E336: Born to Decorate: One Designer's Lifelong Passion for Beautiful Spaces

Step into the world of interior design with Francesca Morgan, a lifelong expert who transforms houses into personalized sanctuaries. Drawing from generations of family expertise, Francesca shares how her Miami upbringing in her family's home décor business shaped her unique approach to design and client relationships.

What sets Francesca apart is her refreshing perspective on common design misconceptions. Rather than pushing clients to discard cherished possessions, she artfully incorporates meaningful pieces into cohesive designs. "We're not expensive—we bring value," she explains, highlighting how professional guidance actually protects homeowners' investments and prevents costly mistakes. Her approach balances aesthetics with psychology, ensuring spaces not only look beautiful but genuinely reflect the personalities and histories of those who inhabit them.

The conversation takes us through Francesca's charming studio housed in a historic 1917 building in downtown Stuart, where clients can explore everything from full design services to individual home décor pieces. Beyond business insights, we discover Francesca's personal passions for cooking and world travel, elements that enrich her design perspective. She candidly addresses business challenges with wisdom gained through experience, emphasizing organization and clear communication as keys to success. Whether you're planning a complete home transformation or seeking that perfect accent chair, Francesca invites listeners to discover how thoughtful design can truly elevate everyday living. Visit her studio at 227 Southeast Ocean Boulevard or connect through francescamorganinteriors.com to begin creating a home that feels like your personal haven.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, GarfieldBowen.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of an interiordesigner?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the good pleasureof introducing your good
neighbor, Francesca Morgan, withFrancesca Morgan Interior.
Francesca, how are you doing?

Speaker 3 (00:29):
Hi there, how are you doing today?
I?

Speaker 2 (00:32):
am well, I am well.
We're excited to learn allabout you and your business.
Tell us about your company.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
I'm excited to tell you so I am an interior designer
and I was gifted this talent bythe good Lord and I just feel
like it's my calling.
I am able to really impactpeople in the way they live by
making their lives better,making their homes their
sanctuary and making them feelgood when they walk into their

(00:59):
space and make it their haven.
And besides doing that andbeing able to do that with so
many wonderful people from allwalks of life, we also have a
little studio in the downtownStewart area and in our studio
we feature all sorts of homedecor products.
So people, even if they're notwanting to hire a designer and
just need some guidance to dothings right and protect their

(01:22):
investment, they come in andthey see us and we help them
along the way and sell themproducts to beautify their home
and make them feel good and justlive well like that accent
chair that they need to set thatroom off right whatever they
need, anything they need, we dowindow treatments, we do

(01:42):
wallpaper.
We just do all kinds ofwonderful products that will
enhance your space without youhaving to do everything.
Or you could take the plungeand do it all if you want, and
we'll help you with that as well.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
So how did you get into this business?

Speaker 3 (01:57):
I was born into this.
My family had a business inMiami.
I grew up there and we had afactory and we also had a huge
fabric store and everything wasabout home decor.
We were able to make windowtreatments and wallpapers and a
custom upholstery, and my dadhad seven kids and he felt like

(02:19):
this was a good living, to getinto this industry, because
everybody loves their home andwe help them create that
throughout the year.
So I was born in this industryand I've never had another job.
Believe it or not, this is whatI've always done in some facet
or realm of it I know ineverybody's mind there are.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
There are a interior designer.
So what are some of the mythsand misconceptions of the
industry?

Speaker 3 (02:43):
okay, well, it's.
A lot of people think, oh, it'shiring a designer, it's
expensive.
Well, it's a smart move to makeand, like any other
professional, we've done thisbefore and we make sure it's a
lot of psychology as well.
So it's a good investment.
We are not expensive.
We bring value, we addeverything good to your home to
make sure that our home is oneof our most valuable assets.

(03:06):
So we want to make sure you'reprotecting your investment and
we're making wise decisions andhaving somebody that you can get
along with.
That you know.
Not every designer is going towalk into your house and say you
have to get rid of everything.
Some people feel that way,they'll bring that up.
They're like, oh, I'm afraid tohave you to my house for that
reason.
No, absolutely not.
As much as we want to help youcreate a beautiful home.

(03:28):
It's all about our clients andyou know I mentioned all walks
of life.
It's an exciting thing becauseyou could help people who've
lived different places or have apiece of their history that's
important to their home andwhatever things that we need to
do to accommodate them and makethem feel good in their space.
That's my job.
And if you have an old couch,or your grandmother's old sofa

(03:49):
that needs upholstering, or youhave a piece that you brought
from another place that youlived up north and you need help
placing it all.
That's where somebody who has acraft in this and can see the
vision and help you pull thingstogether so you don't make
mistakes and you're protectingyour investment that way so who
would you say is your targetaudience, and how do you

(04:11):
normally attract them?
um, word of mouth is a huge,huge thing for us.
I have a very good reputationthat I pride myself on and we do
right by our clients, no matterwhat, as long as there is
reasonable, you know.
So, whatever we're going toback everything up and make sure
that we're taking the best careof our clients.
So word of mouth comes to usvery easily and very grateful,

