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

JOANNA, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Interior design is a space of trends- trends that come and go. Not because flower patterns or colour blue becomes ugly but only because brands that are selling us wallpaper and paint and decorative objects sold us they collection and want to sell us more- so next season a new colour is in, a new shape and a new rug pattern. That was the interior decor scene for last 40-50 years. New trends, once a year, then twice and then every season. With a new trend we’d have interior design magazines urging us to re decorate and then TV shows telling us to knock down these walls and repaint everything and lately influencers showing us how they re do interior room in a new trendy style. But lately I started to see a new trend- of no trend. An idea to decorate your home not within any style or trend in mine but purly with things that you like, The more niche and bizzare, whimsy and surprising the better. Some brands are still trying to use it to sell new and more original accessories- but a lot of people turn to thrift stores and their grandma basements for inspiration. And I am a huge fun and supporter of this n trend- trend in interior design. Firstly, think we deserve to live in spaces that reflect our unique life experiences – not a brand catalog page. And secondly I think our planet can’t take more bling consumptionism- and buying used and second hand is the best way forward. And as an interior designer I always urge my clients to let me design their home with vintage and thrifted finds- the end effect is always more interesting!

JOANNA, 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?

I studied psychology and used to think I’ll solve couple problems. But then I moved to Montreal , got married and had babies- and I didn’t want to have an emotionally draining occupation any more- I wanted to be creative instead. So I started with blogging and sharing lifestyle and craft ideas ( I published a crafting with kids book “The Family Gratitude Project” ) and here and there I would show my home on IG. That have later evolved into a full time interior decor blog and social media account where I would share makeovers in my own home ( on a budget, creative and using thrifted materials) and later I would offer makeovers to deserving local families. Which lead me to offering e design services and local interior design services. So now I solve home problems.

I also paint and advocate for a stop mindless consumption within interior design community- climate change is real and we need to act. I also talk a lot about human rights- which I think sets me apart from other interior decor influencers.
Because while I don’t do therapy anymore I believe that our homes are a big part of our wellbeing- and I also believe every human has a right to a safe space they call their own- and that these things are all interconnected.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have been pivoting my entire adulthood- Thirst as a psychology graduate turned mommy blogger- then mommy blogger turned product photographer and lifestyle influencer- then another pivot toward interior design blogging- and another one toward suffering design services. I’m actually pivoting slightly now as I want to start selling my art online too!

I think it’s important to listen to ourselves and to pivot when things don’t work for us anymore- burnout has many faces- it can be anxiety, sleeplessness, over consumption or incapability to unplug from social media. Every time I decided to pivot I ended up happier and more fulfilled. Now that doesnt mean financially it always made scene- but for me my mental health is more important, so I don’t look back.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I always wanted to be true to myself and my values while helping others. So at first as a mommy blogger I never wanted to talk about postpartum weight loss and my values were against body shaming- instead I wanted to help young mothers feel good about themselves and understand they don’t need to be perfect. Later as a lifestyle influencer I declined numerous beauty products collaboration because , again, I didn’t want woman to feel obliged to focus on their appearances- instead I would share fun healthy recipes to help my followers eat better. Then, as an interior decor blogger I would make sure to share doable and relatable ideas so my followers don’t feel they need to be rich to have a house they love. Instead I’d encourage them to use colour, do simple diy and thrift. Now I talk more openly about human rights issues because I think it’s important that my followers understand they all have power to change things. And that every action they take- from choosing to shop in a huge store that uses child labour in their supply chain to getting coffee at a place that does not allow unions- has an impact. And that decorating a home can have a positive or negative impact on our planet.

Contact Info:

• Website: JoannaAnastasia.com
• Instagram: @joanna.anastasia_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-grzeszczak-657b18127/