This sounds crazy, but I feel as though I didn’t emerge from my chrysalis until I was 74, That’s when I finally decided it was time to fulfill my lifelong dream of being an interior decorator and launched Metamorphosis DESIGN. I think of myself as living proof that it’s never too late to start a new chapter.

My mother was an interior decorator. From the age of five, I soaked up every word she said.

Even though all I ever wanted to be was a decorator, when I reached the age to start a career, I chose a different path. I owned a successful marketing consulting firm in San Diego for 31 years. I made a great living, but my 24/7 stress level was off the charts. My employees and I did great work, but I never felt as though I was truly making my clients happy.

After I closed that business — flat worn out by it — at age 55, I started a string of small businesses. I eventually sold the last of these and settled down to retirement.

Then, one day about three weeks before Covid, I was sitting at my computer when a lightning bolt struck. I said to myself, “If I don’t become an interior decorator right this very minute, I never will.”

Now, here I am at age 78, and I am happier than I’ve ever been. Making people happy — helping them live in more beautiful spaces — makes me happy. I would say I’m healthier and more energetic now than I’ve ever been before, because I am finally doing what I’ve always wanted to do.

Do I wish I had started sooner? Hell yes! But I tell myself every day, better late than never.

My eco-friendly interior decorating is most often focused on keeping and using what my clients already own to make their space more functional and beautiful than they ever thought it could be. I’m passionate about rearranging, reusing, repurposing, and reimagining furnishings, art, and decorative objects.

I’m always amazed by what happens when I rearrange my clients’ things. It’s honest-to-god decorating magic, that’s what it is. I can’t count the number of times my clients have told me they felt as though they got a whole new home for next to nothing.

Of course, a new piece sometimes is needed to complete a room’s look. When this is the case, I help find it … either by shopping my client’s house for something they already own, or by sourcing something new. For me, “new” often means new to my client but found in a thrift store. I really love giving new life to old things.

I believe everyone deserves to live beautifully in spaces that make them happy, no matter how limited their budget or what their preferred style. I’m so proud — and honored and grateful — to be able to help lovely people fall in love with their homes all over again.

I rely almost entirely on free social media to market my business. I’m profoundly grateful for the existence of social media and the opportunities it provides — except when I’m looking for my sledgehammer so I can smash my computer!

One of the first things I did when I launched Metamorphosis DESIGN was to create a Facebook page and an Instagram account. I also created a LinkedIn account but stopped posting to it after awhile when I realized my client base wasn’t there.

I try to post every day if I possibly can. I think posting often and consistently is so important in maintaining and building a following. Most of my posts are directly related to my decorating services, but every once in awhile I give insights into who I am and what makes me tick. I think sharing glimpses of your personal life helps create a bond of friendship, even though it’s virtual, and this can result in more business. Don’t we all like to do business with people whom we think of as friends?

I also work hard to make my photos eye-catching and my copy interesting. I know most people scroll through their feeds at lightning speed, but I’ve built a small, loyal following of people who actually read what I write. I think writing interesting copy is worth the time and effort. (If you’re an artist reading this, take note: Art buyers/collectors love to read the story behind a piece they’re contemplating.)

Whenever possible, I post before-and-after photos of spaces I’ve transformed, as this is what sells my brand of decorating services. I also frequently include decorating tips. Giving away free advice is a great marketing tool, and offering tips helps establish credibility.

In addition to posting on my own FB and IG accounts, I post free ads on Nextdoor and in every Facebook group relevant to me. For example, I live in North County San Diego, so I’ve joined all the North County neighborhood groups and am active in all of them.

Sometimes I’ll ask a client to post a review of my services in these groups. I’ll even offer to provide them with before-and-after photos of their home as well as write the words for them if they want me to. I try to make it as fast and easy as possible for them to give me a great review on social media.

When my business was brand new, I set up a YouTube channel and ultimately made 28 videos. Again, having this channel helps establish my credibility.

I spend about an hour every morning developing content and posting it. I try to be active on social media a few times throughout the day. The more I interact with others, the more they interact with me..

One last note: I reply to every question or say thank you to every compliment that my posts garner. I think putting up a post but not following up is a felony misdemeanor!

Being a creative has more than one rewarding aspect to it. I’m hard-pressed to name a single “most rewarding” aspect! So, here goes:

I’ve never once in my life been bored. I can always amuse myself, by myself. My creativity takes my brain to so many fascinating places while I’m awake and in my dreams.

Being a creative — doing what I do — makes other people happy, and nothing makes me happier than making others happy!

Being a creative, hands-on decorator keeps me young. It fills me with energy. It gives me opportunities to meet wonderful new people, many of whom are far younger than I and who inspire me. It also keeps me fit, as I often find myself climbing ladders to hang art, hauling my tool kit from here to there, or lying on the floor to hide cords and cables.

Being a creative, and running my own little business, forces me to learn new skills. Most people my age seem to me to be afraid of social media, and here I am conquering it. LOL.

Being a creative, at least for me, means that I have the gift of being able to find, see, and appreciate beauty everywhere I look. Every day. Everywhere. No matter how awful our world or my own, personal circumstances might be, I find hope in the beauty I see and the beauty I can create for myself and my clients..