Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlaya Ross.
Hi Marlaya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Decorating and a love for fine furnishings and accessories was something that always ran in my family. Before she passed, my grandmother would travel all over to go to yard sales and estate sales buying and reselling antiques. I remember sitting out in her front yard as a little girl in Wilkesboro, NC, the sun shining down on us, surrounded by furniture. Rich pieces with rich wood, rich details, and rich histories.
She loved the hunt — finding that perfect piece and bargaining with the seller to give her a good deal (which she never had a hard time with because she was such a ray of light – always laughing and making everyone she came across laugh with her), and then reselling it so she could provide others with a beautiful piece to enjoy in their own homes. When I wasn’t with granny, I was with mom, going out and about shopping for little knick-knacks for the house and telling her which colors I wanted in my bedroom. These are some of my earliest memories. So furniture and décor were always a joy for me.
But once I started growing up, as many children do, I had to focus on other things – mainly school, which was highly encouraged by my father, an immigrant from Liberia, West Africa, who entered the U.S. in 1986 fleeing from a civil war back home. He entered this country with literally $5 in his pocket and worked so hard for so many years to provide for me only asking in return that I got a good education so I could live a better life without struggling as he did. There were definitely rough times; times where we had to share food, or we were without money, sometimes even without a home.
But my father kept pushing and finding ways for us to survive. He founded Crown Laundry Express, originally a laundromat near the heart of Winston-Salem, NC where he would offer Wash Dry Fold laundry services. Crown Laundry Express has now grown into Crown Laundry and Appliance, where he buys, sells, and repairs new and used appliances for the local W-S community. In fact, watching his perseverance and listening to him tell me about finances and entrepreneurship gave me the courage to start this business.
Back then though, if you asked me and any other immigrant child, we would always tell you that our parents wanted us to be one of two things: A doctor or a lawyer. I chose the second route, graduating high school in 2012, then UNC-Chapel Hill in 2016 with a Bachelor’s in Latin American Studies and a Minor in Spanish for Law. Convinced I would live out the rest of my days as an immigration attorney, helping others through the process I saw my father fight his way through, I started working as an immigration paralegal for a small law firm. For over two years, I continued working there, helping people get employment and travel visas, their residency, and eventually their U.S. Citizenship.
And even though I loved being able to help others on their way to living the American Dream, I slowly began to realize that the formality and monotony of the legal world were not for me. I yearned for creativity and variety and honestly did not feel appreciated by the firm. I was going to fight through it, and continue working even though I was no longer happy. I took the LSAT [would not recommend!] and even applied to law school. But when I got a phone call from the law school Admissions staff, I felt overwhelming panic and anxiety. I knew I couldn’t continue living a life that was draining me. At that time, the attorney I was working for informed me she was closing the firm and I had just a few weeks to find another job.
So I was at a crossroads. I could either find another job at another law firm that would probably be just as draining but not nearly half as rewarding, or I could go after something I was passionate about. But what was that exactly? I had acted back when I was little, but I definitely didn’t want to be an actress anymore. I cheerleaded and danced as well but I didn’t view those as viable careers for me. I enjoyed speaking Spanish but didn’t know how I would survive just tutoring. And then I remembered.
I remembered those times with mom and grandma, I remembered all the bedrooms I decorated from each of my childhood homes to my dorm rooms, to my first apartment post-graduation. I remembered the many designs I created for myself and my friends of our dream homes, the hours upon hours I would stay up at night and on the weekends researching interior design, reading articles, looking at magazines, window shopping for new pieces.
The entire time I had this deep passion of mine and I had covered it up over the years with life, surviving, textbooks, essays, and more recently immigration forms. So I uncovered that part of myself and shifted. I mean, really shifted. Once the law firm closed in 2018, I cold emailed every interior designer in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill sending out dozens of emails of my resume, explaining my desire to change industries, and asking for an internship.
A local designer gratefully gave me a chance, and I worked with her and her team for a few months learning the ins and outs of running a design business — from blogging and software to meeting with clients and presentations, to staging homes and assembling furniture. Afterward, I got a position at Crate and Barrel for a few months, learning about quality furniture and merchandising. Then in early 2019, I became a Design Consultant at a local tile showroom specializing in kitchen and bath design. I finally felt like I had made it, and loved getting to design and help clients every day.
