We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marisa Wilson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Marisa, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Your environment is so much more than just a collection of items; it goes deep and it’s important to your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. I love to approach the design process with the belief that whatever you need your space to provide – healing, comfort, confidence, belonging – is totally achievable.
Some of my most fulfilling projects have been those that provided comfort in a difficult time. For example, one of my clients was a recently divorced father, who was worried his kids wouldn’t feel at home in his new house. Design was never his strong suit, and he had so many other things on his plate with the legal and logistical changes.
So it was a huge relief for him to be able to hand over the creative challenge and let me create spaces where everyone would be comfortable and even celebrated. He really wanted to show his children that they were the priority during this transition – we accomplished that with moments like the “reptile room” where we highlighted his son’s collection of nature treasures in a “cabinet of curiosities.”
It’s so cool how transforming your space can facilitate inner transformation, too. It’s about how it makes you feel, and that ripples out into how you show up in your life.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
For as long as I can remember I’ve been enamored with beautiful spaces. When I was 9 years old, I asked to be switched to the room with the built-in shelves. As a kid I would pore over home catalogs and scour flea markets for treasures, dreaming of my future home. The first house I fell in love with was my Aunt Carmen’s Victorian home by the ocean in Cape May, NJ. It was her house that really gave me an appreciation for historic elements – something I almost always include in my projects today. Even now, my house is vintage, my car is vintage, I just really have an appreciation for older elements.
I curate vintage-inspired, livable, and approachable spaces. My aesthetic leans masculine, so I end up working with a lot of men to help them transform their bachelor pads into sophisticated and stylish dwellings. I love creating spaces that are casual and comfortable, so my clients and their guests always feel welcome and at home.
It’s easy to mimic certain styles or spaces you find on Instagram or Pinterest to make a space that looks good. To make it a true reflection of your personality, you have to know what you love and be unapologetic about it. Do you love fishing, puzzles, albums or books? Prioritizing space to showcase the items that make you you is what distinguishes your space from your neighbor’s.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
I established my career in non-profit development with museums and ultimately in a national role for the American Red Cross. I was always interested in design, but got curious about taking it deeper, and enrolled in a design program at the local community college in 2011. I actually took a job with a pay cut along the way to make space for this developing passion.
My first client was a coworker, and having someone trust me with their project gave me the boost to officially launch the business. My “day job” work was fulfilling too, and I worked on the design business as a side hustle for 8 years.
It was a catalyst in my personal life – a big breakup – that helped me know I couldn’t delay joy and realize I had to spend even more of my time where I was most passionate. In one (insane!) week, I bought my dream house, quit my job, and had my first brand photo shoot.
If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?
Five years ago I created a designer’s guide to High Point Market, the largest furniture trade show in the world. Having wished I had something similar the first time I attended Market, I identified a need for first time buyers that end up feeling completely overwhelmed by the experience.
The free digital guide includes a curated calendar of events, recommended showrooms to visit, and advice from design influencers on the best ways to maximize your trip to Market. It started out as a baby, 4-page product and has since grown to a significant revenue stream for my business with a wide reaching audience and paid sponsorships. It’s been exciting to see so much traction and just how needed it is – our partners describe it as a huge service to the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marisawilsoninteriors.com
- Instagram: @marisawilsoninteriors
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marisawilsoninteriors/
Image Credits
Portrait: Amanda Anderson; Interiors: Laura Sumrak