Interview with Interior Designer & Fashion Blogger Maria DeCotiis

Hi Maria! Please describe your blog Fina Style Blog and what your motivations were for starting such an awesome endeavor.

My blog is predominantly a fashion blog; however, I also like to address beauty, travel and as well share images of fabulous interiors. It’s about creating an overall lifestyle. My blog is a place where I want my readers to feel inspired to dress well and be at their best.

I have been wanting to start a blog for 5 years and struggled with the idea. I finally took a leap of faith and started my blog, Fina Style Blog. It was the best decision I have made. I love every minute of it. I’ve always been torn between deciding on pursuing my love for fashion and interior design until now I realized I can pursue both!

It has been a dream of mine to share my passion for styling outfits with others and I often imagined being a personal shopper. This blog is my way to reach out to so many people. I finally decided that no matter how busy I am being a mom, I needed to follow my dreams!

You describe your background as being in interior design as well as having some experience in fashion merchandising.  Can you expand some on your expertise?

I first attended interior design school straight out of high school but after a few courses I decided to enroll in a Fashion Merchandising program. I absolutely loved the program but still had the desire to continue my Interior design education and so I went back to school and earned my certificate in Interior design.

I currently have my own design business, Fina Designs (see designs above and below), and I truly enjoy it. I have so much fun designing rooms, selecting materials and seeing it all come together. I enjoy being able to create beautiful spaces! For me, designing a space is like creating an outfit. It’s all about layering, color schemes and adding those final touches. I’m a believer that having a home you love being in will completely change you for the better.

What type of person is your blog geared to reach? Who is your ideal audience?  Who would you like to help with your posts and advice?

My reader is someone who takes pride in themselves and strives to live their best life. I want to empower my readers to find their style. I hope my posts help those that are not sure how to create outfits by sharing ideas on what works together. I also want to be a source of inspiration for those who adore getting dressed up and keeping up with trends. We can all learn from each other.

I want to be that friend that helps you find the perfect lipstick, find a great pair of jeans or get ready for that important event. I want my readers to look forward to reading my posts! I’ve been told by my followers that my blog exudes a happy and fun feeling, I couldn’t ask for anything more! That is exactly the vibe I want my blog to have.

What other blogs inspire you?

There are so many great blogs that inspire me! Two of my favorites are

Color Me Courtney – Her blog is so vibrant and she is not afraid to be herself! I admire her confidence as well as her inner and outer beauty!

La Dolce Vita – Her take on interior design is awesome. She always manages to find the most amazing interior design images! I actually saw her at an interior design show once and wanted so badly to tell her in person that I love her blog but I didn’t. I still regret not doing that!

How do you balance motherhood and your blog?

Wow! I’m still trying to figure that out. Balancing the kids and the blog has definitely been crazy but I’m determined to do it all. I aim to do as much as I can when they are sleeping and I make sure to stop and spend time with them.

Being a mom and pursuing your dreams is not easy but it’s worth every moment. I am a happier person and better mother when I take care of myself and do what I love.

What are some of your favorite posts that you have written?

I’m not sure I could pick one. I never gave myself enough credit and convinced myself  that I couldn’t do this, which is another reason why it took me so long to start this blog. I feel so much pride each and every time I publish a post. Each post has been a labour of love!

I recently did a 3 part series on Valentine’s day outfits which was lots of fun!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Who are some of your favorite designers?

I always enjoy seeing the work of different designers. I admire the work of designer Kelly Wearstler because she is fearless in her designs and creates interiors that are unique yet classic. Her interiors have so much energy and life to them.

What are your goals/dreams/ambitions for your blog and for yourself?

My dream is to continue to grow the blog and to reach out to more people. I truly hope to help those who need advice on creating outfits for themselves. It’s so important to feel good about ourselves and sometimes the right outfit is just what we need to boost confidence. I also want to inspire others that love fashion just as much as I do.

I have already connected with so many great people and my goal moving forward is to connect with even more amazing women.

To get in touch with Maria DeCotiis, visit Fina Style Blog or join her on social media at Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Photo Credit: Maria DeCotiis