huge difference in my outlook. By taking those variables off the table and being able to focus on other decisions, I have the opportunity to look toward continuous learning in both interior design skills and new technology.
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?
Bold patterns, saturated color and an eclectic mix of old and new gets me up in the morning, especially on a new construction project! I just can’t do cookie-cutter anymore. I’ve been a designer for over 18 years from large commercial projects to decorating and can deliver any style of interior design. But I’ve learned that solving design challenges and bumping up the modern victorian vibe is my sweet spot. When clients come to me, they are trying to solve a few main problems. One is that their space was not designed for them. Treating your home as a sanctuary plays a major part in creating the life you want to live. You know what you like and I know how to bring it together so you can show up authentically in your interior design. Second only to authenticity, the next popular challenge I encounter is on custom home construction. When you’re building a new custom home, there is a point when clients realize the architect’s scope might not include choosing interior finishes. They are left with a mound of decisions to make and not a lot of time to do it. We take the stress out of interiors projects and create a fun and collaborative approach.
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?
A few main qualities have impacted my journey starting my own design firm.
1. Persistence and Resilience: Entrepreneurship is often filled with challenges, setbacks, and failures. Persistence and resilience are crucial qualities to have, as they enable you to stay determined, bounce back from setbacks, and keep pushing forward. Developing a growth mindset and reframing failures as learning opportunities can help you build resilience. Surround yourself with a supportive network that can offer guidance and encouragement during tough times.
2. Adaptability and Flexibility: The business landscape is constantly evolving, and successful entrepreneurs are adaptable and flexible in their approach. I’ve been able to embrace change, identify emerging trends, and adjust my strategies. Being open to new ideas, listening to feedback, and staying agile has allowed me staying power in the industry.
3. Effective Communication and Relationship Building: Building strong relationships with customers, employees, and partners is vital for entrepreneurial success. Interior designers have a large network of vendors that offer materials and products only available to designers – this is one of the biggest perks to working with an interior designer. Building trust and nurturing relationships leads to loyalty, collaborations, and knowing you have a team by your side.
By actively working on these qualities and skills, early-stage entrepreneurs can strengthen their foundation and increase their chances of success. Remember, entrepreneurship is a continuous learning process, so be open to growth, seek feedback, and never stop improving.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I recently interviewed a general contractor on my podcast called Your Favorite Interior Design Podcast. We discussed the collaboration between interior designers and contractors. We’d love to collaborate with more contractors to bring designs to life. Each trade brings specialized knowledge in design, construction, and regulations. We each provide design ideas and share innovations in our own respective field. We are big on construction documents at Stuart Design Co and work hard to make sure our designs have all the details and information our contractors need to build. For clients and GC’s, we know you have a lot on your plate and as designers, we love to take running samples, getting client approvals and finding reselections off your hands. If you’re are a busy professional or general contractor building a custom home, please connect with us at stephanie@stuartdesignco.com or on Instagram @stuartdesignco.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stuartdesignco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stuartdesignco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stuartdesignco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stuartdesignco/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stuartdesignco
- Other: Your Favorite Interior Design Podcast: https://yourfavoriteinteriordesignpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1074187
