Hidden Gems: Meet Robin Jarvi of Calyco Interior Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Jarvi.

Hi Robin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama my southern roots took me to Raleigh after spending a little over 12 years in Colorado. Professionally I spent years working in the music industry and touring with large companies managing their branding while living in Colorado. Although I went to school for design, the direction of what I wanted to do hadn’t been birthed yet.

Starting CALYCO, took my passion for storytelling, design, and community and rolled it into one company whose mission is people. As an Interior Designer, I tell peoples stories in their homes and businesses. CALYCO is a casual luxury interior design firm located in Clayton and we service clients throughout the Triangle. I started CALYCO three years ago solo and now we have three employees and an incredible crew of talented professionals who take my ideas and make them a reality.

CALYCO proudly supports our Special Needs community as I have two children on the Autism Spectrum. Each year we go out into the community with a side project called Project Notforgotten. It is costly to upgrade a home or purchase medical equipment to meet the need of someone with Special Needs. Project Notforgotten goes out into our local community and up fits these special friends homes at no cost to them and purchase items they can’t afford.

CALYCO is also an inclusion company and I am so excited to have hired our first special friend this week as she will be helping us stage furniture and stay organized on installation days. She will be one of many as we hope to change the community’s perspective, that people who have limitations can still contribute to our society and have a purpose.

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?
Starting your own small business is never smooth as the ideas that worked so well in your head quickly reveal the holes in your processes. As a design build firm, it is always a challenge to find qualified, reliable professionals who have the same business mindset as I do. My first year, I spent networking and trialing out contractors who could be a good fit for my company. A designer is only as good as those who surround her/him.

A quick story:

At the age of 24, I was traveling cross country from Colorado to Alabama to interview for my first professional job. In Little Rock, AR I ran out of gas and had absolutely no money to my name. Instead of asking for money, I asked if I could sweep the floors of this country gas station to buy gas. After I swept the floors and another business gave me a $20, I was on my way and ended up landing the job. One thing that was asked of me by this small business owner was when I got on my feet to send the $20 back to him because it was all he had. A few months later, I did exactly that with a handwritten letter thanking him for helping me land that interview.

That same determined yet humble attitude that got me from being stranded in Little Rock, AR taught me to never think too highly of myself, work hard, stay focused on the journey and always be a woman of your word.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
CALYCO is a residential and commercial interior design firm. We specialize in providing a personal white glove in-home/ business design experience tailored to serve our client’s needs. Our firm specializes in design planning, construction, project management and installations so clients can be confident their project will have a clear direction and detailed budget prior to purchasing. I use CAD Renderings for visual representation, 2-D renderings for furniture placement, Vision Boards to cast the direction of the design and samples for fabric choices, wallpaper, tile and other materials related to the project.

What sets us apart is we design to our client’s budget and taste. I’ll have a Boho Farmhouse design going on for this client and then designing a glamourous modern/transitional commercial space. Every design is truly unique and tailored to each person.

I am most proud of how we are a relatable yet luxury brand. Combining those two can be tricky but we do it well. I am also proud that we hire special needs individuals and give them an opportunity to work somewhere cool and that isn’t something you see everyday.

I want your readers to know when you hire CALYCO, you hire a one stop design firm that specializes in residential and commercial designs. Our services take your ideas from just a thought into the blueprint stage and all the way to the final product. 

How do you define success?
That’s tough because as an entrepreneur, it’s difficult to be content. For me and CALYCO, I define my success off each project. When a client sees their ideas come to life and are so happy they can’t express themselves, that to me is success. When I see a small business full of people occupying and enjoying a space I designed and our client is thriving as a business, that to me is success.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.calycointerior.com
• Instagram: calycointeriordesigns
• Facebook: calycointeriordesigns

Image Credits
Catherine Nguyen