Today we’d like to introduce you to India Clayton
Hi India, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Starting SuJuan’s Decor:
Growing up my mother always had a love and an eye for beautiful homes. I remember her taking me to all the beautiful model homes in the area, to get inspiration for our own home. Us traveling all around town to different furniture and home decoration stores. This grew to be my favorite part of the weekend. I remember being in stores at a young age putting together different looks with pillows and decor based off what art I had selected as my inspiration for that trip.
My love for this field was also inspired by my father as well. Growing up I was definitely a daddy’s girl always watching him repair and fix things around the house. I’d always asking if I could help, or if he could teach me how to use his tools. I was always someone who would try to figure out how different things operated it was like a puzzle to me.
In college I decorated my dorm and apartment so cute especially for a broke college kid. I always felt if I couldn’t afford to go on vacations, I at least needed my home to feel like it. I found myself also decorating my friends spaces or them coming to me for advice on what they should do. Not knowing that this hobby would one day turn into a career.
Fast forward to adulthood I went to college at the University of Toledo not sure what I really wanted to do but knew I wanted to get a degree. I found myself working in the medical field but was completely unhappy due to me not being able to express myself creatively. So after praying for God to put me into alignment with my divine purpose things began to shift.
The beginning of the shift started from a simple phone call with one of my long time friends. Every year on New Years Day my friend and I would always connect and talk about our plans for the new year etc. At that time I was planning on writing a book and telling her about it. In the middle of me chatting my friend randomly interrupted me and asked if I still decorated homes because I was really good at it. I blew it off and replied no. After that I started to see stuff about interior design and what it was EVERY WHERE!
A month later one of my sorority sisters contacted me. She had just gotten married and purchased a new home.
She reached out asking me if I still decorated homes. I told her no, but I’d be happy to assist her with her brand new home. I was so excited and proud of the out come that I took to social media to showcase my work. I had an amazing response to how good it looked and how they wanted me to design their home next. From there slowly but surely projects started rolling in and it’s grown into what it is today.
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?
This has absolutely NOT been a smooth road. Trying to find the right help was horrible! People not showing up on time or not showing at all. Being told that my projects were to small and that they wouldn’t take them. To clients trying to take advantage of me being new in the field. Honestly even though this road hasn’t been easy God has always provided a way. I remember being stood up while remodeling a make up studio. The guy who was suppose to come and install the light fixture did a no call no show. I remember crying my eyes out because I had no clue on how to change out a light fixture. I remember my dad coming and showing me how to change a light fixture out incase I ever had this happen to me again. So although the road was rough I learned so so so much. From really solidifying my contracts and getting the structure of my business down. It’s really shaped me as an entrepreneur.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What do I do. Well I do a lot. I go by the title of Interior Designer and Home Stager. However, my talents don’t just stop with design work. I also specialize in painting, installing wall wood paneling and geometric walls.
I’m proud of how far I’ve come as a designer and my ability to run my business. If you would have told me 10 years ago I’d be doing this. I would have NEVER believed it.
I think what sets me apart from other designers is that I can execute a lot of my designs / projects on my own. From painting, accent walls, to even installing some light fixtures. I also have a large range of different design types I’m able to design.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lessons I’ve learned would be:
Trust the process
It’s ok to turn down projects
Make time for the things you love.
It’s possible to love what you do for work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sdsignsturedesigns.com/
- Email: Sdinteriordecor21@gmail.com
