Fresh, balanced, and perfectly curated. These are just a few of the ways to describe the work of the very talented Maureen Ursino, the owner and principal designer behind Ursino Interiors. We were so glad to have the opportunity to speak with Maureen about her journey as a designer and hope you’ll love this sneak peek into her career as much as we did! Read on below!

Tell us about you! 

The importance of home has always been deeply rooted in me. I have two kids: Emilia is 4 and Gabriel will be a year in May. They and my husband Matt are my heart and my reason for working so hard on this little business I’ve been plugging away at these past few years. We live in a small town in Monmouth County, NJ about an hour outside of Manhattan.

We moved to NJ in 2016 after being in Washington, DC for 10 years and purchased a house that needed a lot of love. We purchased the home from the original owners and have spent the last few years renovating it and fixing it up. We plan to be here for the long haul, so our next project is to finish the basement and build out a formal studio space for my team and I! I love working out of my home because it allows me to run upstairs and quickly say hello to the kids when I need a quick break during this pandemic life!

You were previously a management consultant. What was that career path like?

Management consulting is a great way to begin your career because it allows you to be exposed to many different types of businesses quickly, which is great for honing in on your likes and dislikes. It can require a pretty demanding schedule, but there is so much training provided, both informal and formal, that is invaluable and definitely applicable to the interior design industry (or any industry for that matter!).

I am so grateful to have had the experience of working in that world and learning from some incredibly bright and talented people, but I knew fairly early on that it wasn’t the right long term path for me. I’ve always loved *all* things design and very badly felt the need to create.

How did you make the jump from management consultant into interior design?

I started by taking evening classes to make sure interior design was something I truly wanted to pursue before making the leap. After a semester of evening classes I left my job to go back to design school full-time. It was risky and certainly very stressful at the time, but looking back I wouldn’t change a thing!

How have you incorporated the skills you learned as a management consultant into your career as an interior designer?

There are many skills that translate, but I would say the most important ones are (1) client relationships, (2) communication, communication, communication, and (3) problem solving. At the end of the day so much of what makes a design project successful relates to your ability to manage many moving parts at once and your ability to solve problems on the fly. Creativity is absolutely part of it, but most days I am more likely to be doing project management type tasks rather than creating, and I know that I have my consulting days to thank for that! 

Do you have any advice for someone who might be interested in swapping careers and jumping into the design industry? 

There are so many different roles you could do within the design industry, so I would say really doing some soul searching to figure out what that may be is important. Do you want to go into residential or commercial design? Do you want to be client facing or are you more drawn to something more niche like textile design or being a stylist? Invest the time in learning as much as you can about the business so you can make an informed decision to determine what part of the business will be the most personally fulfilling. I also always recommend mentorship, it’s such a great way to learn and gain perspective from someone living the day to day.

Before you started Ursino Interiors, you were designing interiors for Fortune 500 Companies. How does designing for corporate interiors differ from residential design? 

I really love working with and getting to know my clients throughout the design process, and I didn’t feel that personal connection with corporate design. There’s a different level of emotion when you’re designing someone’s personal home that’s such an important part of the design process for me. 

Is there anything you wish you had known before starting your own business?

I think this comes with experience, but I would say that I wish I had the confidence earlier to offer a strong point of view. I also learned how critical it is to set expectations up front about timeline, budget, and process. I find that there’s so much mis-conception out there and it’s ultimately on me to educate my clients/potential clients about what the process entails from all angles. The design process is not smooth, it is inevitable that issues will arise on every project, and while it is our job to help resolve them, they are easier for the client to digest when realistic expectations are discussed at the beginning. 

What do you love the most about running your own business?

Working so closely with my clients! Each project is so different and I love taking a client’s personal story and weaving it into the story of their home. 

What inspires you most as a designer? Where do you go for a spark of inspiration?

