Exploring Life & Business with Marissa Matiyasic of Reflections Interior Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Matiyasic. 

Hi Marissa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been drawn to design–actually I’ve always been surrounded by design. 

Growing up, my family had a tile showroom, and they sold beautiful, custom-designed, hand-painted tiles–they even had kilns where they made their tile on-site. 

So not only was I exposed to beauty and creativity very early on, I was also exposed to the work ethic that my parents–as entrepreneurs–had. And I feel really lucky that I got to see both sides of running a company. 

One thing that made an impression on me early on was the kitchen remodel we did when I was 11. I have such vivid memories of loving it all—the whole process–seeing a small kitchen-dining room transform into a big, multi-functional space. Watching my mom figure out how she wanted the space to work for us and sitting with her at her huge drafting table while she drew up the plans was inspiring. Since she’s an artist, her hand-rendered drawings were incredibly beautiful. To this day, I think the fact that I start every design with paper and pencil before moving to a computer is from my mom! 

So, with all that, you’d think my destiny would have been clear, but it wasn’t. One day, when my sister and I were home from college, she had an idea to help me—and we sat down and made 2 lists: What was I good at? and What was I interested in? When it was done, my sister said to me, “Guess what, you’re going to be an Interior Designer.” 

After college, I came back to Cleveland and met a designer who changed my life. She mentored me and showed me all the things that a designer could be. I don’t think she had any idea what I’d bring to the table, but I think she recognized I had a good eye, a good work ethic, and talent. She shaped me to be the designer I am today. 

In 2009 when she decided she’d either sell the business or close the business, I really felt I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, and so I bought the business. And it was the best thing I ever did. 

13 years later, with 2 kids, a husband, and a home…my business has grown and grown to today, where we have 5 employees. And you know, I’m still a little astonished when I look at some of the houses we’ve worked on because growing up in Cleveland, I remember driving around certain neighborhoods and just being completely in love with the houses. The work I’m doing today– renovating and remodeling some of those houses—it’s truly like realizing a dream. 

I love being a creative person. I love surprising myself with things I come up with, and since I’m an extrovert, what I love the most is getting to know people in their lives and telling their story through my designs. 

For me, watching their reactions when they see their home’s transformation is what my work as an interior designer is all about. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It wouldn’t be so rewarding if it was always a smooth road. I struggled with work-life balance to the point where I would be working on my laptop into the late hours after my kid’s bath time to get things done. Another struggle was finding and building the right team that worked together seamlessly. One day, I decided enough is enough and hired a business coach who has helped me to shape my business into what it is today. Once I changed the way my business was structured, it allowed growth as a team while having boundaries that create work-life balance. This was also amidst 2020, where sourcing for clients became a challenge due to shipping delays and product shortages. We are still dealing with aftereffects of 2020, but we’ve learned how to manage it and are always prepared to pick another option for clients if needed. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in concept-to-completion design in the luxury home market. We have trusted partners that we have built relationships with to make each project as seamless for the client as possible. We’d like to think of our signature style as “Modern Traditional” — a fresh twist on a classic. We see design as a way to effectively use every bit of a space to tell our client’s story through the finishes, colors & patterns we select. We want our projects to read like timeless chapters in a book titled Home. 

What matters most to you?
Building meaningful relationships, creating family priorities, ensuring my employees are cared for & making people happy are just a few of the things that matter most to me. Connecting with others helps us to not feel alone and brings joy to our lives; I want to feel those things, and I want others to feel them too! 

Contact Info:

• Website: reflectionsinteriordesign.net
• Instagram: reflectionsinteriordesign
• Facebook: reflectionsinteriordesignllc

Image Credits
@sharonhugesphoto
@toddhcarlson