We recently interviewed the Founder & CEO of Stephanie Cohen Home, Mrs. Stephanie Cohen. During the interview, she happily shared the story of the culmination of years of creative interior design work that turned into her flagship furniture store and grew into an e-commerce website as a home brand. It is amazing to see how she managed to overcome the challenges she has faced as an entrepreneur and a mother of three young boys. Even during the COVID – 19 pandemic, she was able to adapt her business to cater to the strong need for outdoor living because people were not going to restaurants and it was the safest way to host a get-together.
Her interview is a great example of a mother that runs a business as she was able to keep and maintain the balance between the family and the business. She accepted that it was challenging in the beginning. She had to work from home for about five years until her children were a little bit older and then opened the first showroom.
She made us aware that creative clients are always the most rewarding to work with because they bring with them their imagination and enthusiasm. She shared the experience she gathered after more than 15 years in business as a creative interior designer. She said that she was inspired by the colors and cultures that can see in different countries she travels to. For her, such information she gathered was a great influence to implement in her designs. As Stephanie mentioned during the conversation, Stephanie Cohen Home currently works on licensing agreements and has been offered book deals apart from the interior design they usually do.
She didn’t forget to share a few things that people may not know about her. It was interesting to know that she is a lefty and she can speak Farsi/Spanish. Later in the interview, Stephanie spoke about how she spend a day of her life. She believes that if we could give every human an extra dose of kindness, the world would be a better place.
Stephanie, can you start off by telling us about Stephanie Cohen Home?
Stephanie Cohen Home is the culmination of years of creative interior design work that turned into my own flagship furniture store and grew into an e-commerce website as a home brand.
You started the business over 15 years ago. What were some of the challenges you faced early on?
Interior design industry as a whole is a very rewarding and challenging free occupation. My personal challenges early on in my career was that I was a proud mother of three young boys. It took some time to create a healthy work and home balance.
What is one of the most common design requests you receive as an interior designer?
As an interior designer there is not much I have not heard and seen. But consistently I would say the goal of every client is to have me help them create their dream home.
You call your design style Contemporary Glamour. Can you tell us about Contemporary Glamour and how it works?
Contemporary Glamour is a soft touch of feminine to contemporary. Contemporary by definition is clean lines and subtle colors. Glamour by definition is feminine and opulent. When you combine both you end up with something that is fresh, clean and current with softer and richer undertones.
You started Stephanie Cohen Home, quite literally, in your own home. How long did it take for success to come and move into your own showroom?
I worked from home for about five years until my children were a little bit older and then we opened our first showroom which we outgrew within two years and moved to our second location which we outgrew two years after that. Now, I have a 40,000 sq. foot high-end furniture showroom, with my design center in the heart of the store. As well as an e-commerce website.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect your business and the interior design industry?
Covid 19 had a very big impact on interior design and the function and use of people’s homes. There was a strong need for outdoor living because people were not going to restaurants and it was the safest way to host a get together. Therefore, outdoor furniture became a tremendous category. In addition, children all had to study remotely from home so the home office became a very valuable space in the home. Desks and office furniture became a very important category as well.
You have three children and a husband. How do you find time to run your own business and take care of a family?
At this point my children are grown up and two of them actually work with the company. So, we get plenty of family time but in the beginning it was definitely challenging.
Who is the ideal client for Stephanie Cohen Home?
Creative clients are always the most rewarding to work with because they bring with them their own imagination and enthusiasm.
Are there any other projects outside of interior design you are exploring, such as writing a book?
We are currently working on licensing agreements and have been offered book deals. So, keep an eye out for all of it 🙂
After more than 15 years in business, what inspires you after so many years in the industry?
I find design inspiration through my travels. When you travel you can see that every culture and country has its own colors, and you get to see how they use these colors- and it is inspiring to bring back to my own designs. Also, I am inspired by my clients and their passions to create their oasis.
Stephanie, how is a day in your life?
By nature I am a creature of habit so my morning always starts about the same but what happens after that is never the same. I start my day around 7 am. I begin exercising at 7:30. I have my egg white breakfast at 9 and I head out to my showroom at around 10. Each day is a new day at Stephanie Cohen Home. We have creative projects and wonderful clients. After 6 it is time for my family and friends.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
People may not know that I am a lefty, I speak Farsi/Spanish and I am allergic to pineapple.
Choose two of your favorite quotes and write them here
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance” – Coco Chanel
If you had the power to change just one thing in the world, what would it be?
Give every human an extra dose of kindness and the world would be a better place.
To learn more about Stephanie Cohen and Stephanie Cohen Home, please visit https://stephaniecohenhome.com
