Today we’d like to introduce you to Irene Navarro & Kristine Stearns.
Hi Irene & Kristine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Some design partnerships are carefully planned. Ours? It started with a stolen parking space.
The Stearns Navarro story began back in the 1990s at San Diego State University, where we – Kristine and Irene – were sorority sisters, roommates, and inseparable Sigma Kappas. After graduation, life whisked us in different directions. We built careers, got married, raised kids, and unknowingly settled just down the hill from each other in San Elijo Hills… without the slightest clue.
Fast-forward twenty-plus years.
Both of us – completely independently – decided it was time to reinvent ourselves and chase a longtime passion: interior design. Call it intuition, divine intervention, or a synchronized early mid-life crisis… whatever it was, it landed us in the exact same first design class after two decades apart.
And yes, we were both running late.
And yes, Irene absolutely tried to steal Kristine’s parking spot.
From that moment on, the universe made itself pretty clear.
Through years of design school, countless projects, late-night concept boards, group presentations, and a second graduation together, our partnership naturally evolved. Collaboration felt effortless. Creativity doubled. Coffee consumption tripled.
And one day, we simply looked at each other and said, “Let’s do this.”
Stearns Navarro Interiors was born – rooted in friendship, fueled by shared passion, and built on a story we love telling almost as much as we love designing beautiful, livable spaces.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like any new business, we’ve had our fair share of ups and downs. Our design styles couldn’t have been more different at the start – Irene leaned a little “laid-back coastal,” while Kristine brought more of an “urban edge.” But blending those two perspectives became our superpower. Together, we discovered that our contrasting tastes sparked fresh ideas and led to some truly beautiful, unexpected spaces.
We also had to weather the realities of the economy and the whirlwind that was COVID. Design trends shifted, supply chains froze, timelines stretched, and everyone was suddenly rethinking how they lived in their homes. Instead of slowing down, we pivoted, adapted, and stayed flexible – and those challenges ultimately sharpened our creativity and strengthened our partnership.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Stearns Navarro Interiors?
What sets us apart is our commitment to putting our clients’ vision first. You can often recognize a designer’s work the moment you walk into a room, but for us, the thrill is in starting with the client’s story. We take their vision as the foundation and then weave our own creative magic through. No two of our projects ever look alike – every design is shaped by our clients’ unique personalities and style.
Brand-wise, what we’re most proud of is the relationships we’ve built. Our clients don’t just hire us once – they come back for more and bring their friends and family along for the ride. That kind of trust? That’s everything. We’ve created a brand that feels upscale but never intimidating, stylish but still down-to-earth, and always rooted in honesty.
For anyone getting to know us: we’re all about making design feel inspiring and totally within reach. We offer full-service design, digital concept books, space planning, material selections, 2D floor plans, 3D renderings, and hands-on support through every step of your remodel. Dreaming of a zen bathroom, a kitchen that makes you actually want to cook, or a full home refresh? We bring vision, direction, and a whole lot of fun to the process.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson we’ve learned? That flexibility is everything. Design – and life – rarely goes in a straight line. Budgets shift, ideas evolve, surprises pop up (hello, backordered tile!), and you have to be willing to pivot with grace. We’ve learned to trust the process, trust each other, and trust that every challenge usually leads to something even better. It’s taught us patience, creativity, and the power of staying grounded even when things get messy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stearnsnavarrointeriors.com
- Instagram: @stearnsnavarro
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/stearnsnavarrointeriors/
Image Credits
Rich Mino
