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

Hi Kristen, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe there are two key components to success. First, those who succeed persevere long after most people would give up. Second, those who find success are able to visualize their goal coming to fruition.

When I was in high school, I applied for a job at the local carwash where a few of my friends worked. I was 16 and the only job I had ever known was working for my parents at our family business – a uniform and textile store called Kristen Uniforms & Linens that my parents had named after me shortly after I was born.

Knowing I had no future plans to pursue a career at the uniform store, I felt it was important to gain the life experience of working for a manager that was not my father. I filled out three applications over the course of several months and followed up with a phone call. Each time, I was told that they weren’t currently hiring and to try again the next month.

Summer approached, and in spite of the reservations I had with making such a big change – and the clear lack of support from my dad – I decided to submit one last application. Finally, I received a call back from the detail shop manager. I was ecstatic. I sat in the interview chair as he looked over my application and asked me if I had applied in the past. “This is my fourth application,” I told him. He looked at me and said, “You’re hired.”

As I grew older, many of these situations arose. At times, I would get stuck. It’s hard to move forward when you experience failure. My advice is this: during those low moments that everyone will inevitably experience, remind yourself of what success means to you. If it means committing yourself to a lifetime of learning, growing, self-reflecting, and treating others – and yourself – with kindness and love along the way – I’d say you’re already pretty successful.

Beyond that, here’s some advice that’s helped me tremendously:
-Confide in a loved one who will listen empathically, encourage and remind you of your worth.
-Seek professional guidance from a counselor whose approach resonates with you.
-Make a mood board! I’m not talking about a poster board full of positive affirmations – I mean actual pictures of the (hobby, skill, career, partner, family – life!) you want. I know it might feel silly, but go out and pick up some magazines, cut out pictures that specifically embody your vision, paste them onto your board, and then put it somewhere you’ll see it everyday. Slowly – that vision starts to look more possible.

One of the most impactful statements I’ve been told is this: If you don’t believe you can reach your goal, you’ll never be able to achieve it.

Kristen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Maple House Buffalo took root in the early hours of July 7, 2021 when I woke up with an idea. Our growing family had moved into a historic, 1902 renovated farmhouse in Buffalo, NY just a few months prior, and my husband and I had been designing and renovating ever since. With more than a handful of projects already under my belt, I decided to start a professional Instagram account in the DIY and home styling niche. As our home evolved, so too did my affinity for interior design. I built relationships with fellow creators and design enthusiasts through social media. I listened to design podcasts, read design books, and became fascinated with the psychology behind functional, beautiful design. I believe walking into your home should feel like reconnecting with a good friend, each space flowing into the next like an easy, comforting conversation.
I’ve spent the last almost two years sharing my design projects, tips and tricks, and growing a social media community of fellow interior design enthusiasts. While my full-time career is a school-based speech-language pathologist, design will always be a passion and has become a second vocation. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with an exciting range of clients in the world of interior design, including home decor brands, artisans, product designers, and individuals through both e-design and in-person consultation.
In addition to interior design and content creation, I’m excited to expand my brand to include the Maple House Collection, which was created to provide thoughtful, sustainable, collected, functional, and beautiful home décor, ethically made and hand-crafted by the world’s finest artisans. The summer 2023 Maple House Collection will become available for presale in May.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Although I execute 99% of the design and content creation aspect of my business, I also work in partnership with my husband, Andy! We met in our mid-30s at a wedding. He was the photographer and I was the violinist. One year later, he proposed to me in the same room we met, and six months later we were married in that same room. Before Andy, I went through a lot of heartache. All I can say is if you are lost in love, don’t give up hope – give it up to God. Andy has given me the skill set I need to take good photos. Before we had kids, I use to assist him during his engagement shoots. I learned through watching him work and the pointers he gave me when I started to photograph and film my own content. We have been fortunate enough to collaborate on several projects and have more coming up in the near future! Andy is also a wiz with the technical and financial aspects of business, which has helped tremendously in terms of designing my Maple House blog and Collection sites and running my business.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

In short, I’ve grown my social media audience through consistently creating content that is authentic, valuable, and resonates with people – and through regularly engaging with and supporting fellow creators in my niche. I often take a step back and analyze my page as if I had just stumbled upon it. I would suggest asking yourself the following questions – and asking someone with experience whose opinion you value these questions as well:
-At first glance, would you want to follow you?
-Is your bio clear and concise?
-Are you effectively communicating how you will provide value to your audience?
-Have you included a call to action?
-Is your niche clear? There’s a lot of varying opinions about niche – mine is that it’s best to niche down with your in-feed posts and expand a bit more in stories while keeping it relevant.
-Do your in-feed posts have a consistent, quality aesthetic, and does your content provide value?
-Is your profile picture a clear headshot of you in a background that directly relates to your niche?
Remember – your social media page isn’t about you – it’s about them. Think of all of the reasons why you believe you should follow you – and communicate those points of view through your bio and content.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maplehousebuffalo.com
• Instagram: @maplehousebuffalo
• Facebook: @maplehousebuffalo
• Other: Curated shop opening for presale in May: Maple House Collection – www.maplehousecollection.com

Image Credits
Kristen Buscemi Andy Buscemi Lindsay DeDario (photo of house)