Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Harriet Despina. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Harriet, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

Generally speaking, as an artist, it is difficult for people to value your craft. I believe that they just see the “bigger picture” and they do not realize the effort that it takes to get to the point. As a business owner, there is so much that clients do not see. The endless hours, sleepless nights, long lead times, customer service issues, fluctuating income, wondering when our next client will come, etc. We do NOT get to close our laptops on Friday’s at 5pm.

These days, clients have access to so many things. The internet is a wonderful tool, but it is also a curse. Years ago, things were not as readily available to people. Artists and creatives were much more protected. As an Interior Designer, I could spend hours sourcing material, just to have it available online at a less expensive rate. What some clients do not realize is that when they hire a professional, there is a service that comes along with our expertise. When we order material, we are responsible for everything like customer service issues, coordinating deliveries and so on. It is our job to take these matters into our own hands, and we deserve to be paid for it.

The other thing that I find frustrating is people asking for free advice. I see this so much, especially through social media. I do not think anyone should have to work for free.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I knew that I wanted to be an Interior Designer from a very young age. As a young girl, I loved everything that had to do with homes. I would spend my time visiting model homes, show houses, and I was extremely opinionated on any design decisions my Mother would make. My Mother would often say “You should be an Interior Designer when you grow up.” That idea never left my mind. I knew it was something that I wanted to pursue. During high school, I attended a “Summer Live” program at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. It was there that I had the opportunity to really get my feet wet and see a glimpse of what the industry was made of! I continued my education and received my degree in Interior Design. During college, I interned at the renowned Holly Hunt Showroom in NYC, where they eventually offered me my first job working in both the A&D and D&D Buildings. Following that, I took a position as a design assistant where I really learned about construction and the ins and outs of owning a business. My career then took me to work as a Project Manager at a design firm on the Gold Coast of Long Island. I always knew that being a business owner was the end goal. I had always dreamed about it, and always prayed for the opportunity to pursue this dream. In March of 2020, like the rest of the world, I was furloughed from my job. I remember worrying so much about what the future would hold. Little did I know that out of darkness comes light. I received an opportunity to work on a wonderful project that eventually formed Harriet Despina Interiors. I have been blessed to have my career flourish through word of mouth and social media. 3 years later and I still feel so lucky and grateful for the way things worked out for me and my business.

Being a business owner is not as easy as people think. There is a lot of stress, time, effort, tears, happiness, long days, and so much more that others do not see. For me, it is my passion that drives me forward. With every project that comes my way, I am excited and I put my best foot forward. It is always important for me to work hard, and tackle anything that comes my way with grace and professionalism.

In my business, I am involved in all aspects of a home. I take on projects as small as decorating one room, or as big as an entire new build. It is important to stay organized, to listen to what your clients need, to work hard, to have a good team, and to maintain good relationships with everyone involved.
I am also extremely humbled to work with people from all walks of life. If a project is small, yet inspires me and excites me, I take it on with the same respect I would a large project.

There was a time in my life that I thought I would spend the rest of my life working for someone. I am still in awe that I get to live out my passion every single day. What I want people who have the same dreams to know is that none of this comes easy. It takes sacrifice, it takes patience, it takes ALOT of hard work, and it takes dedication.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I owe my business to word of mouth. I never realized how powerful it could be. One happy client leads to many more clients. When working on your home, the most personal space in your life, it gets extremely overwhelming. There is so much information and detail that is involved, and I always tell my clients, “It is my job to take on the stress.” My goal is to make the process a smooth one for any client that I work with. I also believe that clients admire working with someone who takes on any challenge that they are faced with – and trust me, we face challenges every single day. As a business owner, I can not control everything that comes up; however, it is my job to make sure it is taken care of. That in itself is what makes a client happy at the end of the day.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have been a perfectionist my entire life, and in the industry of Interior Design, it is expected. I am still in the process of unlearning a lot of things as my business continues to grow. I used to want to perfect everything, and make sure that every single job went without any hiccups, but I learned very early on that it was not practical . There are so many moving parts to my job and so many people involved and it is nearly impossible. Instead, I have changed my perspective and realized that with every job comes a new challenge. I always say “another lesson learned.” I once heard “they call a doctors office a practice, because they are always practicing.” That really changed my thought process and reminded me that it is a beautiful thing to learn and grow as a person and as a business owner.

Contact Info:

• Website: harrietdespinainteriors.com
• Instagram: @harrietdespinainteriors