We recently had the chance to connect with Samantha O’Leary and have shared our conversation below.
Samantha , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Normal? What’s normal?
But seriously, I try to keep a routine, even though my schedule is always shifting a bit to accommodate whatever necessary chaos pops up.
Most days start at 5am. I either fight my alarms or ease into the day with a slow scroll. Once I’m officially up, it’s teeth brushed, bed made (first easy win of the day!), coffee in hand, and I get dressed and ready.
From there, I usually have an hour or two of ‘free’ time where I tackle errands, emails, calls, or light cleaning or paperwork. On a really good morning, I even get a shower and some yoga in before the day takes off.
Then I’m out the door — either to my full-time design job, site visits, measurements, client meetings… whatever the lineup is to keep the day moving.
After work, I head home, sometimes with a couple of errands on the way. I make dinner, unwind a bit, and the evening can go in any direction: a fun activity, more work, or relaxing with my partner before bed.
Then it’s reset, restart, repeat!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Samantha, and I’m the owner of My Cabinet Girl, a Long Island–based interior design and cabinet supplier specializing in kitchens, baths, and hard-surface materials. With over a decade of experience, I’ve built a business that blends approachable, creative design with the kind of practical, construction-minded problem-solving that remodels truly need.
What makes My Cabinet Girl unique is the hybrid role I play — I bridge the gap between homeowners, designers, and contractors by offering both design expertise and hands-on material sourcing, project guidance, and real-world installation insight. I’m known for being direct, detail-driven, and deeply invested in making each space functional, beautiful, and genuinely tailored to how people live.
My story is still being written, but right now I’m focused on growing the brand through strategic partnerships, expanding my design-support services for builders and fellow designers, and continuing to educate clients so their remodels feel exciting instead of overwhelming. We recently earned our NYS WBE certification and are currently working toward our Suffolk County certification as well. With these milestones, we’re aiming to support larger projects including state facilities and public-sector renovations — while continuing to bring our detail-driven, client-forward approach to every space we touch.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shifted how I see the world was the first time I watched a client walk into their newly finished space and physically exhale — like the weight they’d been carrying finally dropped. It wasn’t just about the cabinets or the layout or the finishes; it was seeing how much our environments impact our confidence, our mood, and our daily lives.
That moment made me realize that design isn’t superficial. It’s deeply emotional and incredibly personal. It taught me to look at every project through a different lens — not just “How can I make this beautiful?” but “How can I make this feel like home for them, and how can I remove as much stress from the process as possible?”
It shaped the way I run My Cabinet Girl today: with empathy, clarity, honesty, and a genuine commitment to improving how people live in their spaces, not just how those spaces look.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely — more than once. My partner loves to remind me of the time, back in my degree program, when I was buried under final-semester projects and dramatically declared I was done and ready to quit. I didn’t quit, of course… and here I am.
I have this funny, quirky quality about me, its a blessing and a curse, where I’m just not a quitter unless I fully choose to be. I don’t half-ass anything; I only full-ass the things i do. I won’t walk away from something until I’ve given it 1000% and explored every possible angle. It’s almost an illness at this point (in a good way and sometimes not-so-good way).
And yes, even now, I still have those moments, maybe once a week or so, where things get overwhelming and I think, “Should I just call it?” But then I pause, remind myself what else I’d even be doing, and the answer is always the same: I’m meant to be here. So I shake it off and keep going, because I want to see what the next exciting thing will be.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
For me, the difference usually comes down to two things: longevity and purpose.
A fad shows up loud, fast, and everywhere — and just as quickly, it’s gone. People jump on it because it’s trending, not because it solves a problem or adds real value to how they live in their space. You see this a lot with colors in cabinetry: white and mid-to-dark stains are timeless, but navy, red, green… those cycle in and out. the specific colors- sage, seafoam, purples- They’re fun, but they’re trends.
A foundational shift, on the other hand, comes from a deeper need. It solves something recurring, improves function, or genuinely supports real-life living. These shifts build steadily, not explosively, and they stick because they make sense long-term. For example, smart toilets, automated/scheduled lighting, and integrated smart home tech, those aren’t going anywhere. They’re becoming part of how we live.
As a designer, I always pay attention to the “why” behind something. If the only selling point is that it’s popular on Instagram… it’s a fad. My clients hear me say all the time, “It’s a cool cabinet insert, but in my opinion, it’s gimmicky.” But when clients across different lifestyles and budgets are consistently asking for the same things better layouts, more storage, healthier materials, smarter functionality, that’s a true shift.
And honestly, my gut plays a big role too. After 10+ years in kitchens and baths, you start to sense which ideas have staying power and which are just cute moments. I’m always open to trends some people genuinely love being current while others want a timeless space. Either approach is fine, but I try to build my work around changes that actually improve the way people live, not just what’s trending today.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Honestly? Everything. A few years ago, I went through a major transitional shift in how I see the world, how I handle challenges, and how I show up for myself. It completely changed my motivation and gave me this “I can do anything” mindset. That shift happened about three or four years ago, and I’m only now starting to see the early effects of it.
In the next 7–10 years, I hope to see the long-term payoff of the company I’m growing, the opportunities, the stability, the bigger responsibilities, and the impact that comes with building something real and lasting. But it’s not just about business. The strides I’ve taken personally matter just as much.
I’ve been on a true healing journey: learning to understand myself, learning healthier ways to process things, and redirecting negative energy into productive outlets like my work, my goals, and my growth. Those habits don’t pay off overnight, but I know they’re setting up the future version of me and my business for a completely different level of success and stability.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mycabinetgirl.com
- Instagram: mycabinetgirl
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaoleary822/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyCabinetGirl
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