Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Pearson Rivera.
Lauren, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in the “Trading Spaces” era and was totally attracted to eccentric designer Hildi Santo Tomas’ rooms with silk flowers stapled all over the walls or feathers glued to the ceiling. I just loved how her creativity was out of the social-norm and of course, it made for great TV. I started exploring with color, texture and pattern within my own living spaces and I knew from an early age that I wanted to be an Interior Designer. I attended Savannah College of Art and Design – Atlanta, where I was able to study abroad at their Lacoste, France campus. I traveled all over Europe, and soaked up every bit of historical interiors and architecture that I saw – Gaudi and The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Le Corbusier and the Villa Savoye in France, The Colosseum and Basilicas in Rome, not to mention all that Paris has to offer. The list could go on and on. Oh, Versailles! Who could ever forget to list Versailles?! Breathtaking. One of my most treasured possessions to this day is my personal sketchbook from all those experiences. Oh, and I even had the pleasure of meeting Hildi at an event at SCAD-Atlanta and had a wonderful conversation with her. Talk about full circle.
I graduated with my BFA in Interior Design straight into The Recession. Talk about a buzz kill. Everyone I knew that graduated a year or two before me were being laid off from their positions at large firms in Atlanta. To start, I began working at an event design company putting together themed events and weddings. I worked in the back of a warehouse literally sewing little stool covers for corporate event seating groupings or gluing together centerpieces for a Mardi Gras party. I was taking apart decor for one event and re-imagining it for another while learning how to cut fresh florals, store them and create the occasional forgotten bouquet on-site for a bridesmaid. It was hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter. It was a wild experience.
This led to several years of freelancing within the creative industry, decorating corporate offices with holiday decor (ever taken the lights off a pre-lit 10’ Christmas tree? No?! Just me?), visual merchandising at large department stores, to styling room vignettes for national furniture brand’s print and web photography. You name it, in those years I hauled it, glue-gunned it, re-invented it, sewed it, and hung it from 20 feet high.
Those experiences lead to me finally getting a 9 to 5 cubical desk job doing interiors for an office furniture company. That I hated. Which really makes sense now that I’m looking back on it. However, I met my husband there and the rest is history. I took some time off working to start a family and I slowly started creating my interiors business. Things got a little hairy when trying to juggle a young family with three children, growing business and my mental health. Funny how when you are happiest in life, past life experiences and stress combined with post-partum depression will take you to your knees. I took some time to focus on my health and re-evaluate my life and how I wanted to be able to use my talents in design to help others.
My brand focus is now on inspiring spaces and mindful living. It’s really important to me to create spaces curated to foster my client’s spiritual well-being and emotional peace. Being in the moment and at ease is tough, even within our own walls (busy family or work environment anyone?) I spend a lot of time focusing attention on color, furniture and materials that not only reflect their personality but can help them relax in their home or office, so that they might forget (even just a little) about the crazy world outside those doors and be able to be their best selves with their partner, spouse, family or co-workers.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Any entrepreneur will tell you that they have struggled and some of the best ones will tell you exactly how they struggled and what they did to persevere. My personal journey with family, work, and mental health balance, led me down a path where I realized so many people, especially woman who are trying to do “all the things”, sometimes really have a hard time with the balancing act. I really focused on how our personal environment can make a big impact on us.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Lauren Rivera Interiors story. Tell us more about the business.
Lauren Rivera Interiors is a full-service design firm offering interior design and consulting services to clients throughout the Southeast. Our growing portfolio includes small-scale decorating projects to full-scale renovations with a unique, customized approach for mindful living and design focused on overall well-being.
Our design process always begins with a heart-to-heart. We want to know how you live/work, what inspires you, where you feel most at peace, and how you maneuver your day-to-day. We are known for asking lots of questions, creative solutions to your design dilemmas and thoughtfully planned spaces with personality in which you can be your best self in the place that matters most.
We work with a team of skilled artists, contractors, trades and vendors to bring you a truly customized, inviting, luxurious space for a reasonable investment while respecting your time and budget. We manage the entire process while remaining flexible and adaptive to your specific needs resulting in a mindful space that is
A Reflection Of You.
We specialize in residential interiors and decor, office/small business design, kitchen/bath design and new construction/remodeling concepts.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We are so lucky and grateful that each day we get to invest our time and expertise in our client collaboration process. Through this, we design spaces that truly reflect their tastes while promoting harmony, peace and joy within their environment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurenriverainteriors.com
- Phone: 770-355-1258
- Email: lauren@laurenriverainteriors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenriverainteriors
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenriverainteriors
Image Credit:
This Original Life Photography
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