Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Salguero
Rafael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I studied architecture in Miami, and during my time in school, a close friend—a well known interior designer in Miami Beach—invited me to assist him part-time in his office. This is where my passion for interior design grew. Working together we became well known in the Miami Beach design and social scene, collaborating with prominent local figures and celebrities.
In 2012, life events led me to Austin, where I faced the challenge of starting fresh, as no one was familiar with me or my work. I decided to bring the high-end design sensibility I had learned in Miami Beach and adapt it to more everyday scenarios. This approach allowed me to quickly establish myself in Austin’s design community, particularly among builders, investors, and developers. It is because of this that I find myself consistently busy and always formulating in my mind the next best thing.
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?
The biggest obstacle I have faced in this business is the push back to some of my concepts and ideas. I always try to implement new and innovative ideas that perhaps have not been seen before and people tend to be a little afraid to try something new. They usually say they have never seen a particular idea or ask me to show them a picture of what I am trying to convey but my response is, “I cannot find a picture because this had not been done yet”. However, once I have worked on a few projects with my recurring clients, they no longer question any of my ideas. They have seen the results and are very confident in trusting me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am extremely passionate about what I do so I approach each projects as an opportunity to create something new and bring innovation to my craft. It is because of this that I work seven days a week, always thinking of the next best thing. New build construction is exciting because I can pretty much tailor the space to what I envision but I am most excited when I do renovations, especially historical renovations. I am currently working on a historically significant Mid Century home that I am keeping historically accurate. These type of properties challenge me creatively as you always find less than ideal situations with how it was originally constructed, it is up to me to keep the historical integrity of the property while also updating it and making it relevant. I absolutely love this kind of challenge so I work extremely close with the engineer, architect and general contractor of each project. Everyday I learn something new with each challenge and I thrive on that.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
This is something I say to everybody I work with, “If you see something, say something”. By this I mean that I do not know everything there is to know, and I don’t pretend to. So if you have an idea, a thought or a question – speak it! This is how great collaborations take place and how everybody has a seat at the table. I love hearing people’s ideas when we are discussing a problematic situation on a jobsite, their idea could very well spark the thought for a solution. This promotes a highly creative and encouraging work environment. We listen to each other.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: austindesignatelier
