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

WENJING, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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?

I reconfigured my own house while working at an interior design company specializing in builder projects. The day after we moved in, the construction team arrived, and we began renovating everything according to my plans. Once the project was complete, I posted before-and-after photos on Facebook. A friend of a friend saw the transformation, reached out, and after some conversations and interviews, I landed my first client.

WENJING, 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?

Growing up, I was always drawn to creating and designing. My parents were involved in real estate development, so their plan was to send me to school in the U.S., with the idea that I would eventually help them after graduation. I earned a master’s degree in architecture, but life took a different turn. I wanted to experience work and life here in the U.S., so I didn’t immediately return as planned. I had the opportunity to work in both interior design and architecture firms, and over time, I discovered that interior design was my true passion.

When COVID hit, my schedule became more flexible. After posting some before-and-after photos of my own home renovation online, I started attracting clients. Initially, I offered free consultations, sometimes even a few in a day. However, I noticed that many people were only interested in free advice without following up for paid services. This was a turning point—I began charging for consultations, which helped me attract more committed clients.

As someone who had remodeled my own house, many clients came to me specifically for interior and remodeling design. While I initially limited myself to design, I realized that without my involvement in the construction phase, the final results often didn’t meet my standards. Some clients started asking if I could manage their remodels as well, given my experience overseeing the construction of my own home. I agreed, though it was challenging to balance design work with managing construction teams and navigating the inevitable issues with subcontractors. It was demanding, and after three years, I found myself physically and mentally exhausted.

Around this time, I connected with some Mexican developers who were selling apartment units in Mexico to investors from the U.S. and Canada. They wanted to offer their clients interior design and furniture packages, and with my background, I saw a unique opportunity. We created 3D renderings and walkthrough videos to demonstrate what we could bring to their projects, and they loved it. This collaboration allowed us to shift focus.

Today, we specialize in providing interior design and furnishing packages for Airbnb owners and developers, as well as pre-construction design and visualizations. I’m most proud of this journey and the evolution of my business. What sets us apart is our deep understanding of both the design and construction phases, allowing us to create cohesive, high-quality spaces that meet our clients’ needs. Our background in both architecture and interior design allows us to oversee projects from concept through completion, maintaining high-quality standards throughout. We specialize in creating stylish, durable spaces for Airbnb and developer clients, with tailored furnishing packages designed for functionality and appeal. Our pre-construction visualizations help attract buyers early, and our deep understanding of North American clients investing in Mexico allows us to deliver unique, value-driven designs that stand out in the market.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

During a challenging master bathroom remodel, I encountered an unexpected setback when my subcontractor—who had been paid —took off on vacation without notice, leaving the project completely stalled. With a tight deadline and concerned clients awaiting updates, I had to act quickly to keep the project on track.

In a short time, I launched an extensive search, calling every potential subcontractor I could find and conducting back-to-back interviews. Finally, I secured someone who could step in immediately, though at a much higher cost than planned. Faced with the choice of either delaying the project to find a cheaper option or fulfilling my promise to the clients, I chose to prioritize their expectations, even if it meant sacrificing my profit.

This experience was a true test of resilience—handling unforeseen challenges, making difficult decisions under pressure, and staying committed to my clients’ trust. While I didn’t make a profit, I learned the importance of adaptability and persistence in keeping my word, even when circumstances are beyond my control.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My business initially focused on residential design for individual homeowners, which is a very personal and emotionally involved process. It required a significant amount of time for customization, client communication, and hands-on management, especially during remodels. Along with designing, I was handling all aspects of construction—managing subcontractors, coordinating with vendors, and resolving on-site issues. At the end of the day, I realized that most of my time was spent “babysitting” workers and managing people, rather than creating designs or growing my client base.

This became a turning point. I felt the creative aspect, which was the reason I entered this field, was taking a back seat to the demands of project management. I realized that this business model was difficult to scale and wasn’t fulfilling my core passion for design. So, I decided to step back and rethink my approach entirely. The question became: How could I refocus on design, streamline my efforts, and achieve growth without being mired in the operational side?

It became clear that I needed to separate design from construction. I considered either finding a partner to manage the construction side or moving away from it entirely to focus exclusively on design. Since construction wasn’t my true passion, I decided to fully commit to design.

However, I also recognized that scaling a purely service-based business would be challenging, especially since about 50% of my profit came from products. To maximize both profitability and efficiency, I needed to focus on clients who required design expertise and product packages, without the deeply personal demands of residential projects. That’s when the answer became clear: my ideal clients would be real estate developers and short-term rental owners. By focusing on these groups, I could dedicate more time to creative work, offer tailored design packages, and build a more scalable business model centered on both design and products. This pivot allowed me to align my business with my creative goals and set a foundation for growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wldesignsstudio.com/