Meet Sabrina DeMonica

Sabrina MacLean, an interior designer, discusses her journey in balancing work and personal life, managing a family business, and her vision for HinoStudio. MacLean acknowledges her husband's role in helping her achieve a better work-life balance, contrasting with her earlier years as a workaholic. She outlines a structured approach to her workday, beginning with an early start for dog walking and exercise to manage stress and energize her day. Her routine includes team lunches once a week to foster bonding and a strict no-work-calls policy on Friday evenings until Monday to fully disconnect and enjoy time with family and friends. This deliberate separation from work was a challenging but beneficial decision, enhancing her personal life. Hinojosa Design Studio was founded in 2000 in Miami, Florida, by MacLean's mother, Carola Hinojosa, as a high-end interior design company. The business had a long history in Bolivia before relocating to Miami. MacLean gained experience in sales and furniture design at Holly Hunt after graduation before joining her mother's team in 2010. In 2018, upon her mother's retirement, MacLean took over the firm, rebranding it as HinoStudio. This transition presented significant challenges, requiring her to prove her capabilities, execute designs to her mother's high standards, and earn the trust of both existing and new clients. The firm has since diversified its offerings to include a furniture line and a rug collection, with ongoing development of new products. HinoStudio is also engaged in international projects, collaborating with architects worldwide, which provides new learning opportunities. When asked about recommending places in Miami for a visiting friend, MacLean suggests a comprehensive itinerary focused on dining, drinking, visiting cultural sites, and hanging out. For dining, her top choices are Zz's Restaurant and Casa Tua in Miami Beach, both noted for their food, private club atmosphere, and vibrant social scene. For drinks, she recommends Socialista in Brickell, Mila, and Klaw Rooftop, praising their music, ambiance, and diverse crowds. Miami's cultural growth is highlighted with recommendations to visit the Design District, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Rubell Museum, and Wynwood, emphasizing the city's rich collection of art and museums. For relaxation and socializing, she suggests Faena, Soho House, and The Standard for their music and atmosphere, and the farmers markets in Coconut Grove and Key Biscayne on Saturdays. MacLean expresses profound gratitude for her mother, Carola Hinojosa, identifying her as the primary mentor who shaped her into the designer she is today. She recalls being immersed in the world of design from a young age, accompanying her mother to the office and furniture factories since she was seven. Working together was initially demanding, as her mother maintained high expectations, demanding 200% effort. She describes her mother as exceptionally talented, with a keen eye for design and proportion, and a continuous ability to reinvent herself. After successfully establishing a design studio and furniture factory in Bolivia, Carola Hinojosa rebuilt her business from the ground up in Miami after their move in 1999, eventually reaching a prominent position in the industry. Her mother's resilience, persistence, and dedication have been constant sources of inspiration for MacLean. Even after her mother retired and moved to Cape Town, South Africa, she continued to contribute to HinoStudio by collaborating with local artisans, which led to the development of a new product line now sold at Holly Hunt. MacLean's leadership, especially through challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic, has enabled HinoStudio to create acclaimed interiors globally. #InteriorDesign #Entrepreneurship #WorkLifeBalance #FamilyBusiness #MiamiLifestyle #CreativeIndustry #BusinessLeadership #DesignStudio #Mentorship

Shaniece Jones discusses her journey in establishing "Closet Therapy," a business focused on transforming personal spaces and lives by addressing the root causes of clutter, particularly within closets. She emphasizes that her approach goes beyond mere organization, aiming to help individuals confront and process underlying emotions such as shame, guilt, grief, and insecurity that often manifest in their physical environment. Shaniece shares her personal experience, where despite outwardly appearing successful, she grappled with anxiety, insecurity, and unprocessed grief, leading her to discover that decluttering and organizing her own closet served as a pathway to healing. This realization became the foundation of her business, where she offers clients not just an organized closet, but a moment of truth and an opportunity to break free from self-defeating patterns. Shaniece's path to becoming a "Closet Therapist" was unconventional. Coming from a background where creative careers were not highly valued, she initially pursued a science degree in biology. However, her passion for fashion and its transformative power persisted. Through internships and work as a wardrobe styling assistant, she observed that clients' closets often contained more than just clothes; they held stories of avoidance, insecurity, and grief. This insight led her to believe that the closet is a mirror reflecting an individual's true self, emotions, and hidden aspects. Her unique method integrates organization, scientific research, and storytelling, focusing on breaking old habits and building sustainable systems tailored to clients' real lives. She leverages her scientific background and personal experiences to understand the deeper "why" behind the mess, aiming to bridge the gap between science, built environments, design, and mental wellness. Shaniece candidly shares her personal struggles, including immense grief from losing her brother and sister during her university years, and her mother five years ago. She also battled anxiety, panic attacks, insecurities, and impostor syndrome. These profound experiences, while challenging, ultimately shaped her empathy and ability to connect with clients on a deeper level. She views the closet as a space that holds stories, secrets, and sorrow, and her lived experiences enable her to guide clients through their emotional clutter with understanding and truth. She believes her resilience and ability to navigate personal hardships have equipped her to help others find peace amidst their own chaos. The evolution of "Closet Therapy" from a side hustle to a full-time business is also detailed. After working at a hedge fund, Shaniece pursued her passion for fashion, earning a certification and volunteering at New York Fashion Week. These experiences led to styling opportunities, and eventually, a celebrity stylist recognized her talent for organizing clients' closets. This pivotal moment solidified her path, as she realized her gift for creating order in personal spaces. Over eight years, while also working in ministry, she expanded her services to include custom closet designs and installations. Her business has since grown beyond word-of-mouth organizing to encompass a broader mission of empowering individuals to take control of their spaces and lives. She is developing digital tools, a podcast, and a community to further extend her reach, enabling more people to benefit from her unique approach to transforming closets and, by extension, lives. #ShanieceJones #ClosetTherapy #Decluttering #HomeOrganization #EmotionalWellness #PersonalTransformation #InteriorDesign #MindfulLiving #Entrepreneurship