Today we’d like to introduce you to Julianna Marinho.
Julianna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I can confidently say that I’ve always wanted to be an Interior Designer.
One thing I remember growing up was that I would always change up my bedroom decor and furniture placement in my house. My parents would always notice that I loved to create a space that we enjoyed to hang out in. The only thing I know my parents didn’t like too much was that I constantly wanted to repaint my bedroom with different colors. I guess you can say, this passion to create and innovate was already in me as a child. Becoming an Interior Designer was bound to happen.
After graduating high school, I went straight to FIDM in San Francisco, CA and majored in Interior Design. I then moved down and attended FIDM in Los Angeles, CA where I finished my Advanced Degree in Product Design, Store Planning, and Set Design.
Working in Set Design was always a dream of mine. I would watch Nancy Meyers movies and would be visually inspired with her teams set design work. I wanted the chance to experience that behind the scenes of the production/set design industry.
Through FIDM’s program, I got the chance to intern at Warner Brothers and worked directly with the production designer/set designer on a TV show called, CHUCK. I was in charge of creating all the sign props that needed to be done for all the scenes. I remember watching the episodes once they aired and would point out to family and friends all the signs that I created. It was a great feeling to know that people were seeing my work (even if it was just of a menu that the actor was holding hahaha). After a couple of months working there, I noticed that there was a disconnect after I finished a project. The production design world of movies and television is constantly changing and so fast pace. My work was very recyclable and flat. I wanted to create projects that were long lasting, personal, and meaningful. That is when I decided to experience residential design.
After graduating FIDM in 2008, the economy took a fall and I had to move back to SF. The design market was moving fairly slow and people were very cautious when it came to spending money on their home.
I was fortunate enough to work with different companies/designers that were willing to teach me how interior design truly works with residential clients. I was slowly falling in love with the process.
In 2014, I came across Dwell Candy which gave upcoming designers the opportunity to connect and work directly with clients on their own that have the same design aesthetic. This gave me the chance to work for myself and expanding my own personal portfolio with project that I was in control of. After working so long below very talented designers for 6 years, I wanted the chance to showcase what I was capable of doing as a designer, and Dwell Candy gave me that opportunity.
The way Dwell Candy works is new clients search for interior designers online (google, yelp, social media) and reach out to us directly. We encourage them to fill out the questionnaire of what they want to get done in their home so that we can pair them with the perfect designer that can work with them either in-home or online. With over 25 incredible Interior Designers on staff, they each have their own design aesthetic/design process that our clients really feel comfortable with.
Now, after 3 years of working as an interior designer at Dwell Candy, I have completed more than 30 projects under my belt, and have currently been promoted to Design Operations Director. I get to help the founder/owner, Fahm, run the company. It’s amazing to not only experience the design world but now I’m getting a chance to experience the business behind the design which is just as important.
Interior Design has become so much more than just a beautiful place to live in- it’s more a lifestyle change that people experience which ultimately shapes who they become.
Has it been a smooth road?
Like any other company, there are always struggles and rough roads to truck through.
One thing that our designers give us feedback on is the challenge of dealing with indecisive/very opinionated clients.
Client Struggles:
Sometimes clients are sure of what they like or what they don’t like. They don’t give the designer the opportunity to showcase a new idea or design solution that would ultimately help them with their design struggle.
When you hire an Interior Designer or professional, you have to keep an open mind to new ideas and design solutions that they have experience in envisioning for your space.
Designer Struggles:
Designers in general are sometimes very stubborn. We always think our design solution are right even when the clients have a better solution in mind. We have to listen to our clients more and figure out how to create a design solution that they will love to not only have but that they will ultimately live in 24/7. It has to be both aesthetically pleasing + functional. Nobody lives in a staged magazine home- it’s unrealistic.
Like any business, we always strive to work together through any client/designer issues that can come up. Having the opportunity to not only deal with my own clients but to help other designers deal with their problems- really gives me an opportunity to not commit the same mistakes. I like to learn from other people’s mistakes.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dwell Candy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Dwell Candy is an Interior Design company that pairs designers to clients with the same design aesthetic. We specialize both with In Home Services and Online Services.
Currently we have over 25 Interior Designers on staff that work directly with clients through our In Home or Online program.
In Home Clients:
Clients that want to work with a designer in their home have the opportunity to have an Initial In-Home Consultation with their paired designer. From there, they can discuss the space they want designed, inform the designer of pieces they want to get rid of or keep in the space and receive constructive information regarding the project. From there, the designer works one on one with the clients to get the pieces and space complete. We bill our clients at an hourly rate of $90.00 – $120.00/hour which gives any client the flexibility to hire an Interior Design Professional.
Online Clients:
With our online clients, we see that they are constantly on the go and really don’t have time to meet with the designer in person to discuss the project. They want practical and fast solutions from our designer for their space.
Once our client’s requests that they want to work with an online designer, the client can choose from 2 design packages. The first design package they get 3 Senior Designers to submit their concept board of how they envision the space. The client then gets to pick one and work directly with the designer online. The client has 2 edits allowed during the editing process. These clients are a bit more aware of design and understand the process.
For the second design package, the client gets to pick from 2 Junior Designers that would submit concept boards as well. The client would then choose one of the two and work with the clients as well along with the two edits.
The first design package starts at $1,600.00 – $2,000.00
The second design package starts at $900.00 – $1,200.00
Dwell Candy is proud of starting a business that gives upcoming and skilled interior designers the opportunity to showcase their work and gives client the opportunity to hire design professionals at an affordable rate.
Dwell Candy offers a wide range of in-home and online services at different price points that clients can choose from.
What sets us apart from other companies is our one on one with clients throughout the whole design process from start to finish. We pride ourselves in creating long lasting professional relationships with our clients so that they can always depend on our design services whenever they need it.
Us on-staff designers are thoroughly screened for their qualifications and expertise in the field. We stand behind our designers 100% in how the conduct their design process.
Our designers and clients know that they can contact either Fahm or I at any time if they have anything.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
It is honestly one of the best cities in the world. Living by the water just does something to you. It refreshes your mind and spirit and gives you inspiration without even trying.
Being born and raised in the bay area, gives me so much appreciation for this beautiful city. The diversity in people/cultures, the array of different architectures, the incredible food you can find, the amazing museums, etc. I mean the list goes on and on. It’s just a wonderful place to live.
One thing I can honestly say that I don’t like about the city is the amount of traffic and construction that has been rising the past couple of years. Ever since Silicon Valley has exploded with the tech industry, living costs have also sky rocketed. In a way, it’s wonderful for designers because it’s more homes to design but in others there just too much traffic which takes double the amount of time to get anywhere.
Pricing:
- In Home Designers ( $90.00 – $120.00 hour)
- Online Senior Designers ($ 1,600.00 – $2,000.00)
- Online Junior Designers ($ 900.00 – $ 1,200.00)
Contact Info:
- Address: Dwell Candy
San Francisco, CA - Website: dwellcandy.com
- Phone: 650-921-5686
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
