Meet Trailblazer Tamara Talbot

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Talbot.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Tamara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Argentina with an inherent and severe case of wanderlust. I was fortunate to move to California with my immediate family right when I hit puberty (please picture bad 1985 permed hair, bad skin, crooked teeth, and not speaking one word of English… so obviously I was super popular in Jr. High). This was when I fell in love with design. Pretty accessories didn’t judge my broken English. My family struggled financially, so I tried to make our new roach ridden apartment feel like a “home” by repurposing the neighbors discarded furniture (this is when paint became my favorite design tool, inexpensive and transformative!) I spent many a day “curating” twigs and and pretty branches to warm up our lackluster new home. Even though I found comfort in my creative jaunts, I set my sights on gaining financial stability by working in corporate America and set aside my passion for design as a hobby.

After a “short” two-decade career detour, three kids, one husband, and two dogs, I returned to my passion for design. I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity and grateful to my husband who is carrying the heavier load to make this dream a reality! Those years in corporate America taught me some business savvy, as well as provided me the opportunity to travel. I matured as a person and as a designer. Now, I love incorporating inspirations from my travels to practical design for a modern family home. As a designer, I love pretty, as a mom, I need practical, marrying these two concepts is my daily focus.

For the record, my hair is still unruly, I’m now battling wrinkles, and I continuously misspell English words (the editing department will have a field day with this interview), but my teeth are straight, so that’s and improvement, right?!?!?

Has it been a smooth road?
A smooth road, an interesting person does not make! I am so blessed not to have had it easy. I learned young how to work hard. As I mentioned earlier, when we immigrated to the US, we faced financial insecurities (to put it mildly). My parents used all their savings to start our new lives in California. Luxuries were out of the question. McDonald’s meals were reserved for special events like birthdays and graduations. If I wanted or needed something, I had to work for it. As it turns out, outworking my competition served me well later in life. Although my path to design was not a straight one, I believe that it was this “scenic route” of getting to my ultimate goal was also to my advantage. I am a better global thinker, and problem solver thanks to the experiences I had during my decades’ long detour. For those of you who chased your passion from the start, I salute you! Yet for those of you that can’t follow that dream right now, never lose hope and always keep it in your sights. You never know when you will have an opportunity to circle back, or better yet, spring forward!

We’d love to hear more about VerMar Design.
I am first and foremost a domestic goddess (aka: mom, cook, janitor, errand girl, nurse, uber driver, etc.). I am renowned for my work within a small community called The Family. I have not let this “notoriety” get to my head, but I have used this skill set to design rooms that make life a little easier for other domestic goddesses and gods out there. But I want these spaces to look so appealing that they make the neighbors jealous. In summary, I am an interior designer specializing in spaces that the family uses daily. I get inspiration from my own list of “I wish I had space to…” , and I try to find practical solutions. Although I can get seduced by trends, I mean… I’m only human, I focus on timeless designs that I encounter during my travels. If marble was good enough for Michelangelo, it’s good enough for me too. And maybe its the simplicity in their furnishings that make Scandinavians so darn attractive, only one way to find out!

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Don’t mean to brag or boast, but I can sell really darn well… except for myself, I’m the WORST at it! I have found that the best way for me to network was to do work for people that already knew me and loved me (or tolerated me, but liked my work. Anyway, you get the point). Those people then did so much of the networking for me. Haha, I put them to work and they didnt even know it! In all seriousness, referrals have been priceless. If you suffer from a similar affliction, this could be a good strategy. Also, and very important to any business that deals with aesthetics, Instagram is invaluable. It’s a passive sale, but an effective one. To that end, please follow me @VerMar.Design. I had to throw that in there, or I would really cement how bad of a self-promoter I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vermar.design
• Phone: 7606725524
• Email: tt@vermar.design
• Instagram: vermar.design

Image Credit:
Tamara Talbot

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