Creativity and functionality go hand in hand in the interior design world. Only a few entrepreneurs stand out for their passion and resilience, like Patrina Carey, the founder of Carey Interior Designs. Patrina’s journey is a perfect example of the power of perseverance and vision. Her journey started from a humble beginning and was soon spearheaded into a thriving design business.
Inspiration to Foundation: A Mesmerizing Journey
Patrina credits her family environment for her love for interior design. “Surrounded by talented women in my family, whose homes always looked like a designer styled them, was something I always admired,” she recalls. Inspired by them, she also experimented by creating her own curtains and bedding in luxurious royal blue velvet, in her early teens. In 2007, she took a leap of faith by creating a business plan named the business, Carey’s Visual Designs. While pursuing an online associate degree in interior design with Rhodec International, she laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey.
Navigating Challenges
It is rightly said that there is no elevator to success; you must climb stairs step by step. Patrina’s path to success was also not easy; she mentioned feeling “scared, uncertain, and a bit lonely” in her business’s early years. However, a chance meeting with a mentor at the International Window Conference Expo turned out to be a benediction. The mentor provided her with some valuable insights into the industry and the encouragement to keep going and follow her passion.
Marketing was another challenge for Patrina. “When you are a sole entrepreneur, you wear all the business hats,” she says. She knew her limitations and did not hesitate to outsource marketing efforts. This allowed her to focus on her strengths, designs, and client interactions.
Rebranding and Expanding Services
In 2020, pandemic-induced lockdowns proved to be the time for reflection and reinventions for Patrina. She also realized that her company’s name was often mistaken for an eyeglass business, so she rebranded that as ‘Carey Interior Designs’. She also introduced a slogan, “Dream – Create – Reveal” with her business’s new identity. The new name brought a refreshed vision for the company, which now offers an array of services.
- Refresh Design (popular service)
- Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations (popular service)
- Living Room, Bedroom and Dining Room Designs
- Full House Renovation
- Commercial and Hospitality Design
- Custom Window Treatments
- Paint Color Consultations
- E-commerce for online shopping and gift card packages
The Art of Collaboration
Patrina’s work style is a blend of professionalism and personalization. Her process commences with a call or a direct booking on the company website, which is then followed by a detailed questionnaire and an onsite consultation. After all of this comes the time for Patrina to sprinkle her creativity by transforming ideas into innovative designs that align with the client’s vision and requirements.
Her design philosophy focuses on understanding client’s needs. Patrina listens to understand her client’s needs just like a detective who leaves no stone unturned to find clues. She explores market trends and technological possibilities to craft solutions that are functional, aesthetic, and sustainable.
Projects That Inspire
Patrina has many feathers in her hat but out of all, two projects stand out and are special. In 2022, Patrina completed her first full-house design project which included converting adding a master bedroom and ensuite bathroom to an existing one-bedroom cottage. The client’s reaction upon seeing the finished project is still fresh in her memories and she cherishes that as it was mentioned in The Bermudian Magazine 2023 edition.
The second project was redesigning a small one-bedroom apartment, where space constraints demanded creativity and innovative solutions. Patrina just needed to close a window to transform the space. She used vibrant royal blue kitchen cabinets with acylic/nickel cabinet pulls and that’s it!! Patrina gave a visually striking transformation to that one-bedroom apartment.
Staying Ahead of Trends
Staying updated with the latest trends is crucial for successfully running a creative business. To stay updated with the trends, Patrina frequently attends U.S. Design Markets and networking seminars, engages with local stores to monitor trends, and interacts with Facebook Design groups to remain connected to the broader design community.
Empowering Women In Interior Design
Patrina’s success reflects the evolving role of women in the design world which was previously dominated by men. She has been successfully running her business and along with that, she has mentored three women by providing insights into the industry and helping them to understand the design industry and the tools needed to build the relationship with the client.
“Women are constantly evolving in this industry,” Patrina confirms. She advocates for mentorship, networking opportunities, and increased visibility of women at design expos and conferences.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Patrina emphasizes the importance of a solid business plan and advises all aspiring entrepreneurs to start with a strong business plan. “It is great to be passionate, but framing your passion in a structured way is important,” she advises. One more important piece of advice; she recommended starting part-time while maintaining a full-time job to build financial stability, confidence, and a strong client base.
The Road Ahead
As Carey Interior Designs enters its 18th year, Patrina remains committed to enhancing her personal brand and exploring new trends and techniques. She is focusing on creating a portfolio that reflects her creativity and resonates with her target audience.
For Patrina sustainability is a key element of every project; she emphasizes reducing environmental impact, optimizing energy efficiency, and promoting client well-being. Patrina is looking forward to integrating emerging technologies like AI into her design process, utilizing its benefits while maintaining the human touch.
Balancing Passion and Life
Juggling a successful business and personal life is no small feat. But Patrina has found her solution by setting boundaries on her availability. This way she is able to give due time to other things like walking her dog, spending quality time with her husband and family and most important, fulfilling spiritual needs, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.
A Legacy of Inspiration
Patrina Carey’s journey proves that following passion with determination and resilience is always rewarding. The present market position of her business ‘Carey Interior Designs’ reflects the success of her expertise and innovation. Her work is synonymous with creativity and client-centric excellence.
As Patrina aptly puts it quoting Thomas Watson, Sr:
“To be successful you have to have your heart in your business and your business in your heart.”
Leave a Reply