Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Wilson Carrier.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Robin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up with Martha Stewart… before I knew who Martha Stewart was. I was blessed to have a mom who made our home beautiful, comfortable, and welcoming. She crafted yummy and healthy meals, made sure that the table was beautifully set, made pillows, bedding, and window treatments and orchestrated craft sessions to engage our family members in holiday decor creations.
Although I was not blessed with her ability to be a great cook, ok – I admit, I didn’t sit at the kitchen table taking notes like my sister in law did. I did learn, however, to entertain with style and make the entire experience special for my guests.
My mom taught me to scour garage sales for gems waiting to be polished. She would bring home items that looked so worn and forlorn – that when she reupholstered and refinished these pieces, much to her delight, not only did she give the pieces new life – she gave our home new life.
I learned, from my mom, the recipient of The Becky Crocker Award while in high school, that home was a place to create a lifestyle and that there was much to experience in the details.
Interior Design is the second career for me. I sold wine to hotels and restaurants after I graduated with a business degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After learning a great deal about presentation skills and business management, I decided it was time to explore a way to present ideas that I was passionate about. Lingering in my mind was the passion that I learned from my mom in creating an experience. I left my sales job and went back to school – to study interior design at Design Institute.
I knew at some point, I would start my own practice and I also knew that I still had much to learn before doing so. After graduating from DI, I worked for a few firms to glean as much as I could. I am grateful for those experiences and the camaraderie I enjoyed at those firms.
Has it been a smooth road?
Venturing into the creative world and making a career of it was not on my early radar, however, I had been training for it my entire life. There were and are times I experienced doubt and fear – did I really know what I was doing? Those times pushed me to excel, to get involved with like-minded people and to continue to learn. I joined ASID, The American Society of Interior Designers, participated in leadership roles and enjoyed the exposure that the society had in the community.
The beauty and the beast of this career are that the design industry is constantly changing. Technology evolves, the way to develop business changes, and qualifications are varied, making true design creation and implementation a challenge. Creative energy is called energy for a reason!
We’d love to hear more about Robin Wilson Interior Design.
I love what we do. My team and I create unique environments tailored to each client and their specific needs- which means that we start with a blank sheet on each project. From designing an antique map gallery to designing the amenity spaces for luxury apartments, we are tasked with creating an experience that is exclusive, memorable, and interesting – much like a boutique hotel. Our single family clients are varied- couples building their first home, families making spaces to accommodate children, empty-nesters wanting to change their environment now that the kids are gone. All our clients have a deep desire to live, work, and play in spaces that reflect their lifestyle. I am proud that Robin Wilson Interior Design has diverse opportunities to create and that we are known for our attention to detail and high level of service. Our desire for successful outcomes drives us to push ourselves, our clients, and the contractors who implement our designs to be the best that we can possibly be.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I am inspired by women who are confident in their own talents enough to share with, encourage, and celebrate others. In my life, I have been blessed to have those women as friends, mentors, and colleagues.
I encourage those who are embarking on this path, to take in all they can – join organizations, volunteer, become educated, and have an outlet/resource with which to collaborate. My husband, who is a very talented architect, has a group of men that confide in one another about the development of business and personal life. In the latter part of my career, I realize the value of this resource. I also have the benefit of seeing him travel the “path of seasons” a little ahead of my path and learn from his experiences. We all weather those seasons – times when we are on top of the world, and other times when we are in the valley. If we can learn from these experiences, we come through them stronger, wiser, and better. Much like those garage sale gems that have been polished!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1301 3rd Ave San Diego, CA 92101
- Website: www.rwid.com
- Phone: 619-687-2411
- Email: rwid@rwid.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinwilsoninteriordesign
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/robinwilsoninteriordesign/
Image Credit:
Grey Crawford Photography
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