Daily Inspiration: Meet Mariana Castro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Castro.

Mariana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always had a deep appreciation for people’s stories and always want to champion the people that I meet. I think that desire to celebrate others is fairly innate, but it grew as I came across people from all walks of life growing up. My dad was the head of a local food pantry in Reseda for most of my life which was a really formative avenue to meeting people of all socio-economic status’. We also had a rotating door of people who were in financial, physical or emotional recovery stay at our house at any given time. The importance of home and the fact that many people didn’t have a place of permanence really settled in as a kid. Our spaces are something sacred and one of the few things in life that are truly “ours” if we get that privilege. As a creative who loves creating atmospheres of comfort and belonging, interior design felt like the right career fit and has been deeply fulfilling.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If I’m being perfectly honest, I feel like the biggest challenges for my career were tackled by my parents in an indirect way before I even set out to be an interior designer. My dad immigrated here in his mid-twenties and lived in a garage in Silverlake for years eating cup of noodles for meals because that’s all he could afford as he worked his way up: he’d drink the soup in the morning and eat the residual noodles for lunch. My mom is the youngest of ten and immigrated here in her mid-twenties after living most of her life on a tiny island off the coast of the Philippines. They met at work, fell in love and moved to the Valley. I’d say that my biggest hurdle to getting in the industry was really my family’s socio-economic status. No one was keeping me out of the luxury design industry, but I had no idea how to get in, haha! Most of my friends grew up in entry-level apartments or suburban homes which were furnished but not necessarily decorated. I’m the daughter of two immigrants who worked 10-hour shifts each just to make enough to be considered middle class. Our money always went to the mortgage, putting me in the best school they could afford, retirement, and eating out as a family one a week – interior design was not a priority and definitely seen as out of reach for people like us. On top of that, all of the interior designers I knew didn’t look like me at all. So much so that when I was looking into being an interior designer, I googled “Latina interior designers” and “Asian interior designers” because I couldn’t really see myself in anyone I saw on TV or even online.

Nonetheless, I realized that the entire reason that my parents moved to the U.S. was for the opportunity for a better life. A massive part of that “better life” really is the idea that your career can be led by passion and purpose and not just out of financial necessity. I really saw no other choice but to go for it because it felt like I owed my parents’ sacrifices that much regardless of not having a clear understanding of where to begin. I enrolled in an interior design program at a local community college and sent out 10 job applications to intern for local interior designers offering nothing but enthusiasm and the promise of hard work. Only three firms got back to me, and two of them said no! I started working closely with the designer that said yes and the rest is basically history. I went on to have job experience as the head designer at a design / build firm in Calabasas and have since started my own firm catering to Los Angeles County with an emphasis on the Valley. Being a young designer in Los Angeles has its challenges, but I’ve been well-equipped by parents who modeled the humility, the love for people, and the grit necessary to thrive in this industry.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an interior designer who’s known for creating beautiful homes that celebrate a laid-back lifestyle! Growing up in Southern California as well as traveling to El Salvador and the Philippines throughout my life have really shaped my design approach. The culture here in Los Angeles gave me an appreciation for well-designed but comfortable + causal living which definitely defines my voice in interiors. Visiting my family in Central America and Southeast Asia exposed me to the importance of designing around sunlight and airflow, bringing in fresh greenery, not being afraid to incorporate warm and bright tones within a home, and utilizing a natural material palette.

I see the design direction for each project as a collaboration between the client and myself. I partner with my clients to create hard-working and beautiful homes so that they get the most out of life within their four walls. My favorite part of my job is celebrating the story of each client. A home that has a reverence for the client(s)’ history, celebrates their lifestyle and incorporates internationally timeless design elements is a home that embodies my philosophy.

Any big plans?
Throughout my five-year career, I’ve been taking on projects throughout Orange County, Los Angeles County and Ventura County. I recently decided to put down roots in my hometown of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley which has really opened my eyes to the importance of “going deep and not wide”! In the next few years, my goal is to partner with more and more people in my own backyard instead of going to different counties.

Contact Info:

• Website: macdesignla.co
• Instagram: @macdesignla

Image Credits
Taylor Pircey of Seeking Sun Photography