(04:33):
very grateful for our loyalclients.
And then we have people thatare moving to the area and or
they're just, you know, they'reon the internet, they're looking
for somebody who's an interiordesigner or somebody who does
custom reupholstery or haswallpaper in, you know,
available and all of thesewonderful attributes.
A lot of people come from theinternet who are new to the area

(04:54):
.
And again, word of mouth, and wehave a fabulous location that I
feel very excited about andpassionate about because we are,
we occupy our, our business.
We occupy our business in aspace in downtown Stewart.
That's a 1917 building and weare actually doing a lot of
research because, as it ishistoric, we would like to kind

(05:15):
of open our doors because it'ssuch a.
It's a quaint and charmingspace on the corner of a Florida
and ocean, if you're any ofyou're familiar with sport, and
we invite people in to takechores of this space because it
was redone and it is a verysmall space but it's very
charming and it's got a lot ofinteresting attributes to it and
we have a beautiful outdoorspace and we're actually having

(05:38):
an open house this coming week,on May 8th.
Can I mention that here?
Am I allowed to do that?

Speaker 2 (05:46):
Sure, sure, but you seem like a very busy person
when you're not so busy runningyour business.
What do?

Speaker 3 (05:53):
you like to do for fun.
I like to cook and feed people.
I love that's fun for me.
I also like to eat good food,what's?
Your favorite dish oh, I likeeverything.
Honestly, I really like.
I love Italian, I likeMediterranean style food, I like
it all.
I will, I'll try, I'll venturebecause I love to travel as well

(06:13):
.
That's my other passion.
I absolutely love to see theworld and and so many different
things, and you never knowenough or see enough.

Speaker 2 (06:21):
Let's change gears a little bit.
Life often throws us curveballs.
Let's talk about one hardship,one life challenge, something
that you bent through, and lookback to the end and say you're
better and stronger because ofit.
What comes to mind?

Speaker 3 (06:34):
Every day, sir.
Every day we are faced withchallenges every day, in the way
you look at things and how youperceive them.
I think you know, like Imentioned before about
psychology, we get to know ourclients, we need to understand
them, and I think that every daythere is a challenge and how we
handle them and with a smile onour face and with the grace

(06:56):
that you've got to make surethat you know what.
It's still better than it couldhave been.
But I've had some bad, badsituations with clients all
clients and that tainted youforever because it happens you
can't make everybody happy andthere's some people that that's
their job to make you miserable.
So having to deal withsomething like that and having

(07:19):
to make sure that all our ducksin a row and we keep good
records, and all of that, ittaught me to be a better
business person, to make surethat everything is organized
through and through, and that'skind of how we conduct ourselves
in our business and ourphilosophy throughout our
company.

Speaker 2 (07:34):
Call those the two percenters.
Thank goodness right, I mean,but it's reality.

Speaker 3 (07:41):
We all have some unpleasant people that we might
have to live with, you know.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
Before we wrap up, I want to tell our listeners one
thing they should remember aboutFrancesca Morgan Interior that
if you are embarking on any typeof decorating or design project
.

Speaker 3 (07:53):
You need to come see us if you're serious about on
any type of decorating or designproject.
You need to come see us ifyou're serious about loving the
space that you live in andreally wanting to build a home.

Speaker 2 (08:03):
Now I know there's a lot of people listening here
have one question on their mindright now, and that's how?
How can we learn more aboutFrancesca at Morgan Interior?

Speaker 3 (08:15):
Well, I think you caught me before when I was
talking about my open house andthe timing worked out perfectly
because anybody who would liketo know more about us, first of
all, you can catch us on the weband you can go to
francescamorganinteriorscom, andthat's Francesca
F-R-A-N-C-E-S-C-A and you couldcall us.
We love to talk on the phonetoo.

(08:36):
Cesca, and you could call us.
We love to talk on the phonetoo, but if you really need like
pertinent information and wantto know more, but our phone
number is 772-286-8676.
And our location is in justdowntown Stewart, at 227
Southeast Ocean Boulevard, andthat's on the corner of Florida

(08:56):
and ocean.
We're across from the MemorialPark that is in Stewart and,
like I said, we're in a quaintand charming space and we are
having an open house on May 8th,between 4 30 and 7 30 and if
you would, just we'd love tohave you.
But if you do us the honor andmaybe call us or send us an
email and I'm going to give youthe email too just let us know
you're coming.
We want to make sure we feedyou.

(09:17):
I said I like to cook, so Iwant to make sure everybody's
happy.
So our email that I did notmention is designers at
francescamorgancom.
So that's all of ourinformation.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
Well, francesca, I really appreciate having you on
the show.
I wish you and your businessthe very best moving forward.

Speaker 3 (09:37):
I appreciate that too , and you the show.
I wish you and your businessthe very best moving forward.
I appreciate that too, and youknow my invitation goes for you
as well.
Garfield, I hope you come toour open house.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
I'll try to make my rounds, all right.

Speaker 3 (09:45):
That's great.
Thanks so much for having me.

Speaker 1 (09:49):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast Port St Lucie.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go tognpportsaintluciecom.
That's gnpportsaintluciecom, orcall 772-362-3840.