We were lucky to catch up with Maya Pezzente recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Maya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Yes, I am much happier as a business owner versus working in a typical 9-5 desk job, even in the interior design industry.
Being a business owner allows me to have creative control, and a flexibility with my day that works well with my personality.
While I have to wear many “hats” (face of the company, designer, accountant etc.) I prefer having control over the projects I take on and the work that I do day in and day out.
I am grateful for the decade of experience I gained working for larger design firms and builders, but I learned very quickly that I wanted to be my own boss, and have that direct relationship with design clients while doing design work.
Being a business owner allows me to fully express my creativity without hinderance, even though it comes with much more responsibility! I think it’s a good trade off for me.
Maya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was formally trained at a BC technical school in Interior Design, and began working at a home staging company during school. After graduating, I worked for various award winning design firms and builders in the Lower Mainland for ten years. I always knew I wanted to have my own design company, but the timing never felt right. At the onset of the pandemic, an opportunity presented itself to work on a few new homes, and at that point Studio Grey was formally born.
I work on residential design projects from style concept, through the construction phase, to completion. I enjoy working on projects with clients that share my value of good design, quality, and an appreciation for the aesthetics of a space. I enjoy guiding our clients to the best design decisions for them that result in a project that exemplifies their desires. My approach to design is creating spaces where timeless elegance meets modern sensibilities. My passion lies in traditional spaces, but I have found that my style evolves with the projects I work on, and over time.
Having a designer when you are building a home, renovating a home or any space transformation is not a necessity, but the value is priceless. To have a designer not only have a cohesive vision for the home, as well as administrate the logistics makes the project incredible successful for both parties. I think there is a misconception that design can be very surface level, or very easy, glamorous work. The reality is that projects can run over a year, and the behind the scenes work required to execute a beautiful home with a happy client requires a lot of client expectation management, and a tonne of designer creativity and vision.
I believe that your home environment has a profound impact on your well being and can bring joy and beauty to your everyday life. Choosing quality finishes and fixtures for your home, no matter what the design style is, allows your space to be one you enjoy entertaining, working, and living in.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
My client base is all from two sources currently; referral based (previous clients recommending me) , and social media (mostly instagram). I get a lot of DM’s and website submissions that list finding me on Instagram.
How did you build your audience on social media?
A lot of social media around interior design is polished images/photoshoots of absolutely beautiful interiors. Often the face, or the actual designer who did the work is not accessible or present on social media. I started to realize that to differentiate myself, showing more “real” behind the scenes, and real time project content would get more engagement. This looks like walking through a site, or talking through what I’m working on that day. I try to balance my social media platform with both finished and polished photoshoot interior content, as well as the day to day. The challenge is, the “ugly” part of the construction process which is so real and valid doesn’t garner as much engagement as the final photoshoot content.
It’s a very fine line balancing showing your personality while also achieving the professional design business side. It’s also a challenge sharing enough to stay relevant, but not sharing too much that gives away too many specifics of real life client projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studiogrey.ca
- Instagram: studiogreyinteriordesign
Image Credits
Tracey Ayton Photography Janis Nicolay Photography The Collective You