We were lucky to catch up with Marissa Navarro recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?

I started my business at the beginning of this year and it feels like the right time. At some point, I realized I had prepared myself for this moment my entire life. My designs and project management experience combined with processes I learned, allowed me to start my own business with confidence. I was ready to take control of my career and go out on my own.

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.

My company, New Day Collective, is a creative design studio assisting clients with a wide range of challenges including: selection of architectural details and finishes, collaborating with architects and builders, decorating a functional and timeless space with furniture, lighting, fabrics, accessories, and creating custom pieces for your project. We use mood boards, 2D and 3D visuals, CAD drawings, and material/furniture samples to help our clients visualize what their space would look like.

Whether your project is a new construction, full renovation, or just one room, we offer services tailored to our client’s needs. If you’re on a budget, but want to have a vision to follow when you are ready (mentally and financially), we can advise and guide the design direction with you.

Our communication is what sets us apart. We believe clear communication is vital to the execution and success of projects. When communicating with clients, vendors, and other key players involved in the project, we maintain transparent dialogue, ensuring everyone is on the same page and aligned with the same goals.

Relationships are very important to us. Our clients who trust us with their homes and provide us with the beautiful canvas we get to redesign and transform. And our vendors, who work so hard to make our designs a reality, which in turn, determines the success of the project. A design is only as great as the execution, and we always strive for the best.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about interior design is that people think it’s a glamorous field and an easy job. In reality, that’s very far from the truth.

In my mind, a great designer has spent a big chunk of their lives learning the skills necessary to accurately design or renovate your space. Our knowledge lets us make design decisions that factor in important elements that someone without that knowledge could easily miss. We have the education and experience that allows us to turn a floor plan into a reality. We make revisions, schedule vendors, gather quotes, and oversee installations to make sure our design is right in the real world.

I think it’s important for everyone to understand that great designers take their time and design with intention.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

So, I’m a bit of a firecracker. I think my energy and passion for design helps me build a trusted network in the industry. Clients, vendors, and fellow designers are all among the many people I’ve met along my journey. I’ve grown to respect the creatives who also give their lives to this trade. I think mutual respect is key to success and I try to remember that and live by that.

Also, I give 110% when it comes to things I love. My family came from Cuba to give us a chance at the American Dream. Growing up, I saw my family struggle. I learned quickly that sometimes it takes non-stop hard work to make it. When teachers asked what I was going to do after high school, I’d say I’d work a 9-5 until I retire. I know now I only said that because that’s all I saw growing up. I didn’t think there was a life beyond that.

Seeing the sacrifices my parents made, taught me to follow a path to get us out of that cycle. We all follow the paths we’re destined to follow. I know one day, we’ll have all we ever wanted and our future will be worth our sacrifices.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.newdaycollective.com
• Instagram: @mawissaxo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-i-navarro/

Image Credits
Makayla Casey