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

Rebeckah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I’ve spent a lot of time pondering this question. Since starting my business, I’ve become a much happier and healthier person, and I often wonder if I could have reached this point earlier in my career. Ultimately, I believe every step I took was essential to the personal and professional growth needed to get to where I am today.

I graduated from Tulane University in 2013 with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Architecture. While I loved my architectural education, I became disillusioned with the actual practice. Throughout school, I was consistently drawn to historic renovations and reimagining existing spaces rather than new, blank-slate designs. That interest led me back to Tulane to complete a Master’s of Sustainable Real Estate Development.

Could I have started my business at that point? Absolutely not.

After grad school, I began working as a Project Manager for a design/build contractor and developer. Those three years of hands-on experience in development and construction management were invaluable. It was during this time that I also met my future business partner, Lauren LeMaster.

Could I have started my business then? Possibly, but I don’t think I was ready. I did launch a development consulting business during this time, which is still active today.

My next role marked a significant pivot: I transitioned into talent acquisition. A family friend had connected me with the company, and I walked into the interview unsure whether it was for a role in my field or a position with their team. I ended up accepting the job, thinking it would be a nice break, especially with the perk of unlimited PTO. A few months in, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I returned to work in March 2020, just as Covid shutdowns began.

While I stayed in that role longer than expected, it offered me the flexibility to continue my consulting business, complete two personal development projects, and pass all the exams required to earn my Interior Design License. Though I enjoyed the work, I grew restless sitting in an office all day and missed having a creative component in my job. Still, I’m incredibly grateful for that time, it allowed me to recover from burnout, welcome my first child, and gain valuable skills in client communication and business ownership.

In 2021, I had lunch with Lauren, and we both admitted to feeling professionally restless. She was working for a commercial and residential interior designer and loved the work but was craving a different environment. I casually suggested starting a business together. What began as a loose idea became more concrete with every conversation.

In a perfect world, maybe we would have launched our business sooner. But in reality, I know that every step, every pivot, challenge, and experience was essential to preparing us to become the designers and business owners we are today.

Rebeckah, 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?

I’ve always been a creative person, and knew I would land in a creative field. My interest in the built environment and place making emerged growing up in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina and witnessing the connections people have to spaces.

Master and Man Design is a full-service interior design firm offering commercial and residential design services. Our goal as designers is to build functional spaces that are a nucleus for connection. We think a lot about how people use a space, how it makes them feel, and our design can strengthen the experience.

The experience of space is much deeper than just the aesthetics. While we love making pretty space, every aspect of a room is tailored to our Client’s needs. We put a lot of consideration into what materials and finishes work best for each individual Client’s needs, and ensuring our design will endure in its environment.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I was lucky enough to work with my business parter, Lauren LeMaster in a past role. We worked for a design build contractor and developer and worked really well together. It was a very small company, so our roles were dynamic and wore many hats. Working together previously, I was comfortable stepping forward in business venture with Lauren. I knew her work style and that we worked well together.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

We were so fortunate to get a ton of business when we first opened, and we had a strong first 18 months of business. We noticed a significant drop in business as interest rates rose, which we know was also felt by others in our industry. I also found out I was pregnant with my second child during this time, making it extra stressful. We always had work, just not as much workload as we had in the beginning. We had to seriously re-build our business when I returned from maternity leave, and the past year has been great! We pivoted to doing some consulting as opposed to full design. While we don’t always get to see the end product on this route, we still offer this service today. I am very thankful for our supportive family, friends, and past clients during this time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.masterandmandesign.com
• Instagram: @masterandmandesign

Image Credits

Green Bathroom, Playroom, Black Wallpaper- Laura Steffan
Tiger Bathroom, Purple Built-Ins- Melissa Oivanki