Then the pandemic hit in March 2020 and the world went on shutdown. Except for our showroom. I didn’t feel like upper management was taking COVID seriously enough, so I decided to quarantine at home instead. At that point, I was home every day with a ton of time on my hands and figured, “you know what? I’m just going to go for it.” So I went full time with Studio One Nine Design on March 16, 2020 (in the middle of a pandemic, I know, but like I said I saw my father hustle all my life so I’ve never been one to be afraid to put myself out there!) — first with pro bono projects to build my portfolio, and then with paying clients.
Since then, I’ve gratefully had a steady stream of residential, commercial, and short-term projects and I continue to learn and grow. I use every part of my background and history to service all types of clients and I couldn’t be happier. My parents and family are proud of me, my fiancé is proud of me, and I know if Granny was here she’d be proud of me too. I’m definitely proud of myself!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Professionally, it has not always been a smooth road. Being a self-taught interior decorator, I’ve had to teach myself almost everything I know when it comes to design.
In the industry, some designers with a formal education look down on decorators like myself who do not have a degree in interior design, so I have struggled with imposter syndrome. I don’t have a mentor so a lot of the tough lessons of owning your own design business I’ve had to learn on my own. And in this area, unfortunately, I don’t see a lot of design professionals that look like me. But I hope that I can inspire others to go after what they want, even if they’re self-taught, and even if they don’t see many others that look like them.
Personally, there have been many struggles as well. Domestic violence, physical and sexual assault, poverty, and living with anxiety and PTSD as a result of these traumas. But as I get older and continue to heal and thrive in my personal life and in my business, I no longer look at these situations as mere struggles. Instead, I view them as the unfortunate experiences they are, but that gave me the wisdom and resilience that make me who I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Studio One Nine Design, LLC?
Studio One Nine Design offers interior decorating services for homeowners, small business owners, and short-term rental owners.
We offer Full-Service Interior Decorating, a top to bottom design solution including color schemes, furniture, finishes, and accessories selection, project management with contractors and installers, and a transformational Reveal Day where the client leaves for several hours while my team and I transport, deliver, and assemble all their furniture to reveal their new space once they return. We also offer E-Design (an easy, virtual design process for those not within North Carolina) as well as Paint Consultations and Design Consultations for those needing expert advice or a second opinion.
What sets me apart from others is my background. I use my project management experience gained during my time as a paralegal to execute designs on time and within budget and to serve as the liaison between my clients and the various contractors and installers we work with. I also like to pay homage to my African culture, my American culture, and the Latin American culture I learned about throughout school by using color, texture, and pattern in meaningful ways.
What I’m most proud of is that if you look at my portfolio, you won’t see just one particular style. I don’t adhere to the idea that the best designers only work within one style — my portfolio is just as diverse as I am, as my clients are, and as their tastes are, and I love that. I love being able to help others create homes that are like sanctuaries to them, businesses that keep their clients coming back, and short-term rentals that stay booked and offer unique experiences to guests. It truly is so much more than picking out furniture. For me, I am helping people live better lives.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I had a huge variety of interests. I always loved TV and movies and wanted to be an actress for the longest time. I even got the lead role in my middle school musical and acted in theatre throughout high school! I also danced, cheerleaded, ran track (qualified for the State Championships even), and played softball.
As a little girl, I was very shy with people I didn’t know, but around friends and family, I was lively, always saying silly things and making people laugh. When it came to doing chores, especially washing dishes, I never liked doing them so I would move so slow to get them done my mom and sisters nicknamed me Molasses!
In high school, I was responsible, but a little rebellious. I snuck out of the house a few times to party but only after I got all my homework done! Now I enjoy breaking the rules with design — I enjoy taking risks and encouraging clients to color outside the lines, even if it’s just a little bit!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.studiooneninedesign.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/studiooneninedesign
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/studiooneninedesign
Image Credits
Marlaya Ross Photography and April McLaurin
