“My belief as an interior designer is that every home has a story to tell- about the people who live there, the architecture, the history. My role is to help clients uncover that STORY and to translate it into a beautiful, functional, and authentic reflection of their lives ” ~ Libra
Libra, how did you start in Interior Design?
It started with my grandmother, Judy. She studied fashion design in New York City, then moved to California and fell into the decorating business and her career took off. She had several notable celebrity clients, a little antique store in West Hollywood. Judy was amazing and completely unique!
I sort of followed in her footsteps. I studied fashion, with a focus on sportswear. I designed a line of swimwear and t-shirts and created a collection of reworked vintage pieces, where everything was one-of-a-kind. I interviewed with big fashion brands, but nothing ever landed. Then, an opportunity showed up, a part-time assistant position with an interior designer. From then on, I just kept attracting jobs with interior designers. It was like a domino effect and I just went with it. Eventually, I got a full-time position with Michael Martinez Interior Design. I worked for there for 4 years. Michael was my mentor and he recognized my creative potential. He began sending me to the PDC (Pacific Design Center) to shop for fabrics for clients. When I was little, my Grandma Judy used to bring me along on shopping trips to PDC. I had come full circle and I finally felt like I was on the right path. I worked for several designers after that and got to work with a few glamorous Hollywood clients. Then in 2013, I signed on with Homepolish. They matched me with clients, which allowed me to build my name and my portfolio. Now, all my business comes from referrals.
What are your favorite projects? What’s your favorite space in the house?
I have always loved fabric and textiles… and I still do. But now, I have this new love and inspiration for Kitchens. They are incredibly rewarding, you get this huge “before” and “after” transformation experience and I feel so much pride!
A kitchen remodel is a big expense, some clients have saved years for this moment. They’re trusting me to lead the project and to deliver something amazing. And when everything starts getting installed and you see it all coming together at once, it’s very exciting!
I just completed a kitchen recently and my client said to me, “I can hardly recognize my kitchen, I just love it. I keep going around and touching everything…” That statement, that’s why I do what I do. I truly love helping people and bringing beauty into their lives.
What’s your design process?
I like to ask my clients, how do you want your house to feel? Emotional adjectives are excellent jumping off points to get the design process moving. Once a client said, ‘We want to feel like WE live here’ because they clearly felt the opposite. And this statement made total sense to me. Our homes are an extension of us. We want to feel like we’re coming home to something safe and welcoming, to the family – not to a staged and sterile showroom.
I also like to cull one or two main inspiration images. I prefer to go analog for this, scouring through print magazines and tearing out images. Elle Decoration UK is probably my top go-to, so much sophistication. Of course, clients don’t often have a ton of time to sit and sift through magazines, I use Pinterest and Houzz, as well, since they make it easy to collaborate. The other thing I do may sound obvious, but I ask my clients to communicate. And to be totally honest in their feedback during our work together. The more honest, the more authentic the design results.
Mission Statement?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about my mission statement. I started with: I make homes brighter, better, more beautiful. From there, I went deeper: I help people feel and function better in their homes. Then deeper, still: I give you permission to be indulgent, to acknowledge that you (and your home) are a worthy investment. The essence breaks down to: You are a worthy investment.
What’s your experience with ART TILE?
So far, I’ve worked with Marta, who has a fun energy and is very helpful. I like that I can bring my clients into the showroom and we can work at a table. I like that it’s not in San Francisco, it’s here in Oakland and there’s free parking! – which makes it very convenient for everyone. The showroom is a beautiful space, and the lighting is good, and of course, the tile selection is fabulous!
For more info about Libra, check her website!