Rebecca Simon has made a real name for herself in the interior design world designing spaces for little ones with her studio Maison Ellie. She creates Pinterest worth spaces that any new parent would love that are also approachable and functional. Over the last few years, she’s been further developing her bright and natural aesthetic, that’s layered with texture and eclectic flare. Rebecca offers a variety of design services to meet the needs of busy parents across the globe. We got a chance to catch up with Rebecca (in between her packed schedule!) and learn a little bit more about her and her business.

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PRC:  Tell us about yourself and what you do.

RS: I’m a mom to two little ones, with a deep passion for all things design. I run an interior design studio specializing in kid's paces, creating thoughtful and beautiful nurseries, kid's rooms and playrooms for busy parents! I love a good earl grey tea latte, am obsessed with Pilates and love (and miss) travelling with my hubby and kids.

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PRC: Tell us one thing about yourself that others may be surprised to know about you.

RS: I studied and played the Violin growing up, from about 5 years old until grade 12. I am fully bilingual and my husband and I speak French at home with the kids! I’m the most organized person there is, but also a huge procrastinator — which always boggles my mind, haha!

PRC: How did you get into interior design? How did you grow your business to where it is today?

RS: For as long as I can remember, i’ve always had such a keen interest in interior design. At the ripe age of 6 I started moving around the furniture in my room monthly, asked my parents for a cloud painted ceiling as a tween (which didn’t happen) and watched Debbie Travis and all the other HGTV home shows as a teen. Following a 10-year career in Advertising and two kiddos later, I wanted to dip my toes into entrepreneurship to be able to build my own schedule. That flexibility was key for my husband and I. So while on my second mat leave, I decided to start an interiors studio specializing solely in kid’s spaces. There was a gap in the market for experts in this particular field of work and I had loved every second of designing my kid’s nurseries and so it just felt like the right path… Over the last few years, I’ve learned so much about what it actually takes to grow a business; from marketing, to accounting and the best part of all: designing & decorating kids spaces. I’m a self-taught entrepreneur who is relentless to grow and evolve, always eager to learn new things and implement solutions and processes that will make my business run as smoothly as possible. It’s become my greatest passion and I am so proud of where I am today! There’s lots more in store and i have big dreams, but i’m just taking things one day at a time for now.

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PRC: How did you come to specialize in nurseries? Do you ever do any other projects?

RS: I decided to specialize in nurseries so that I could excel in a niche market with a niche Clientele. But my love for design goes beyond kid’s spaces and I often end up helping Clients decorate other rooms in their homes!

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PRC: Have you seen a shift in your business with Covid-19?

RS: Luckily for me that shift has been a posi-ve one. With people stuck at home during the pandemic and living the frustra-ons of poorly organized kids spaces, I find we are more inclined to invest in design services than before. My Clients seem to be in dire need of help to create thoughtful and functional spaces to help bring some normalcy and order into their daily family routines. Over the last year, i’ve been able to really focus my time on my Online Design service offering which allows me to work with people from all over the world, with everything being handled on Zoom calls and online. It amazes me that I can still ideate, plan and design a full space that evokes a specific feeling for my Clients, all over email.

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PRC: What are some upcoming nursery trends for 2021?

RS: I think the neutral nursery is here to stay — i’m seeing the desire for more calming colour palettes and sofer patterns. And when colour is preferred, it’s done in a very subdued way; a tone on tone approach without any jarring feels! I’m also still seeing lots of florals, from dainty to more vibrant. I would love to see more modern & retro vibes comes to light in 2021; always felt those would be fun style expressions in a nursery or kid’s room.

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PRC: Tell us about one of your favourite projects you’ve worked on and why.

RS: This is impossible to answer! Each project is just as special as the next and I count my lucky stars every day that I get to explore various style preferences with my beloved Clients. They push me to explore things I may not have dipped my toes into otherwise and I love the challenge.

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‍Lightning round:

• PRC: Vanilla or Chocolate?
  RS: Chocolate!
• PRC: Winter or Summer?
  RS: Fall — my absolute favourite season.
• PRC: Neutrals or pastels?
  RS:  Neutrals, light earthy tones.
• PRC: Carpet or hardwood?
  RS: I love rooms with hardwood flooring and then bringing in layered rugs.
• PRC: Paint or wallpaper?
  RS:  Wallpaper is THE most fun to work with and really adds so much impact to any space

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For more information on Rebecca Simon and Maison Ellie, visit https://www.maisonellie.com.

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