We recently interviewed the founder and CEO of Stephanie Cohen Home, Ms. Stephanie Cohen. During the interview, she gleefully shared the story of the culmination of years of creative interior design work that morphed into her flagship furniture store and grew into a private label e-commerce website. It is amazing to see how she has managed to overcome the challenges she has faced as an entrepreneur and mother of three young boys. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was able to adapt her business to the strong need for outdoor living as people didn’t go to restaurants and it was the safest way to host a meeting.
Her interview is a great example of a mom running a business as she was able to balance and maintain the balance between family and business. She accepted that it was challenging at first. She had to work from home for about five years until her children were a little older, and then she opened her first showroom.
She made us realize that working with creative clients is always the most rewarding because they bring their imagination and enthusiasm. She shared her experience of more than 15 years as a creative interior designer. She said she was inspired by the colors and cultures she can see in different countries she travels to. For them, such information that they gathered was a great influence that they could implement in their designs. As Stephanie mentioned during the conversation, Stephanie Cohen Home is currently working on licensing deals and has received book offers alongside the usual interior design.
She didn’t forget to share a few things that people might not know about her. It was interesting to know that she is left handed and can speak Farsi/Spanish. Later in the interview, Stephanie spoke about how she spent a day of her life. She believes the world would be a better place if we could give everyone an extra dose of kindness.
Stephanie, can you start by telling us about Stephanie Cohen Home?
Stephanie Cohen Home is the culmination of years of creative interior design work that has grown into my own flagship furniture store and house brand e-commerce website.
You founded the company more than 15 years ago. What were some of the challenges you faced early on?
The interior design industry as a whole is a very rewarding and challenging freelance profession. My personal challenges early in my career were being the proud mother of three little boys. It took some time to create a healthy balance between work and private life.
What is one of the most common design requests you receive as an interior designer?
As an interior designer, there isn’t much I haven’t heard and seen. But consistently I would say that every client’s goal is for me to help them create their dream home.
You call your design style Contemporary Glamour. Can you tell us about contemporary glamor and how it works?
Contemporary glamor is a soft touch from the feminine to the contemporary. Contemporary, by definition, is clean lines and subtle colors. By definition, glamor is feminine and opulent. When you combine the two you get something fresh, clean and up to date with softer and richer undertones.
You literally started Stephanie Cohen Home in your own home. How long did it take for success to come and move into your own showroom?
I worked from home for about five years until my kids were a little older and then we opened our first showroom which we outgrew in two years and moved to our second location which we grew out of two years later outgrown. Now I have a 40,000 square meter showroom for high-end furniture with my design center at the heart of the shop. As well as an e-commerce website.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your business and the interior design industry?
Covid 19 has had a very big impact on the interior design, function and use of people’s homes. There was a strong need for outdoor living because people didn’t go to restaurants and it was the safest way to have a get together. Therefore, garden furniture became a huge category. In addition, all the children had to study remotely from home, so the home office became a very valuable space in the house. Desks and office furniture also became a very important category.
They have three children and a husband. How do you find time to run your own business and take care of a family?
My children are now grown and two of them actually work in the company. So we have a lot of family time, but it was definitely challenging in the beginning.
Who is the ideal client for Stephanie Cohen Home?
Creative clients are always the most rewarding because they bring their own imagination and enthusiasm.
Are there other projects outside of interior design that you are investigating such as: B. writing a book?
We are currently working on licensing agreements and have received book offers. So keep an eye on everything 🙂
After more than 15 years in the business, what inspires you after so many years in the industry?
I find design inspiration on my travels. As you travel you can see that every culture and country has its own colors and you can see how they use those colors – and it’s inspiring to come back to my own designs. Also, I am inspired by my clients and their passions to create their oasis.
Stephanie, how is a day in your life?
I’m a creature of habit by nature, so my mornings always start out roughly the same, but what happens after is never the same. I start my day around 7am. I start training at 7:30 am. I eat my protein breakfast at 9am and go to my showroom around 10am. Every day is a new day at the Stephanie Cohen Home. We have creative projects and wonderful clients. After 6 it’s time for my family and friends.
What don’t most people know about you?
People may not know that I am left handed, speak Farsi/Spanish and am allergic to pineapple.
Choose two of your favorite quotes and write them here
“I’ve learned that people forget what you said, people forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance” – Coco Chanel
If you had the power to change just one thing in the world, what would it be?
Give everyone an extra dose of kindness and the world would be a better place.
To learn more about Stephanie Cohen and Stephanie Cohen Home, please visit https://stephaniecohenhome.com
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