True story: I have a client named Maria.

She lives in a beautifully built home in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.

The exterior of her house is magnificent.

Modern design, natural stone accents, floor to ceiling windows, a large walnut door…it’s beautiful.

Problem was, the inside of the house was cold and bland…causing Maria to feel like a guest in her own home.

It lacked the elegance, comfort, and warmth she desired.

Thus, Maria reached out to me to liven it up.

After looking around, we agreed to start with the living room.

The room was dominated by a mismatch of furniture pieces that served their purpose but didn't speak to each other in style.

The walls were bare, with no artworks or photographs to add a personal touch.

The lighting cast a harsh glow over the room, doing little to create the inviting atmosphere Maria envisioned.

Overall, the living room stood as a blank canvas, functional…yet missing the personal touches and thoughtful design needed to transform it into the warm, welcoming hub of the home Maria wanted.

When we started exploring different furniture options, Maria fell in love with a suede, deep purple couch – which became the first addition to the space.

Then, we replaced the carpet, end table, and accent pieces to match the color scheme.

After that, we added moldings on the wall to add the provincial, architectural feel Maria loved, but even so…

There was still something missing.

The room lacked color above eye level, which is essential for creating a powerful impact on people entering the room.

Without it, a room can still look good, but it can never look great.

I explained it to Maria like this:

“A well-designed room with bare walls is like a beautifully dressed woman without makeup.”

Appealing, yet missing the final touch to elevate her from pretty to stunning.

Just like makeup enhances natural beauty, It's the art on the walls that completes a room's look.

Although Maria agreed, she didn’t know which style, color, or size painting the wall needed.

That’s when I remembered…

Just a few days before meeting Maria, I painted a piece that matched the exact shade of purple Maria chose for her new couch.

So I asked her, ”Would you want to take a look at a piece I just finished?”

She agreed…

So the next day, I drove over to Maria’s to show her my painting.

I felt confident, but also slightly nervous she may not see what I saw.

I walked in the house…

Walked with her into the living room…

Hung up the painting in the center of the wall…

Took a few steps back…

Stared at it for a few seconds…

Then, I glanced over at Maria…

And the look on her face said it all.

Her smile stretched from ear to ear, and tears formed in her eyes as she stared at her new living room in awe.

She said, “OH MY GOSH! You painted this?”

She was ecstatic – almost to an embarrassing level – but I loved it.

She loved it.

She loved me.

By the end of that week, she wanted three more paintings for other areas of the house…and she referred me to two of her friends who also felt like strangers in their own home.

This is the kind of impact we live for as designers.

It’s also the kind of impact that makes you think, which brings me to the reason I’m telling you this story…

After that day, I had a major realization:

For the rest of my career, I want to focus exclusively on my artwork.

Art has always been my true passion. 

And now, I’m turning that passion into an opportunity for you:

An opportunity to provide your client’s with customized, one-of-a-kind artwork that not only brings their space together, but brings their love for their home, and your work, to an all-time high – like it did for Maria.

If you’re interested in exploring a partnership with me, click the button below to schedule a time to speak with me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Sylvie Del Duca