My family. I know it’s mushy, but they are the reason behind everything and they are carefully taken into every decision I make. I love going for long walks to clear my head and reset. I find so much inspiration in the natural colors and textures of the world, and I also find inspiration in music. I love the vibes you can feel through music and I often have music on when designing. It helps me envision my clients’ in their finished spaces and enjoying life at the end of a project. 

How would you describe your style as an interior designer? Has it changed over the years?

I feel like my design style is constantly evolving and has definitely changed over the years. I’ve really been trying to push myself and my team lately to come up with fresh ideas, which can be really tough to do when we’re inundated with so much visual content. I believe in mixing modern and traditional elements to create spaces that feel balanced and inviting. I don’t like designing a space that is all of “one style” because that can feel too generic and impersonal. To me, it is more about truly understanding your client and then translating those needs and wants into the design of their home. I’ve always been big on storytelling and I love using organic materials and textures as a way to continue to tell our stories through our homes - materials that patina, evolve, and beautify over time.

You incorporate so many beautiful pieces of art into your designs. What’s your secret to perfectly curated artwork?

Artwork is one of those things I always find challenging because it’s so personal and subjective! We usually start by pulling pieces we believe fit into the overall scheme of a space and then send to our clients to see which they feel most connected to. There are some instances where we’ve pulled artwork that represents part of a client’s story too, and that’s always a really great way to add meaning to a space. 

What’s the one thing you always encourage your clients to include in their homes?

Well made, quality upholstery and rugs. Those are two things that will last awhile if you invest in the right pieces.

We are living in a new age of working, whether that is from home, in the office, or a mix. How has your work style changed in 2020?

I need a large table to work at because I need to be able to spread a lot of things out to look at together and when the pandemic hit I was kicked out of my “regular” workspace because my daughter needed it for homeschooling, so I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve been working in an unfinished basement with my very patient assistant. She deserves a medal for taking it in such stride! We’re back to working in person now, but at the height of pandemic we had to learn how to effectively work virtually, which can be difficult with such a tactile job.

Your work is so beautifully bright, fresh, and cozy. What is the recipe for homes like these?

Thank you! I would say working with materials and textures that are organic are a big part of it because those materials are often warm and tend to elude a certain soulfulness. I love working with clean simple silhouette shapes and a fresh coat of white paint never hurts :)

What’s next for you? Any exciting projects coming up?

I am so excited for 2021! We have a few really exciting projects happening that I can’t wait to share more about, we’re in the process of re-branding, and are launching an online rug shop that will feature both vintage and newly handmade rugs!

What is your favorite design rule to break?

That there are no rules :) We are working with a very talented architect on a current project now and one of the biggest things I’ve learned from him is “to let the house tell you what it needs.” I’m learning that planning and preparation are certainly critical, but you get to a point in the process where sometimes you need to step back, reassess, and go with your gut instinct, and that that’s O-K!

What’s your favorite home from film or television?

Oh good question! I would say anything Nancy Meyers, I adore all of her work!

Who are your favorite designers to follow on Instagram?

There’s *so* much talent out there, but a few of my faves are Disc Interiors, M Elle Design, Jessica Helgerson, Sean Anderson Design, Elizabeth Roberts Architecture, and Ashe Leandro.

What do you listen to while you work?

Lots of jazz and podcasts, but I sometimes find it hard to focus on podcasts, so lately it's been more jazz. 

Any podcast recommendations? 

I always love a good episode of Armchair Expert, How I Built This or Sway (I’m a big Kara Swisher fan). Some of my favorite design podcasts are A Well Designed Business, Business of Design, and The Style Files 

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

I’m going to combine two: Work hard, stay humble, and always be kind. 

What’s your favorite thing to do off-the-clock to unwind?

Getting everyone in the kitchen together, putting on some tunes, and cooking up a nice big meal with a dirty martini in hand :)

Thank you so much for chatting with us, Maureen. We had so much fun diving into your world! For more from Maureen, be sure to check out her full portfolio and follow her on Instagram + keep an eye out for her Welcome Home to NJ Home Tour. For more Q&As like this, be sure to check out all of our Industry Spotlights.