The Studio, the Stories and the Work Nobody Sees

Stephanie

Stephanie is the founder of Studio Fintan, an interior decorating studio offering e-design services and in-person experiences. She is also a fiction author , someone who moves comfortably between the world of spaces and the world of stories.

In this conversation, she talks about what drew her to design, what building something of her own has cost her, and what creativity has taught her about living well.

Who are you, in your own words? Not your bio, but how you'd describe yourself to a woman you just met at a dinner table?

Someone grounded in my relationship with God first. I try to be intentional and follow through on what I commit to. I need quiet and personal space to think and create, that's where I do my best work. I care about making people feel seen and included, but I'm also someone who takes time to really know people. I don't rush that. I love being in nature because it keeps me grounded.

What drew you to design? Was there a moment you knew this was yours, or did it find you slowly?

It started in high school. My mum brought home a large coffee table book for a project, and I remember sitting with it, flipping through pages of bright, carefully designed kitchens. Looking back, it gave me a Martha Stewart kind of feeling … lived in, but still curated in a very intentional way. It was different from what I was used to growing up in Nigeria. I didn't have the words for it then, but I was drawn to that balance. That stayed with me and slowly turned into my love for design.

What does your creative process actually look like, the unglamorous version?

I don't go straight into work. I take time away first whether that's a nap or something physical and unrelated so I can reset before I process what I've heard. After that I move into research. I'm constantly collecting references, so I already have a personal vault of inspiration to pull from when a project lands. Then I layer in client-specific research. I'd describe my folder as structured chaos. Words, rough sketches, screenshots, everything sitting together as I build direction.

Has building something of your own changed how you see yourself?

Yes. Building something on your own is not easy. In the early stages there's a level of isolation that comes from trying to translate ideas that don't fully exist yet. Not everyone understands it, and sometimes the reaction you get makes you second-guess sharing it at all. It's taught me to expect resistance not as failure, but as part of the process. I've also become more resilient. I don't rely on external validation the way I used to. If something doesn't work, I pivot and keep moving. I've also become more appreciative of other founders.

What has creativity taught you about living well that you couldn't have learned any other way?

That I don't need to separate my work from everyday life in a rigid way. Even when I'm not actively working, I still notice and enjoy interior design whether I'm scrolling or watching a show. That continuity has changed how I live. I stay connected to what I care about without needing to constantly be producing.

Be honest: what has building your business cost you, and has it been worth it?

It has cost me time, energy, and at times a sense of certainty about what I was building. There were seasons where I had to step back and reassess everything I thought I wanted. I've learned that building something on my own terms doesn't always hold up in practice. My faith has been central in that process especially in learning to let go of control and rebuild with more clarity rather than force.

What does a well-lived day in your business look like in your current season?

If I'm able to complete one to three meaningful tasks, that's a well-lived day. It's less about volume and more about intention. As long as I've shown up and added value to my work, I consider the day successful. A lot of what goes into that doesn't get seen publicly. It's the quiet, behind-the-scenes work that actually carries everything.

What would you want a woman sitting on her own creative dream to know?

Don't dismiss the size of what you're carrying just because it feels overwhelming. From my experience, if something stays with you, there's usually meaning in it. I've learned that I don't always have to figure everything out at once. There's value in stepping back, asking for direction, and building it with more patience than pressure.