Meet Deb Michrina, Empire Home Center’s Newest Interior Designer!
Hello all! It’s been a minute since I updated the blog, and we are excited to get back in the swing of things for 2024 with new content for you.
As we (finally) say goodbye to Winter, it’s not uncommon that annual Spring cleaning can lead to some dissatisfaction with the way one’s home is currently designed. It can be frustrating and oh-so-confusing to have to know that you need a change…but not have any idea where to start! If that sounds like you, then have no fear: Empire Home Center is here to save the day, not just with our high-quality
and affordable home design and décor product lines, but through the impeccable talent of our amazing staff. In this blog post, we are delighted to feature our newest employee, Deb Michrina, who will be joining our team at the beginning of March.
For as long as she can remember, Deb wanted to become an interior designer. “It was the first thing I ever wanted to be in my life,” she shared. Her path to her dream career began when she “fell into” an opportunity with a friend who lived in Florida who professionally managed homes. “[Home management] included everything from the basics of cleaning, to finances and running a household,” she said. Although Deb was originally from Pennsylvania, she decided to stay in Florida and eventually open her own business in Tampa. [My business] evolved into organizing and home management, and it also involved redesigning, redecorating, and remodeling homes…I found my joy in making a home beautiful and organized, and helping it run smoothly,” she said. “It was a very personal business, because I developed relationships with my clients and they came to depend on me. I’m very detail-oriented, and I really care about my customers.”
Deb’s long-held dream to become a professional interior designer was a delightful result of her years in the home management field. While arranging a client’s flowers one day, the client’s interior designer happened to notice Deb’s skill and eye for beauty. “She said I had talent, and asked if I had ever considered becoming an interior designer…it clicked!” she shared. Deb returned to school to obtain her
interior design degree and graduated in 2019, at which time she slowly wound down her home management business to focus on the next step of her career.
When asked what a client should look for in an interior designer, Deb shared that making a connection with someone who understands and respects their vision is crucial, since there are so many in the field. “A professor told me that a designer’s job is not to design a space that they love, it’s to design a space that the customer loves…and make it beautiful,” she said. “Call different designers; actually talk to them before committing to working with one. Trust your gut…sometimes all of the
decisions can be overwhelming, so try to figure out what it is that you don’t like.”
As an experienced designer who enjoys making client’s dreams come true through her skills with 3-D designing, drafting a design plan for clients, and so much more, Deb is excited to join the team at Empire Home Center. “Empire is a wonderful opportunity come on board and expand my design experience,” she said. “I sincerely care about my relationships with customers, and care about what they
walk out with!”
As we (finally) say goodbye to Winter, it’s not uncommon that annual Spring cleaning can lead to some dissatisfaction with the way one’s home is currently designed. It can be frustrating and oh-so-confusing to have to know that you need a change…but not have any idea where to start! If that sounds like you, then have no fear: Empire Home Center is here to save the day, not just with our high-quality
and affordable home design and décor product lines, but through the impeccable talent of our amazing staff. In this blog post, we are delighted to feature our newest employee, Deb Michrina, who will be joining our team at the beginning of March.
For as long as she can remember, Deb wanted to become an interior designer. “It was the first thing I ever wanted to be in my life,” she shared. Her path to her dream career began when she “fell into” an opportunity with a friend who lived in Florida who professionally managed homes. “[Home management] included everything from the basics of cleaning, to finances and running a household,” she said. Although Deb was originally from Pennsylvania, she decided to stay in Florida and eventually open her own business in Tampa. [My business] evolved into organizing and home management, and it also involved redesigning, redecorating, and remodeling homes…I found my joy in making a home beautiful and organized, and helping it run smoothly,” she said. “It was a very personal business, because I developed relationships with my clients and they came to depend on me. I’m very detail-oriented, and I really care about my customers.”
Deb’s long-held dream to become a professional interior designer was a delightful result of her years in the home management field. While arranging a client’s flowers one day, the client’s interior designer happened to notice Deb’s skill and eye for beauty. “She said I had talent, and asked if I had ever considered becoming an interior designer…it clicked!” she shared. Deb returned to school to obtain her
interior design degree and graduated in 2019, at which time she slowly wound down her home management business to focus on the next step of her career.
When asked what a client should look for in an interior designer, Deb shared that making a connection with someone who understands and respects their vision is crucial, since there are so many in the field. “A professor told me that a designer’s job is not to design a space that they love, it’s to design a space that the customer loves…and make it beautiful,” she said. “Call different designers; actually talk to them before committing to working with one. Trust your gut…sometimes all of the
decisions can be overwhelming, so try to figure out what it is that you don’t like.”
As an experienced designer who enjoys making client’s dreams come true through her skills with 3-D designing, drafting a design plan for clients, and so much more, Deb is excited to join the team at Empire Home Center. “Empire is a wonderful opportunity come on board and expand my design experience,” she said. “I sincerely care about my relationships with customers, and care about what they
walk out with!”