Meet Heidi Marquardt: Commercial Interior Designer

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

Hi Heidi, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It all started in 2008 during the recession right after I was laid off from my job as a residential interior designer in Minneapolis, MN. Within a week of losing my job, my aunt and uncle in Denver, CO contacted me to see if I had time to come to Denver to help them design and manage the construction of their wine bar. I decided it sounded like a great opportunity so I packed up my things and moved to Denver to help them. Designing that wine bar from start to finish was the first time I had been an independent contractor, and it gave me the inspiration and confidence I needed to continue the journey of having my own business and being my own boss.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are Hmarq Studios Interior Design, LLC and we do commercial interior design. One thing specifically that sets us apart would be our integration and use of Biophilic Design (the use of nature in the built environment in order to promote stress reduction and increase productivity). I’m most proud about the continued integrity of our work and our relationship with our clients. I got to where we are today by literally just showing up, even when we didn’t have any clients. By constantly being positive even when things were hard. It wasn’t easy, it was a lot of hard work. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned along the way is to always trust your gut. It’s easy to push your feelings down, especially in the start of any journey because you don’t think you know as much as everyone else, but your gut will always tell you the truth. The other lesson I’ve learned is that when things are slow, enjoy that time. Everything is temporary, and things will always pick back up again.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first place I would take them would be to Red Rocks. It’s such a gem for the city of Denver, and it shows off the beauty of the nature we are constantly surrounded by. I would then take us out to eat at Safta because of the eclectic menu. The next day I would take them to the Botanical Gardens, and then take us out to eat at True Foods Kitchen. The next day I would take us to Golden and go on a hike, and end the day at Tommy Thai. In my view, the best part about Denver isn’t the city itself, but more that it’s a city surrounded by adventure. You can drive for 30 minutes and be at a trail head, rock climbing spot, river for rafting or kayaking, a lake for paddle boarding, or split board up a mountain. You can’t get bored even if you tried!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First Shoutout would be to my aunt Cindy and uncle Martin for having the confidence in me to design their wine bar with no previous commercial interior design experience. My next Shoutout would be to Milestone Development Group. They hired me to design an apartment clubhouse for them, which at the time would have been the largest project I would have done to that date. Their confidence in me allowed me and my business to grow exponentially. My next Shoutout would be to my sister, Ruth, who I work with, that continues to be one of the biggest positive forces in my life.

Website: www.hmarqstudios.com
Instagram: @hmarqstudios
Linkedin: Heidi Marquardt

Image Credits
Steve Hinds Photography