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

Christine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

My husband, Mauricio, and I launched a home staging business in 2017 while still working full-time, and it took a few years of steady growth before we felt confident enough to transition fully into being self-employed. Prior to that, most of my career was spent in the non-profit sector, where I gained valuable experience and built strong professional relationships.

Over time, the business has evolved into interior design. Despite not having formal training, I made the leap—though it was a daunting one. I’m not naturally inclined toward risk-taking, so leaving the familiarity of the non-profit world felt like stepping off a cliff without knowing whether I’d soar or stumble.

Looking back, I wish I had pursued interior design sooner—it’s truly where my passion lies. Sometimes I catch myself wondering how things might have unfolded if I had followed my creative interests in photography and design earlier on. But I also believe that every experience shapes who we are, and everything I’ve done up to this point has brought me to where I am today.

Christine, 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?

We offer interior design services for both primary residences and properties in the short-term rental (STR) market. With the STR industry experiencing rapid growth over the past decade, thoughtful and intentional design has become a key factor in running a successful and profitable rental.

Designing for guests is a unique challenge that differs from traditional residential interior design. Rather than tailoring a space to an individual homeowner’s personal taste, the focus shifts to creating an inviting and memorable experience for a wide range of guests. The goal is to strike the right balance between comfort, style, and durability—ensuring that each space feels special while also standing up to the demands of frequent use.

When working with homeowners, the approach is more personal and customized. It’s about understanding how they live in their space and designing around their daily routines, lifestyle, and individual aesthetic. These projects are deeply collaborative and reflect the unique character of each client and their home.

In addition to interior design, I also bring a background in graphic design and communications, which allows me to help STR owners build a cohesive brand for their properties. From online listings to photography, I work with clients to ensure their space is not only well-designed but also visually aligned with their brand identity.

If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?

We generate additional income by sharing shoppable links on our website through a creator-commerce platform. This allows visitors to browse and purchase items—like furniture, rugs, pillows, and lighting—that we feature in our designs. When a purchase is made through one of these links, we earn a small commission.

While this isn’t a major source of revenue just yet, it’s steadily growing each month. Diversifying our income in this way provides valuable support during slower periods in our design work and helps us connect more directly with those who love our style.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

“The Business of Home” podcast with Dennis Scully is my weekly go-to for staying up to date on news and trends in the interior design industry. Both the podcast and the Business of Home website are incredible resources for anyone working in this field.

Beyond the industry updates, what I really appreciate are the conversations with designers and business owners—how they built their companies, navigated pivots, faced setbacks, and found the resilience to keep going.

Hearing these stories has been a great reminder that almost every successful entrepreneur has experienced some form of failure. The key isn’t avoiding it—it’s learning how to move through it and keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.saltwoodinteriors.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltwood.interiors/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saltwood.interiors
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/saltwoodinteriors/

Image Credits

Mario Silva Photography, David Palermo, Blake Bronstad Photography, Sarita Relis Photography