Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Rice-Maldonado
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I dreamt of being an interior designer when I was little. I fell in love with everything about it – the way a room could make you feel, the clever mixture of colors and textures, the artistry of it. However, as I grew up, I doubted I could turn that dream into a reality. On my career journey, I went down various paths trying to find my way, thinking of interior design as only a passion, not a career choice. Once I had my son, I knew it was time to pursue the dream that I had held on to for so long. I wanted to show him that following a passion and making it a profession is possible. It was long nights, stressful moments, big and small victories, but, most of all, pure joy. I built this business piece by piece, seeing it grow from a team of one to a team of four. And, we’re just beginning.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been some tough moments both professionally and personally. In the beginning, I wanted to take on as much as possible. That quickly backfired. Taking on too many projects while managing scheduling felt overwhelming and meant that I got very little sleep. I learned that I did not want to sacrifice the quality of my designs as well as my own health for the sake of the business. Additionally, creating relationships and finding solid vendors and subcontractors was difficult. I had no one guiding me through that part of the process so I had to dive in and learn on my own. I also had to learn to graciously accept and move on from missteps. I have never been someone who could handle failure well. However, I had to learn to own up to mistakes, make it right and then let it go. While those challenges have been resolved thanks to time and experience, I am still learning to balance my time between business and my personal life. Luckily, I have a team around me that supports me very well and has grown so much in their respective roles so that I can enjoy some time away from the business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Because I am self taught, it was incredibly important to me that I learned as much as possible about the home building process, interior design principles, woodworking, residential codes, scale and design styles. I had a solid sense of style already so that part was easy. But I felt it was crucial that I learn the ins and outs of interior design, so I could hold my own when working with any subcontractor or builder. I spent so much spare time researching, asking questions, and learning. I went to my mom, Diana, when I was lost. She has always been my role model. Whatever the task at home, my mom would handle it with tenacity and style. She guided me through the beginning when I needed to learn about using power tools, building board and batten walls, wainscoting, wallpaper and floral arrangements. With the foundation she gave me, I added more knowledge from my own experiences. And with each new client we serve, I continuously push to create designs that are unique and different from ones I have created in the past. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished thus far. Our portfolio truly showcases a wide array of design styles as well as technical abilities.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
To me, success is seeing your work have a positive impact on someone else’s life, being able to provide a career path for your team and building a foundation for your family.
With clients, sharing the final installation with them is so fulfilling. Clients have told me things like, “I never thought my home could look like this” and “you made my dream come to life” – those moments make me feel successful.
With my team, there is a moment towards the end of an installation, after all the hard work, time and planning, when we look around and see the mood boards becoming a reality. We smile at each other and live in that moment for a bit. To see your work go from idea to mood board to reality, is so amazing. We never get tired of it. And we grow from each experience – learning from what was successful and what needs to be improved upon.
With my family, I love seeing my son’s eyes fill with pride when he looks at the photos of a completed design. My niece told me that she was so excited and proud to show her friends my website. I giggled when she told me that! I love that I can show them both that this wild ride of owning a small business is possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahricedesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahricedesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahricedesign
Image Credits
Headshot by Tony Agapiou, Sweet Little Faces Photography
Design photos by Sarah Rice Design LLC
