Her Story
About MADONNA
I've been working in interior design for over 25 years now, and I absolutely love what I do. I work with Ethan Allen Global as a professional designer, meeting with clients regularly to do space planning, assess their homes, and create full 2D and 3D renderings. My approach is really about understanding how people want their rooms to feel, not just look. I always say a room has a feeling depending on how you bring the fabrics, materials, wallpaper, color, and lighting together cohesively. My journey to interior design was unique. I started as a model and lived in Italy and Paris for a while, traveling internationally. After my modeling career, I went back to school at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York, where I'm originally from. I got my associate degree in buying and merchandising and fashion, working my way through by burning the candle at both ends. My education is in fashion, and it all works together because if you like fashion, you like furniture, colors, materials, and people. Before focusing on interior design, I had entrepreneurial ventures with boutiques and wholesale showrooms at America's Mart in Atlanta. I've also been in management for quite a number of years, managing Thomasville furniture stores and Ethan Allen locations. One thing I really loved about management was helping other designers hone their skills, polish their presentations, and help them grow professionally. I've received Diamond and Platinum awards based on overall volume, successfully completing projects, and repeat business from clients. What I love most is that this is a people business at the end of the day. I'm passionate about helping people solve problems and create spaces that work for their families and their lives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with MADONNA
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
One of the biggest things is to have a goal and stick with it, but be very passionate about what you're doing. I always say that I love fabric and furniture, but people first, really, and it's a people business at the end of the day. So if you stay focused and be passionate about really helping people solve problems, that's key. You know, the design part, there are many talented designers who don't really achieve or don't make a living at their craft. So you have to really know how to focus and use every tool in the toolbox, not just the passion for design, but also for people and solving problems and building on that. You really have to be interested in people. Everybody has a story, so you're talking to them, you're just trying to figure out and find out how you can help them and what you can do for them. I mean, if you're sincere about that and you really use that as your tool, then you can be really successful.
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