I am a single entrepreneur who decided over ten years ago that I needed to follow my passion in life versus following the corporate money trail. I had completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in business and had a very successful corporate career, but I was unhappy because I knew that I was not fulfilling my true calling. The challenge though was to figure out how to give up the security of a regular paycheck and follow my dream of starting my own interior design business.
For years, I worked in both worlds, making money in my corporate job by day and completing my design work at night and on weekends. I had to build my portfolio little-by-little over the years and had to save quite a bit so that one day I could leave my corporate job behind. After living this dual life for many years, I finally ventured out on my own in February of 2006 and haven’t looked back since!
In just a little over five years since leaving my secure corporate career, Décor by Denise has grown into a signficant interior design brand in the local Washington, DC market. We were recently included in Home & Design’s 2011 Top 100 Designers and were one of twenty design firms selected to participate in the 2011 DC Design House—a designer show house to benefit Children’s Medical Center. Our work has been showcased on ABC affiliate, News Channel 8, in Home & Design, the Washington Post, Washingtonian, The Washington Examiner and in many other venues.
My solid business background has helped shape my design philosophy and allows me to offer my clients a unique design approach. I believe that the design process is a holistic endeavor. Therefore, I work with my clients to offer solutions that are not only pretty, but also are practical and are grounded in the reality of everyday living. I delve into my client’s lifestyle, budget, short and long term goals as well as preferences to come up with a solution that is tailored specifically to his or her circumstances.
Equaling my passion to help others achieve a more pleasing home environment is my desire to rescue animals and to help women and children in need. When I am not checking out a new design-related resource, you will find me spending my time and resources helping organizations like Knockout Abuse and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, which are dedicated to protecting these most vunerable groups.