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

Lindsay, appreciate you joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

Good ol’ fashion gorilla marketing (pounding the pavement). I chose to get involved with my local chamber, BNI group, chose to give breakfast presentations at real estate offices, got involved with local community events, social media and volunteering, I love talking and getting to know people. In understanding this characteristic about myself, I knew I would be the best voice to make the connection to my first client. It was hard, it was stressful, I cried……. Then, I got my first client.

Lindsay, 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?

Specializing in Residential Interiors, Kitchens, Baths and Custom Murals. My goal, as your design concierge, is to give you the home you’ve always imagined! With over 20 years of interior design expertise, I created MSTR STUDIO, LLC, offering Interior Design and Staging services to homeowners, realtors and developers. Located in beautiful Orlando, MSTR Studio, LLC works with an outside team of dedicated and experienced licensed contractors, fabricators, and installers. Together we know what it takes to produce the overall look/ style which will make your home feel like a true sanctuary.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, I had a passion for design since she was in elementary school. Following my dream to pursue her goal of being an interior designer, I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising – LA and immediately entered the interior design industry. For 20 years I has spearheaded design projects within the Residential, Commercial and Model Home industries. She is a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and donates her time to charitable organizations which help to increase art education programs throughout the local community.

I’m is a wife, mother, loyal friend, artist / muralist and design visionary. I cares deeply for the details of my projects and my greatest achievements are seeing each and every one of those details shine through.

My years in the Interior Design Industry have taught me a great deal. However, once I graduated from college, I still wasn’t 100% sure on which part of the design industry I wanted to make my 9 to 5, So I chose to dabble with different areas of the industry I did enjoy…..from: commercial development to drapery design, from high end residential to AutoCAD / PhotoShop / the technology side, from painting murals to selling luxury furniture. This gave me the opportunity to “back pocket” all the ID tips + tricks which I’m now able to offer my clients as part of my formal business plan.

By weighing out my likes and dislikes within the industry, I was able to hone my design perspectives and create (what I thought was) the best interior designer. I created my own design posture, my own design voice! A voice I felt was stifled working for someone. I was finally able to make my own schedule (which also has its pros and cons) but made me happy to wake up each and every day. I felt like I became a better person, a better wife, a better mother, better friend but most importantly a better designer for my clients.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I attribute by backstory to always being in the background. It doesn’t sound luxurious, I know. It came with a lot of struggles and many many set backs. However, from a young age I knew I wanted to be an Interior Designer to make others happy! ID is not glamourous. Sometime you pull all night installs! Sometimes you work at the office until some ungodly hour to endure the project is seams and perfect for the morning’s presentation. Working the background allowed me to see, listen and understand how the design industry worked. Listening to the surroundings and body language of others allow you to scope each situation differently. Moreover, being in the background, I was able to self-teach myself the basis of human psychology / sociology. Both become the key foundation to the best Interior Designer / client relationship one can have.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I didn’t / don’t know everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mstrstudio.com
• Instagram: MSTR_STUDIO
• Facebook: @MSTRStudioByLindsay
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaymichelle/

Image Credits
MSTR Studio, LLC and Artisan Kitchen & Bath Gallery