Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria de los Angeles Romero Garcia.
Hi Maria de los Angeles, 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?
Designed With Life in Mind: The Story of Maria Romero Interior & Garden Designer | Sustainable Design Specialist
A visionary designer shaping spaces — and futures — with sustainability, beauty, and heart.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the art of creating beautiful, functional spaces. As a kid, I was always sketching homes and structures or redesigning my family’s garden—long before I knew that design would become my lifelong passion. What started as a way to express creativity has evolved into a mission: to design spaces that inspire connection, well-being, and harmony with nature.
As a designer inspired by sustainability, my main motivation is to create functional, innovative, and interconnected spaces that elevate the user’s experience. I aim to highlight the unique qualities of each space, designing interiors that seamlessly extend outdoors to form practical, multi-functional, and aesthetically refined environments. My work balances beauty and purpose, guided by the principles of harmony, rhythm, unity, and contrast.
To me, sustainability isn’t a trend; it’s a way of living. I see it as a balance—between the built and natural worlds, between design and life around it. Since launching my professional journey in 2004, I’ve approached each project as an opportunity to create an oasis—a place that feels authentic, restorative, and timeless. Whether through interiors, gardens, or visual art, I aim to craft experiences that bring people closer to nature and to themselves.
As a creative, I find inspiration in visual graphics and photography. These outlets allow me to explore composition, light, and emotion. For me, design is a collage of experiences and ideas that come together to create meaningful, memorable spaces.
Beyond my work in design, I also explore my creative vision through my artistic persona, Afrodia_Lab. As an artist and designer, I imagine sustainable future cities where innovation, ecology, and human creativity coexist in harmony. My pieces—ranging from paintings to upcycled furniture and accessories—merge industrial aesthetics with imaginative storytelling, offering a vision of evolution for a more conscious and connected society. Through Afrodia, I express my belief that design can lead to positive change — transforming awareness into art. I am inspired by the idea that the cities of the future begin with the choices we make today, and that the best way forward is to create thriving, engaged communities built on circular economies, interconnected with one another and with the world at large.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The hardest part for me has been establishing my core as a designer. My passion for sustainable design has always been clear, but I had to grow into it—partly because it sometimes steps outside the norm. It takes time to establish your identity, both as a professional and as a company.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Since the beginning of my career, my work has been guided by the embodiment of well living. Every project is conceived as an experience—an intersection of function, form, and feeling—crafted to last and to enrich daily life extending your living areas by adding the perfect spaces for your favorite activities outdoors. With function at heart and design by nature, I create spaces that endure in both memory and experience.
Through every project, I strive to craft spaces that feel meaningful, enduring, and alive, reminding us that design, at its best, connects us to the world we live in, where the indoors and outdoors coexist seamlessly and every element has purpose. My goal is always to create spaces that not only look beautiful but also feel intuitively right—spaces that work with people and nature, to inspire, enhance and bring them together.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with clients across Colombia, Argentina, and the United States. Each experience has shaped my approach, allowing me to blend diverse cultural and environmental perspectives into thoughtful, cohesive designs. My passion for sustainable design led me to incorporate garden design as a natural extension of interior design—proposing the use native and well-adapted non-invasive plants, conserving water, reducing waste, and supporting biodiversity. I also incorporate permaculture principles to create food forests on any scale, tailoring each design to the client’s vision to maximize the use of space and harmonize with the surrounding environment. For me, it’s about designing with respect for nature while creating functional, beautiful landscapes for the user.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I find it incredibly important to build genuine relationships with fellow designers and providers across the board and to stay open to collaboration. I’ve met the best people in my field through honest conversations and by asking questions that have led to friendships, guidance, and mutual benefit over the years. We should be a big team that supports one another and helps our community grow. There are many groups out there that will resonate with you. Even a quick online search will point you toward some great options — find them, reach out, and become part of their community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mariaromerodesign.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mariaromero_design
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/mariaromerodesign
- Other: afrodialab.wixsite.com/afrodia
