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Rising Stars: Meet Lisa Schmitz of Waldo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Schmitz.

Lisa Schmitz

Hi Lisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Spending summers with my artist grandparents’ mid-century log cabin in the woods influenced my love for modern design. Their admiration of Frank Lloyd Wright was evident in blending this log cabin with modern lines, a butterfly roof, views to capture the surrounding woods, and a creative blend of antiques, modern furniture, and modern art. My childhood memories resonate with our design now, as natural light, textures, true materials, and welcoming interiors leave a backdrop for a client’s collections and artwork.

After working for 15 years in commercial design firms, the birth of my second child allowed me to breathe a bit and figure out the next steps. It didn’t last long, as when she was five weeks old, I got the first call for a project. That was the start of Lisa Schmitz’s Interior Design. My first office was the laundry room, and with 2 kids under 2, I had a lot of laundry to do before I could unearth my desk! Next, I rented a desk at an architectural firm (El Dorado Architects), where I did several collaborations. Balancing kids and starting a firm for convenience, I later worked from home.

From there, we have grown organically, hiring as projects need to develop or as we find the right person. We bought a building that we renovated and partially rented out. We have grown to encompass the entire building. For the 21 years of Lisa Schmitz Interior Design, staying true to our mission of creating the highest of design has been important. Our designers come from the commercial world, which aids in project management and understanding construction and spatial design; having skills more aligned with interior architecture, our projects encompass complete concepts for a home or business. Clients come to us for our design style, yet we adapt to the client’s needs, whether an entire apartment complex, a municipal space, or a home. We value details, architectural trueness, and quality and have built a reputation upon that foundation.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growing organically created a comfort level for me while balancing a family and work. It has been important to us to enjoy our kids, and we worked hard to take off an entire summer month-often to remote places without cell service! Before employees continued projects in my absence, I had to finalize all work so that construction could continue (or finish prior), or all purchases could arrive in time for the holidays! Once the staff was on board, the process shifted to preparing them to care for projects in my absence.

I hired as needed and have had enough of a following to feel confident keeping our staff busy. The scariest time was when Covid shut us down in March 2020. I am sure I am not alone in this. I suddenly had 4 families dependent on our business. Staff worked remotely, but all projects shut down. Thankfully an apartment building wanted to continue with design, and a tiny second home project popped up, barely enough to keep us floating. But business picked up as people realized how their homes might need to change.

As growing suddenly was a reality with 3 hires in one year, I was able to enroll in a Scale-Up class through UMKC Small Business & Technology Development Center + the Kauffman Foundation. This helped us go from random business practices to a more formulaic system. We documented standards and created systems to share across the team. I learned the importance of financial statements – and how to read them!

The most challenging aspect is finding and hiring the right people. In a small boutique environment, you must have people you trust and enjoy and find the right mix of dedication, top-notch design skills, and work ethic. We have an incredible team of extraordinary designers who care for each other and enjoy our time together.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are known for our unique details and creative design, lending to modern yet warm and inviting interiors. An interior design business is a delicate balance of creativity and implementation, especially when it comes to the customized interiors that we create. The word unique is thrown around a lot. But we are truly unique in providing one-of-a-kind designs, custom-built furniture, cabinetry, and millwork. I don’t and having enough structural sense to avoid trouble is invaluable. Our designs go beyond paint colors and furniture. We create spaces, architectural continuity, and comprehensive designs across all project aspects. Listening to a client and their aesthetic desires is important, but getting to the nitty-gritty of function and use is also important. I am proud that our reputation has been built on these foundations and that quality, function, and beauty rein. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
As tailored and sophisticated as our interiors may be, I feel most comfortable in our 1959 18′ long Airstream, deep in the woods and cooking over a campfire. No electricity. No cell service. A hammock next to a stream, with a good book. My sketchbook contains paintings of hiking views, bright blue sky reflections on the polished Airstream aluminum, and fire rings. It’s here I truly relax and find creativity in painting and craft. I love that you’re wrapping it up right where you started- full circle. It’s a great story and you brought the reader right into the woods with you, in a little mid-century log cabin filled with art. It is rather heavenly (You don’t want to know I seldom get a shower!)

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Mike Sinclair + Nate Sheets as noted in photo title

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