An Inspired Chat with Maria Zare of Los Angeles

Maria Zare shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Maria, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A “normal” day for me right now is very full, but in a way that I really enjoy. I wear a lot of hats in the business, so my day usually starts early. I’m typically up before everyone else, checking emails, reviewing production timelines, and looking over any design or manufacturing updates that came in overnight. From there, I’ll usually have a quick touch base with my team to prioritize what needs my attention most that day—whether it’s a design decision, production issue, or something related to our wholesale accounts.

At the same time, I’m very focused on growing our wholesale department. That often means meetings or calls with retailers who carry our products, or who we’d like to partner with. Some days I’m on the road visiting showrooms, attending appointments, or traveling to meet buyers and see how our products are being displayed in person. Other days I’m more behind the scenes, working on strategy, pricing, and identifying new markets or partners.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Maria, and I’m the founder of Belaré Home, a brand I launched in 2020 in Orange County. Belaré Home is truly an extension of who I am. My aesthetic has been shaped by years of watching my father source vintage pieces for his own store, absorbing art, architecture, culture, and craftsmanship from so many different places. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for beauty and detail, and that artistic sensibility is at the heart of everything I create.

My journey into entrepreneurship was inspired by my late father, who was a connoisseur of antiquities and owned a vintage store. Growing up, I watched him fall in love with the stories behind objects, the history, the emotion, the soul, and that shaped my own understanding of what makes a piece meaningful. In many ways, Belaré Home was born from a desire to continue that legacy. I wanted to blend artistry with nostalgia, to create pieces that hold emotion, spark memory, and feel timeless.

At Belaré Home, we design and manufacture an extensive line of exclusive pieces for retail, the trade, and wholesale. My vision has always been to merge the elegance of both modern and antique influences into every item we create. I aimed to capture the same sentiment that captivated my father for years: creating more than just décor, but a tapestry of memories, pieces that honor both where we’ve come from and where we’re going.

Under my guidance, our talented team of designers works meticulously to ensure each piece meets incredibly high standards. Everything is intentionally crafted or carefully selected, with strict quality that reflect the level of excellence I expect. My goal is for every item from Belaré Home to feel like it carries a story, beautiful, enduring, and thoughtfully made.

Right now, we’re continuing to expand our wholesale division, introduce new collections, and push creatively into areas that excite me. Belaré Home is constantly evolving, but its heart remains the same, honoring the emotional connection people have with their homes and the objects that fill them.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that I had to have everything figured out right away, that there was a right path, and that success meant following it perfectly. I was very driven, very disciplined, and I felt a lot of pressure, mostly self-imposed, to always make the correct decisions and avoid mistakes.

As I’ve grown and especially as an entrepreneur, a mother, and someone building a brand from the ground up, I’ve completely let go of that belief. I’ve learned that there is no single right path, and perfection isn’t what creates meaningful work or a meaningful life. Growth, creativity, and confidence all come from trying, exploring, adjusting, and giving yourself permission to evolve.

Now I embrace the idea that uncertainty is part of the journey, and that my path doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. I trust my instincts, my experiences, and my creativity far more than I did as a child. And I no longer feel the need to have every step mapped out, I just need to keep moving with intention and heart.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to trust her instincts and be gentle with herself.
You don’t need to carry everything so heavily or have all the answers right away. The things that feel overwhelming now will one day become the strengths that guide you. Your creativity, your sensitivity, and your way of seeing beauty in the world are gifts, not burdens.

You are going to build a life and a future that are bigger than anything you can imagine right now. So breathe, trust yourself, and know that you’re already enough, exactly as you are.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I differentiate between fads and foundational shifts by paying close attention to behavior, not just buzz. Fads tend to be loud, fast-moving, and surface-level, they create excitement, but they don’t fundamentally change how people live or what they value. Foundational shifts, on the other hand, show up quietly at first. They reveal themselves through consistent patterns in customer behavior, long-term demand, and changes in how people use their homes, their spaces, and their time.

In my industry especially, it’s easy to get distracted by what’s trending. But I look for longevity, emotional resonance, and practicality.

And as a brand rooted in timelessness, I always lean toward what will matter years from now, not just what’s popular today.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I led with heart, created beauty with purpose, and made others feel something.
That I built more than a brand, I built experiences, memories, and moments that mattered.
And most of all, that I was a woman who loved deeply, worked passionately, and left behind pieces that made the world feel a little more beautiful and a little more connected.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Belarehome.com
• Instagram: @belarehome
• Facebook: Belaré Home