FWM: Who is RoWanna Loveless and what makes you a Formidable Woman?
RL: RoWanna Loveless is a naturally take-charge person who can present creative ideas to complex problems and communicate those ideas to the overall project. She puts her soul and passion into everything she does and is not afraid to work hard to achieve her goals. She is determined and no matter what life throws at her she does not give up. She is helpful, supportive, kind, and loyal. RoWanna is a Formidable Woman because she is confident, and she knows her worth and will not settle for anything less.
FWM: What inspired you to pursue interior design?
RL: I have always been fascinated by interior design. When I was in the military, I would watch HGTV all the time and there was this designer named Candace Olson. She had her own TV show, and I would sit and watch it for hours. Every time I moved to a new location, I looked forward to designing my homes and often received compliments. Once I retired from the military, I had a few jobs, but they were not what I really wanted to do. I decided it was time to follow my dream and become an interior designer, so I went back to school and received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design.
FWM: What are some common mistakes women make when decorating or staging?
RL: In my experience when it comes to decorating, some common mistakes are not measuring before you make big purchases, not hanging window treatments correctly, having too much décor, thinking you can not mix textures, patterns and finishes in a room, and not having enough lighting in a room.
It is important to have correct measurements of a space to ensure what you are buying will fit the space especially if what you are buying is a custom piece. Hanging window treatments higher than the window will make the room seem larger than what it is. Too much décor can make a space feel small and cluttered, mixing textures, patterns and finishes can add depth to your space. There are different types of lighting so the correct lighting should be added to each space.
When it comes to staging, some common mistakes are not decluttering enough, not removing personalized photos, having too much furniture, and not repainting the walls. When putting your house on the market, it is important that the new home buyer can imagine themselves in your home and you want to showcase the architectural features of the home. You do not want the home buyer to be distracted by personalized photos or too much clutter in a home. It is also important to repaint walls a more neutral color to appeal to more buyers.
FWM: What are some common mistakes men make when it comes to purchasing a home?
RL: In my experience when it comes to purchasing a home, some common mistakes are not setting aside money for furniture, not realizing how much furniture can cost, or thinking you must furnish the entire home at once.
FWM: What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in the design space and what would you advise someone pursuing it as a career or entrepreneurial path?
RL: Keeping up with the latest trends has been the greatest challenge. There is so much to learn and I am always reading or watching videos on the latest trends. I enjoy learning about interior design because there are so many different aspects of interior design. I would advise someone pursuing a career or entrepreneurial path to get involved in interior design organizations and find a mentor. The organizations are a great place to network and you can learn so much from other interior designers.
FWM: What markets do you serve and what sets you apart from your competitors?
RL: I serve the residential and commercial markets. In my opinion what sets me apart is my military background and having lived all over the world. Because of this my strengths are attention to detail, time management, and adaptability. I enjoy coming up with designs that are different and unique, and I love incorporating color in my designs.
FWM: You served our country. In what ways did this prepare you for entrepreneurship? Which was tougher?
RL: In the military, I had so much to learn and when I learned my job, I was given the responsibility of managing several programs and supervising several people. A lot of times the workload was tremendous, but it had to get done and often I could not leave until everything was done.
Depending on where I was stationed there were obstacles I had to overcome so that required some critical thinking and coming up with ways to overcome those obstacles. I feel this prepared me for being an entrepreneur however being in the military was tougher. I was away from my family, I had to go wherever the military sent me and do whatever I was told to do. I did not have the freedom, flexibility, and control that I now have as an entrepreneur.
FWM: How can our audience reach you?
RL: I can be reached through my website https://rowannalovelessdesigns.com/, my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RoWannaLovelessDesigns/, my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/rowanna_loveless_designs/, email address rlovelessdesigns@gmail.com, or phone number (210) 986-4747.
