Kamilla Romankowski and Maria Pappas are the best friend power team behind SWAY Staging + Design. They pride themselves on bringing a fresh, educational, and personalized approach to marketing and styling homes as they hit the market in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“We have always had a passion for design, and after purchasing our own homes in Utah, we saw what we could bring to the table for home buyers and sellers in this market. We launched our company in the midst of a global pandemic with the hope for a more flexible career and doing something we are both passionate about.”
Kamilla and Maria have built a solid foundation for their business by becoming Certified Staging Design Professionals™, Short-Term Rental Stylists through RESA® Accredited Education Provider, Staging Studio, and are members of the Real Estate Staging Association.
Kamilla adds, “I had a 6-month-old baby and was hesitant to go back to my career in the advertising industry and my business partner and best friend of 25+ years had just been married and also looking to start a family. Our goal was to work on our own terms and be our own boss! And here we are, happy, successful, and so grateful to our Staging Studio community who has made that possible for us!”
Photo provided and staged by SWAY Staging + Design
Learn more about Kamilla and Maria:
Our personal aesthetic is…
Clean and bright with lots of natural light combined with a few bold elements and colors that add character and personality to the space.
My motto is…
Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. -RBG
Good staging should…
Give the viewer a sense of comfort and warmth as they walk in the front door. Staging should help the viewer immediately see their future in the home.
Right now I am obsessed with…
Obsessed with mixing metals, woods, and textures. Taking something that once was faux pas and making it work beautifully.
Photo provided and staged by SWAY Staging + Design
When I am not working I enjoy…
Snowboarding, hiking, biking, fishing, basically anything outdoors. As well as a nice dinner and wine with friends.
Before I was staging…
We worked in the marketing/advertising industry and both have business marketing degrees.
My goal is…
To run a successful woman-owned business and build something for our families.
Photo provided and staged by SWAY Staging + Design
In the next 5 years…
We hope to make RESA’s Real Estate Staging Industry’s Most Influential People list!
When faced with a struggle…
When presented with a struggle that is the most important time to focus on communication. No matter what the struggle is, the solution will require good communication with yourself, your partner, your client, your therapist, etc.
When you are in a rut creatively where do you go or what do you do to get out of it?
Get outside! Fresh air, a walk, and some meditation always does the trick.
What project are you really excited about right now and why?
A cute little home with a SUPER awkward floor plan. It was listed in January, the price decreased in February, and then was taken off the market so we can stage it. We defined the spaces and added a feeling of comfort. It is beautiful and we can’t wait for it to be listed again!
Photo provided and staged by SWAY Staging + Design
My number one goal this year is…
To outgrow our current warehouse and get a space where we can store all our inventory and also have a space to work in when we feel like getting out of the house.
I love what I do because…
It is very rewarding. We love seeing the after-product and changing the feel of a home. We love the flexibility it provides us and most of all, we love working with each other and building a business.
Who is your role model and why?
Eachother!!! As well as, Sophia Amoruso. She created a multi-million dollar business on her own. Started a new venture for Girlboss helping women entrepreneurs get funding for their business and also gives courses on building a business. We also can’t talk about role models without mentioning a few other women who have paved the way for us like Marie Forleo, Kamala Harris, Regina Thomashauer, & Ruth Bader Ginsberg. We are so grateful to live in a time where we are surrounded by inspiring, brilliant, successful women who have shattered glass ceilings and shown us what we are capable of. Currently working to shatter more glass ceilings… stay tuned.
You can find out more about Kamilla and Maria’s company by visiting www.swayslc.com
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