Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen Gerrity.
Hi Maureen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Thank you! I was born and raised on the Indian River lagoon in Brevard County, Florida. I spent my childhood on the cusp of “the old days” and the Modern Era- climbing trees, counting dolphins, and reading books by flashlight. I often reminisce of that simpler time when we all weren’t glued to technology and instead turned to nature for inspiration and entertainment. But, nonetheless, credit where credit is due. It wasn’t until the internet imploded that I discovered one of my life’s passions: creating beautiful spaces. Around age 12, I found myself suddenly enveloped in a world of never-ending inspiration by way of modern technology. Or maybe not so modern- remember dial-up? Anyway, room after sprawling room of colors, textures, prints, and patterns…home interiors became something of a refuge from the stressors of modern life. These days, I often joke that computers are both the best and the worst thing to ever happen to humankind. But I can’t discount the doors that technology has opened for my life.
Fast forward to 2010, I had recently graduated from UCF and was growing tired of big city life in Orlando. So I stuffed everything I owned into three suitcases and, with an open mind (and naive heart) moved 4,700 miles away to a little island called Oahu. For three years, I tried to convince myself that island living was for me, but human nature has a funny way of tugging on the heartstrings when it comes to our home towns, doesn’t it? I embraced the fact that it was time to evolve again, and eventually stopped looking at my time in Hawaii as a “failure” and instead a blessing and a learning experience. So once again, I packed my things, the two fur babies I had adopted, and flew back to the sunshine state. It was here that I decided to dive into the world of furniture and decor sales.
Design classes by night, furniture sales by day, my world revolved around colors, textures, patterns, and quality of materials. My passionate personality (which is putting it mildly) paid off when I became a top performer company-wide for Ashley Furniture. For four years I embraced each client with the same passion I have for every new project that I acquire today. But eventually, my free spirit grew tired of working for Corporate America, so I made the difficult decision to take a leap of faith by branching out on my own. Today, I am more fulfilled than I have ever been, channeling all of my creative energy into helping others achieve spaces they love. You know that cliche, “When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life”? I am blessed to feel that cheesy quote deep within my soul. Home interiors is one of the great loves of my life… along with our planet, all the animals we share it with, and most of all- people.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a solo business is never easy. It takes a dedication that is beyond words. Working for Corporate America can be draining yes, but there is also a security in knowing that if and when something goes inexplicably wrong, you don’t bear the burden alone. Working for a company means having support and assistance from others, but running your own business is a completely different ball game. You quickly learn to function as both the boss AND the employee, and it can be extremely overwhelming for someone used to working 40 hours a week. My biggest struggle since leaving my corporate job is merely balancing it all. Most artists have a hard time asking for help or delegating, because so much of the work is creative process. There are certainly days when I shake my head and wonder if it’s all worth it, but then I remind myself that I am blessed to be pursuing my passion!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Definitely! I’ve always believed that the things we are passionate about in life are not random, they are our calling. My passion is creating mindful and beautiful spaces that encourage contentment and serenity within a home. I live to create and love to learn, so I’ve made it my mission to explore, discover, understand, and change this world in whatever way I can. Primarily through sustainable living, practicing gratitude, and offering people the opportunity to love where they live. To me, home is the most personal place in the world, and each of us deserves to feel at peace within those walls. Our surroundings also play a large role in stress management, so consequently, existing day-to-day in a space we find aesthetically pleasing allows our brains to function a bit better. It is my goal to identify my client’s personal style and apply it to a practical, functional, and beautiful home. I am known for my bright and clean designs. I love an open, airy, and minimalistic space with a nod to nature by way of earthy textures and lots of greenery. It’s sort of my signature!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My best advice would be a cliche- “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. In an era of instant gratification, it is easy to get lost in wanting it all right NOW, but remember that great things take time. And if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Give yourself a break and know that steps make miles, and pennies make dollars. It’s okay if you’re not where you expected to be a few months (or years) in. Embracing your passion is a blessing, and your success knows no timeline. It will happen when it’s meant to.
Contact Info:
- Website: MGInteriorReDesign.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/MGInteriorReDesign
- Facebook: Facebook.com/MGInteriorReDesign
