Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Leonard.
Hi Claudia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up always knowing I wanted to run my own business. I am the oldest of four girls and a Leo, so I have always been a natural leader. My love for architecture and design has been deeply rooted in me ever since I can remember. My mom is very gifted at designing. I grew up in a house where it was domesticated bliss; every room was designed with purpose, incorporating artifacts and treasures from multiple generations. I went to school for Finance and accounting and then pursued design after I graduated college while living in NYC. My parents would only let me pursue a design-related career if I first gained a financial background and a business-related degree. I thank them for that now, as my design business relies on my project management and financial skills.
My first design job after college was a project management/assistant role at a high-end residential design firm in NYC, and I fell entirely in love with the design process. I did everything from picking up tile samples, browsing through the D&D building on Third Avenue in NYC for hours, building budgets for clients, drawing endless plumbing and electrical plans, designing millwork, and picking up my boss’s coffee order. I worked from 7 am to 7 pm most days and hustled like no other during these years. I made little to no money; however, I learned so much about the design world and myself. I was very comfortable communicating technical things to people, putting together designs that translate to someone else’s desires, and coordinating all aspects of projects. I became a master at dealing with chaos. I quickly worked my way up to Senior Interior Designer. Learning the design craft and world in NYC was life-changing, and I learned how and why I advanced so soon in the field. NYC is fast, the clients have insane budgets and expect a lot, and many design resources are available. The number of beautiful showrooms in NYC is unlike any other place. I became a sponge; I took everything in, wrote everything down, and made wonderful connections with clients, vendors, builders, architects, and many tradespeople. I never took for granted that I was still learning and that design was something I was grateful to be a part of every day as my living.
After working for another high-end residential design firm for a few years, I was contacted by a personal referral to complete my project: a fully newly built lakeside estate in North Carolina. I knew what I needed to do and did not hesitate. I quit my full-time job and opened the doors to Claudia Leonard Interiors LLC. From this point on, I have continued. I am a self-diagnosed workaholic and am fueled by being so overwhelmingly busy. I thrive in this environment, and anyone in design should adapt to have this quality, as design, especially renovations, incorporates a lot of detail. You need to be organized and have concrete answers on the fly at any moment. Since that first project in North Carolina, I started getting more inquiries, and now I have done projects all over the East Coast. I moved to Charleston with my Husband last year from NYC with the hopes of a more lowkey life, and I have opened my own office and shoppable showroom downtown. I am truly living my professional dream and pinch myself daily.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, and it still needs to be a smooth road. I have endured many struggles. However, I have always continued to persevere because, ultimately, I genuinely love what I do. When you are genuine about something, you will make it through the other side through all the obstacles and challenges. In the beginning, when I was working as an assistant in NYC, I was thrown into so much responsibility, was expected to learn on the fly, and was essentially not compensated for nearly half of the work I did. I was so poor, living in an apartment in NYC with no windows in my bedroom, working 12-hour days ( some days ending in tears), and being expected to thrive and excel in an environment where extremely high profile people are high-profile and you. There is no room for error. However, I saw the vision for myself. I was obsessed with designing and conversing with so many different people and teams to get a project done, and when I had down moments or was burnt out, I always envisioned myself being my boss one day. I kept going. I manifested all the time and just worked hard. Now, the obstacles and challenges are different. As a business owner, you are ultimately responsible for the fate of your own company at all times. I must sell myself as a designer and the business to a potential client. I have learned to own who I am fully and put myself out there no matter how scary and humiliating it may feel.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in residential interior design. I do everything from bathroom and kitchen renovations, whole house new builds and renovations, and historical preservation to picking out carpets and drapes for someone’s living room. I am different from the type of designer who wants to come into someone’s home, request a clean canvas and full reign of the design direction, and do whatever I want. I pride myself on incorporating a client’s vision, current pieces, and needs into a timeless design with the CLI touch. A design project is a collaboration between the homeowner and the designer, and I do just that. I am proud that most designs look thoughtful, organic, lived-in, and timeless.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
This question makes me laugh. I am the same person as who I was growing up. I have many layers. Depending on the situation, I am usually extroverted and can chat someone’s ear off about anything. I love people. You could throw me into a room with people from 500 different countries, and I would find a way to connect with everyone. I have always been this way. I was the kid whose teacher would write “talks too much” on my report card and progress reports. I was always the kid making my friends and family smile and laugh through any situation; I love laughing and being silly. Life is too short to be anything but happy. I am like this at work as well. However, I also have a soft, quiet, and introverted side. I always preferred going out and being in quiet environments with many people. I have always loved being home, in nature, or exploring something. On days when I wasn’t in school or expected to be at work, you could find me studying or doing an activity alone. I am for sure a dreamer, and I value my alone time.
Pricing:
- Website: https://www.claudialeonardinteriors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudialeonardinteriors/
- Store Location: 55 Spring Street
Image Credits
https://caitlinantje.com/
