Today we’d like to introduce you to Staci Steidley.
Hi Staci, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a little girl, I was fascinated by architecture and how things were built. I would study the cathedrals of France and the gothic arches that created the strength and height inside these glorious buildings. As I got older, I realized that the inside spaces we live in each day could inspire us to live better lives. I knew that if thoughtfulness was a part of how a home was designed, the families living there would be able to move through their days with a little more ease and beauty. After I graduated with my interior design degree, I worked for commercial design firms in Virginia Beach and Dallas. While I loved my job, I longed for a connection with families and their spaces. In 2016, I opened my own design firm and concentrated only on residential design. It was such a blessing to see spaces come to life and to see the excitement on their faces when they experienced their new home for the first time. Since then, the business has grown to include 6 employees. We love coming to work each day and never take for granted the trust our clients put in us to create their dream homes. Now we take a mixture of residential and commercial projects, and our work takes us to all parts of the country.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been many struggles along the way! The very first hurdle was transitioning from commercial to residential design. I had to learn all new vendors, learn about window treatments and custom bedding and kitchen design as well as a million other little details that need attention in a residential project. While it was a challenge, it was a fun one, and I embraced the long hours and the days leading up to each presentation. I think that making the first full-time hire was very stressful for me, and hoping that I would continue to have enough projects to support their income. Once I gained enough confidence in our ability to have stable work, I never looked back. If I see a place where we need help, we hire that person, and we keep them busy! I would say that COVID was a hurdle I could never have planned for, and then the industry demand during this time compounded the problems. As creatives, we were trying to collaborate on designs from home. We were trying to take on new clients and not knowing if sending my designers into someone’s home was safe. It was very hard because I didn’t want to complain about being so busy while friends lost their jobs. But day-to-day life was very hard, and as much as we wanted to please our clients, we had no good answers on where in the world was their furniture. My design team really became its own small family. We stuck together, and everyone pitched in if someone was having a rough time of it. Going through something like that together will bond you in very special ways.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Studio Steidley?
We are an interior design company specializing in durable, colorful, and nature-inspired residential interiors. We work on all aspects of a project, from collaborating with architects during initial new build designs and working with builders and remodelers on luxury interior and exterior designs to elegant furnishings, art, and decor for one or more rooms of your home. We are happy to meet our clients where they need us most, and we love to be able to see a project from concept to completion down to the very last detail. With an architectural background and proven systems, we are able to provide insight and guidance for our clients to help make the whole process seamless. We love that when we work with builders and remodelers, they want all of their clients to work with us. We take pride in listening to each homeowner to make sure that we know what we can give them to live their most beautiful life, providing guidance and creative thought all along the way.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My family is such a source of joy, and I absolutely love getting to spend time with them. My husband, Wally, and I also love to travel, and we love sailing. It brings so much peace and happiness to us! I am passionate about design and the process of transforming spaces, and it never grows old. I love waking up each morning and being excited to go to work. I love that our team is close-knit and cares for one another, always willing to go the extra mile for a team member who needs their help. I feel extremely blessed to be able to have my dream job with a dream team!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studiosteidley.net
- Instagram: @studiosteidley
- Facebook: Studio Steidley
Image Credits
Michael Hunter
James Ray Spahn
Stephen Karlisch
