Meet Sommer Mark | Interior Designer | Sommer Mark Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sommer Mark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sommer, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have never been one to play it safe in life. I think that life is a series of decisions we make leading us to our designated path. I think when we take great risks, we grow, we become more resilient, more fulfilled and give ourselves the greatest reward we ever could. I know from experience that most risks come with a great deal of fear. A fear of the unknown and a fear of the “What if ?” I myself have never wanted to be a person questioning “What if ?” What if I had tried? What would life be like If I did take that leap of faith? What if it did all just work out as it should?

So far there have been three very huge and life-changing risks that I have taken throughout the course of my life. Each risk I have taken has led me to an even better outcome than I could have ever imagined. (One risk I am still in the process of but I know the outcome is going to be the greatest gift yet)

Risk # 1… Moving across the country with little to nothing other than a dream, a dream to work as a graphic designer in the entertainment industry in the city of dreams. Thirteen years ago, I sold all of my belongings, packed up my little Honda Civic, said goodbye to my loved ones, and headed out west. I drove from Florida to California going only of the idea of I didn’t want to wonder and question myself the “what if”. I had hardly any money in my pocket, I had no job, no home, and no friends here. I only had a dream and knew that if I took the risk, the safety net would follow. (Or so I hoped.)

There were so many ups and downs and devastating moments questioning my utter being but in the end, I never would be where I am today had I not taken that leap of faith. I had a successful career as a graphic designer here in the greater Los Angeles area working for a large-scale building company, an entertainment firm, and an e-commerce beauty company. I even had work published in magazines like Vogue, People, and Elle. It was a long and winding road to get there, and although I liked graphic design I felt like it wasn’t my passion and it certainly wasn’t paying all the bills. I was struggling financially and also working a part-time job at a restaurant. I felt complacent and unhappy in my life and knew I was capable of so much more. I just knew this couldn’t be it. I felt like my creativity wasn’t exactly my own, that I was building everyone else’s brands, their business, I felt like a puppet and I just knew there had to be more.

I decided that I wanted to work in an industry that I was more passionate about. I had the opportunity to work part-time as an interior design assistant. I always loved interior design and even thought in my college years it was what I wanted to do. Working under this designer, I discovered this was exactly where I was supposed to be and exactly what I wanted to do, but I just had no idea how to actually start doing it. I was still doing graphic design for this interior designer (which I didn’t love) and I myself wanted to get into designing people’s homes, but how? Did I need to go back to school,  Did I have to start all over again?

Risk #2… It was 2020 and at the time, I was only working at the restaurant, and still freelancing as a graphic designer, and still feeling quite miserable in my existence. There had to be more right? And then the pandemic came… The entire world shut down and everything was silent. I was entirely alone as a single woman with no family in LA. The restaurant I was working at closed down. It was the only time in my life I had nothing to do, nowhere to be and no responsibilities other than staying inside my home. The pandemic gave me the time and space to reflect on what was truly important in life, what was important to me, and what I wanted out of it. It gave me the push I needed to start living out my dreams and again taking big risks.

I knew that in my heart of hearts, I wanted to be an interior designer, and I thought to myself if I could just show people that I could do this, they would see me, love my work, and want to hire me. Easy Peasy right? In the thick of the pandemic and my boredom, I started a YouTube channel. I used all the graphic design and digital media skills I learned in college to film and edit my videos. I started doing DIY projects then I began designing my friend’s homes. I started out designing small spaces on a mega budget and doing almost every aspect of it by myself.

I used my marketing background to push my videos everywhere I could think of, on local FB groups and the Nextdoor app, anywhere I could post, I did. Over time, I started getting clients and then more clients. Then the budgets grew and the scope of the projects grew. Each project led to another or another referral, and with each project, I learned something new. It was all snowballing quickly.

I vividly remember one very special day during the pandemic. I went up to Palos Verdes to hike with my dog. I had so many inquiries in one week about designing people’s homes. It was all happening! I had my windows all down, sunshine beaming on me, music blaring and wind blowing through my hair. I just screamed so loud “OMG” This is happening, this is working. My dreams are coming true. It was a magical moment and one that I will never forget. It was a moment when I realized my hard work was actually working and going to pay off.

It has now been almost 4 years since I started my own interior design business, (Sommer Mark Creative) and I have started from absolutely nothing working with the lowest budgets possible to now taking on fully remodeled spaces and working with contractors. Although it is difficult and the lulls in between projects can be frightening, I haven’t given up! This is something I never thought I could do and here I am. I feel like If I can do this, I can do just about anything. LA is the Mecca for designers and I am in a competitive area and I am doing it all! I feel proud and I finally feel I am exactly where I belong. I am living out my passion, working for myself, being creative for a living and although I am not rich (yet) It feels truly awesome! But could there be even more?

Risk #3… I think I am always looking for more and looking towards the future. Although my business is growing what is next in store for me? Work is great especially when you love what you do, but there has to be more in life than just working. I just turned 40 and have been feeling there is still much more in store for me, which has led me to my current destination.

I am currently in the process of taking the biggest risk in my entire life and one that will surely change my life forever. Family has always been something very important to me. Growing up, I had a difficult upbringing, and my mother suffered from a severe addiction to opiate medication. It has been now over 20 plus years watching someone I love deteriorate over time. As a daughter, I was exposed to more than I ever should have, I saw things I can’t unsee and the pain can’t be erased. As a kid, I would daydream about the day I got to have my own family, and how I would love my child more and do so many things differently.

Unfortunately, I have not yet met my husband (dating in LA is awesome lol) but it hasn’t stopped me from pursuing my dream of having my own family. I am currently in the process of becoming a solo mother by choice and having a baby via donor sperm. I am taking life into my own hands to get my dream family. I can always meet a man later down the line but I can’t always be a mother. Life is short, very, very short and I don’t want it to pass me by. I want to experience it all! It is by far the scariest risk that I have ever taken, and I am terrified to no other but just like all the other risks I have taken in my life, I know this will be the most exciting one to come (I hope!)

So if you ask me, take the risk and do the thing! It always works out eventually!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an interior designer with a background in fine art and graphic design. I think my creative design solutions are what sets me apart from other designers. I blend my background of art with design which always results in a super creative and uniquely designed space.

My path was a long and winding road to get where I am today. I struggled to find my passion and way in life. I knew I wanted to become an interior designer after a long career working unhappily as a graphic designer. I knew there was more in life for me. I created a YouTube channel during the pandemic, showcasing my projects and marketing the videos everywhere I could to gain clientele. There have been so many challenges in lulls in business but I haven’t given up yet.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think that California has the most incredible sunsets. Every time I have a guest in town, I take them up to Palos Verdes. I go to a few local seaside cliffs to watch the surfers take in the views and hopefully catch an amazing sunset. After our leisurely stroll or hike, we would go up to Terranea for some delicious food and wine at Nelson’s and, if we are lucky listen to some good live music.

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?
There have been so many influential and supporting people along my journey. Claudia Kazachinsky has acted as a mentor to me, and helping me grow my business. She is a retired interior designer and an incredible painter. My best friend Sarah Carrol, she has been a back-bone to me in life and a breast cancer survivor. A fellow creative and dear friend and super talented photographer and musician Gregory Ontiveros. He takes all of my project photos and is so incredibly talented.

Website: https://www.sommermarkcreative.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sommermarkcreative/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sommer-mark-creative-torrance

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSommerm

Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/sommer-mark

Image Credits
Gregory Ontiveros https://www.instagram.com/ontiveros.co/?hl=en https://hellofaheaven.com