Meet Mackenzie Collier | Owner and Founder of Mackenzie Collier Interiors, Business Coach for Interior Designers

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

Hi Mackenzie, what do you want your legacy to be?
I want my legacy to be that I made space for a more diverse crowd in the interior design world. Traditionally, interior design is reserved for the few wealthy elite. It is common in the industry to see wealthy people both provide and receive design services.

While we do work with large projects and high-end clientele, we also prioritize offering more financially attainable services that benefit everyday working people. We are able to offer exceptional design services at reasonable price points by utilizing years of our accumulated data to overhaul the design process for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

In an industry where rich, straight, married white women dominated the scene, it’s always been important to me to provide opportunities for independent women, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and people with disabilities who are trying to get a foot in the industry. Once I became established, I made it my mission to hold the door open for other people who break the mold to come in after me. I want to be remembered as someone who pushed the industry forward by prioritizing collaboration over ego, increasing diversity, optimizing efficiency of the design process, and turning the outdated, stuffy interior design business model on its side. Our tagline is “Not your mother-in-law’s Interior Designer” and we are quite proud of that.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I think one thing that sets MCI apart from other businesses is that I built this business from nothing. I had no savings, no investors, and no funding when I started doing design work. I worked multiple jobs throughout design school as well as at the beginning of my design career until I was able to go full-time with my business. I graduated during the Great Recession, so opportunities were few and far between. This challenge allowed me to learn how to do a lot with a little and I value every penny that our clients spend with us. Many interior designers disregard and exceed client budgets, but I understand what it’s like to save every penny to build your dream, so I’m always really mindful about sticking to budgets and stretching them as far as they can go by getting creative. Many of our projects combine high-end and value-conscious items to get the most impact for each dollar spent.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely go on a road trip around Arizona. It would be really fun since there is so much to see and do here. I would start in Tucson and go do some hiking and camping in Saguaro National Park, then I’d make my way to Phoenix to hit some local restaurants and breweries like Greenwood Brewery, which we designed in 2020 or The Larder + The Delta, which we designed in 2018. Then we’d head up to the Grand Canyon to enjoy a sunset and charcuterie board at Moran Point in Grand Canyon National Park. Then, we’d drive back through Flagstaff for some camping and hiking in the San Francisco Peaks. The Kachina Trail and Lockett Meadow are a few of my favorite hikes there. We’d have to eat some pizza at Fat Olives and get some drinks at Grand Canyon Brewery before we left Flagstaff. Last, I’d drive them back to Phoenix through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona to enjoy the views and maybe check out a vortex or get some aura photos for fun!

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?
I was quite lucky to have an established interior designer in my corner when I first graduated from Interior Design school. Carol Russell, IIDA, of Inverness Design Group has been an integral part of my success as a designer. From day one, she has shared her vast knowledge, experiences, and resources with me, and mentored me through every business scenario imaginable. Without established designers like Carol, lifting newer designers up, this industry would be a really tough place to succeed. That’s why I feel so passionately about paying it forward to other new designers.

Website: https://mackenziecollierinteriors.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4867393/admin/

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

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mackenzie-collier-interiors-phoenix

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Mackenziecollierinteriors

Other: Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/mackenzie-collier-interiors-pfvwus-pf~847284586? Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wedesignhomes/_created/

Image Credits
Greenwood Brewing images: Roehner + Ryan
Individual and Team Photos: Heather Kirchhofer
Lemonade Photos: Heather Kirchhofer and Roehner + Ryan