We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Miranda Cullen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Miranda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Everything about what we do is “different from industry standard”. Our mission statement-

“We believe interior design is more than just eye candy. We know it has the power to alter one’s surroundings, which can change their perspective, and ultimately transform their world. With our talented team, we partner with clients to bring their story to life- no matter the project size or budget. We pinch ourselves every day that we were BORN to do this! “

It is important to us to be able to work with all differently types of clientele in order to enhance their lives as they live in their spaces. Interior Design services should not just be for the 1 percenters. With our business model we are able to service a paint consultation all the way up to exclusive custom homes and everything in between!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

From a very young age I was destined to become an interior designer. I was one of those little kids moving furniture around in my room, tearing pages out of my mom’s home and garden magazines to creating vision boards before I even knew what a vision board was. I even have one in my desk at the office to remind me of why I do what I do.

What we do as Interior Designers, is a craft and most of us are born with this talent. We then take this talent and go through schooling to fine tune our technical skills in order to be successful in our careers. For me, I have taken the last 27 years of my Interior Design Career through various positions starting at an entry level intern position working my way up to an award winning, successful business owner. I describe myself as an “International Award Winning Interior Designer, energetic entrepreneur, mom and wife. I’m the Owner, CEO & Rainmaker of @insidestories_design. And boy am I exhausted most of the time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love every facet of what we do at Inside Stories, and I especially love the mentoring I do with my team of 19 and partnering with local charities to help create environments for those that can’t afford it but need safe spaces to heal and grow.

I indeed, pinch myself everyday that I am blessed with a talent that can affect so many.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Just one? I think I’ve had to pivot in one way or another in just about every aspect of my life, career, business yearly!

I am constantly learning as an Interior Designer, Business Owner, Mom and Wife, and “pivot” is one of my favorite words. The only way to grow is to embrace what works and change directions when something doesn’t. I am someone who thrives in change, good change of course, but I’m always looking for the best way to approach a situation and come out better for it.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Yes! My company is a product of the 2008 recession. I actually worked for a design firm as their design director, and when the recession hit I lost my job. The kicker was my husband and I had just relocated from California to Colorado for this job. He was a stay at home dad, with our 2 kiddos that were 2 and 3 back then, and I had “no job”. We sat down and made our “pros and cons” list about staying in Colorado or moving back to California. Our choice was to stay and do what we could to turn the negative situation into a positive. I immediately started my own Interior Design business, naming and branding it in our living room and with a handful of contacts and my husband as my biggest cheerleader, I very quickly became the suburban designer everyone wanted to hire. Fast forward to now, I have 18 employees and a successful business that services clients nationwide, and a business model that we are getting ready to franchise!

This time in my life is one that I will never forget, but that is ok. It is one of the reasons I am so driven to be successful and is the reason behind my drive to help and mentor future women entrepreneurs.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.insidestories.com
• Instagram: @mirandascullen , @insidestories_design
• Facebook: Miranda Steinhoff-Cullen
• Linkedin: Miranda Cullen
• Youtube: inside stories interior design

Image Credits
Eric Lucero Emily Minton Redfield David Lauer