Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maggie Clarke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Maggie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents were always so supportive when it came to hobbies, school, and sports. They both put a lot of energy and money into helping my sister and I do what brought us joy. Whether it was traveling across the country to gymnastics meets or taking us to singing lessons, they both encouraged us to do what we loved. My mom’s famous quote is, “Be scared, and do it anyway”. I’ve really held on to that my whole life. It’s normal to feel nervous and insecure when jumping into something new, but highly unlikely you would regret at least trying. Having no formal education in design, I felt super vulnerable putting myself out there as an interior designer, and often felt imposter syndrome during the beginning. I’m so glad I pushed through that because I’m so proud of the business I’ve built over the past 3 years.
Maggie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Maggie Clarke Interiors happened pretty organically as my husband and I began flipping a rental property and turning into an Airbnb. I had the role of making all design decisions during the renovation and then furnishing and decorating the home when it was complete. In order to document the process, I began an instagram account sharing design details and pictures of the finished space. People quickly began reaching out to see if I could help them with their personal homes.
Fast forward a few years, and now Maggie Clarke Interiors is a luxury, full-service design firm. Our clients are professional families who crave a beautifully unique homes that reflect their personalities all while providing function for their families. When our clients hire us, they buy access to many of the leading trades people in the industry, as well as high-quality furniture and lighting lines. We focus on a range of residential projects that include refurnishing, renovations, and / or new construction.
We passionately serve as design advocates and project liaisons on behalf of our clients who are ready to invest in their homes and lives. We pride ourselves on closely partnering with every client to ensure their home looks and feels like them. I encourage my clients to use family heirlooms mixed with modern-day touches. My signature aesthetic can be described as a refresh on traditional design-always personality-driven and curated based on the family.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Funny enough, I have a master’s in elementary education. I taught first grade for about 5 months…so you can imagine how that went. Since I’ve had no formal education in interior design, I’ve had to learn technical things by reading, studying, and listening to all the podcasts! A podcast called “A Well Designed Business” by Luann Nigara is one that I listen to religiously. I’ve learned a lot about the business side of things from Luann, as well as been introduced to a plethora of seasoned, talented designers. It was also this podcast that led me to discover my business coach, Rachael Boszik. After hearing Rachael on the podcast, I knew it would be worth the investment to hire her. She’s helped me tremendously with branding, marketing, and nailing down those client discovery calls.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
I have two amazing women on my team that make my job more fun, and a lot less stressful. When you’re working under deadlines and for people who’ve spent a lot of money with you- tensions can run high. Not to mention, a mistake in this industry can cost thousands of dollars (I’ve learned the hard way). I always remind my team that there is no such thing as a design emergency! Fortunately, there will never be a life or death situation in our line of work. I think if you keep that perspective, things seem a little bit more fun and manageable.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maggieclarkeinteriors.com
- Instagram: @maggieclarkeinteriors
Image Credits
Stefanie Rawlinson Photography, Ross Group Creative, Joy Knight Photography, Flourish