We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stefanie Sillin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stefanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Innovation comes in all shapes, sizes and across all industries, so we’d love to hear about something you’ve done that you feel was particularly innovative.

My career didn’t start in Interior Design, it actually started in marketing and ad/tech sales over 15 years ago. By the time I had decided to make a shift to Interior and Architectural Design I was burnt out and working at a large tech company. I knew that path was not serving me and it was time to make a change when my overall well-being was impacted by my day-to-day grind. I quit my cushy tech job, went back to school, and started from the bottom again. I wouldn’t trade that decision for anything. I worked long days, juggling a full-time school load, and hustled to quickly climb the ranks at my design job.

Oddly enough, my career shift wasn’t the most innovative thing I’ve done in my professional life. Starting my own business was. I’ve had the good fortune of working for same amazing Designers but there’s nothing like feeling you’ve outgrown a space, a place, a job, etc to push you to take a risk. I knew I could handle running my own business and had the creative appetite to lead my own projects, on my own terms. Every day is different and I love that about both this industry and being a Principal Designer.

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.

Sillin Studios is an Interior and Architectural Design firm based in Marin County, California, serving clients throughout the Bay Area and beyond. We focus on full-service high-end design, which includes everything from floor plan layouts, material, plumbing, and lighting selections, project management during the build-phase, and furniture sourcing and procurement.

We pride ourselves on a detail-oriented design process, helping Clients bring life to their vision. Our passion lies in creating spaces that are not only beautiful and functional but also deeply meaningful. When kicking off a project, we always ask our Clients, “How do you want to feel in this space?”

With a focus on the story a home tells through materiality, layers of new and antique pieces, and thoughtful design-build details, working with Sillin Studios offers a truly bespoke experience.

While we specialize in residential design, we also have experience in commercial and hospitality projects.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Winning business in the Interior Design world can be really hard. Often times we don’t know why a Client hasn’t selected to work with us on their project. Their reasoning could be based on budget constraints, misalignment around aesthetic, timing, scope, etc. It’s important not to take this personally and learn from each project, whether they come to fruition or not. I like to debrief after every new business interview and project to assess if there was anything I could have done better/differently, or, what worked well. Each interaction and project are a chance to learn how I can best grow my business and better serve Clients.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That there’s not one singular right way to do something. Depending on the Client, Contractor, Architect, Tradespeople I am working with I may need to adjust my approach. Some partners work faster than others or utilize different project management tools to get the job done. While it’s important for me to stand firm in my creative process based on what works for me, I also need to be agile in adapting to different working circumstances.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sillinstudios.com
• Instagram: @sillinstudios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sillin-studios

Image Credits

Interior Design: Lead Interior Designer @ Katie Martinez Design (images 1-3) & Katie Monkhouse Interior Design (image 4)
Image 1-2: Contractor: Colindres & Associates / Photography: Paul Dyer
Image 3: Architect: Wade Design Architects / Contractor: Annadel Builders Inc / Photography: Paul Dyer
Image 4: Contractor: G-Family Construction / Photography: Stephanie Russo