Meet Monique Roman Stone | Small Business Owner/Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monique Roman Stone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monique Roman, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m originally from LA, but I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. Coming from a lower-class family, we always put family and health first. Growing up within the Latino community, I fell in love with everything colorful and full of life. That passion has stuck with me and now drives my business.

My upbringing taught me kindness and the importance of not judging others for their circumstances. The immigrant spirit is strong in me, instilling a desire to make a better life for ourselves. This spirit fuels my drive and determination, inspiring me to infuse my business with the same energy and vibrancy that shaped my life.

What should our readers know about your business?
Starting my own business and leaving a well-paying job felt crazy, especially since I felt like I was letting down my employer, coworkers, and mentor. The biggest hurdle was feeling worthy of creating something that was truly mine—believing that I deserved to write my own story, build my own brand, and find people who wanted to work with me. There have been days when I doubted myself and wondered if I made the right choice. I let myself feel those feelings, and I got back up and kept moving forward.

I’ve loved design since I was a kid. Moving around a lot meant I was always redesigning my living spaces. Living in South America gave me so much inspiration from different cultures and landscapes. Rearranging a room or adding new touches taught me that changing your environment can change your whole outlook.

I’m a chronic optimist; I try to find the good in every situation and every person. Life hasn’t been easy; I lost my dad when I was young, and my mom has dealt with health issues but my drive for community and connection has guided most of my decisions to date.

I’m super passionate about my work and love working closely with clients to understand their vision for their space. For the past decade, I’ve focused on window coverings, always learning and growing in my expertise.

I’m driven by my values—kindness, reliability, and making things look beautiful. That’s why I’ve taken the leap to start my own business. I want every project to reflect what my clients want and my commitment to doing great work. Above all, I want people to feel good about the decisions they make and glad that they chose me to guide them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start by taking her to the Getty for art and views of the city.
Philippe’s for a french dip for lunch, my whole family has their names carved on the walls upstairs. Followed by a walk through Olvera street for a michelada.
Catch a play at the Pantages theater.
And end the week camping at Thornhill Broome Campground.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Without my family’s encouragement, I wouldn’t have started my own business. My mother, sister, and husband each paved the way in entrepreneurship, building their own successful ventures with resilience, creativity, and hard work. Their achievements and determination were constant reminders of my worth and potential, inspiring me every step of the way. Their unwavering support and belief in me have been the backbone of my journey.

I also owe a lot to my mentor, Shon, who guided me through the challenges of the window covering business. She always told me the sky was the limit, and thanks in part to her belief in me, I’ve reached heights I never thought possible. And this is just the beginning.

Website: https://www.bydesignslo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by_design_slo

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/window-coverings-by-design-arroyo-grande

Image Credits
None