Chesapeake Home

Photo by Justin Kase

Justine Sancho, owner and principal designer of Justine Sancho Interior Design, Ltd., in Potomac, Maryland has established a reputation for excellence over the last 28 years. She started her full service interior design company in 1981 and has the distinction of being one of the first inductees into the Washington Design Center’s Interior Design Hall of Fame.

Her trademarks include close communication, patience, and attention to detail. This collaboration helps clients avoid costly mistakes and keeps the focus on creating exciting interiors that enhance Sancho’s clients’ lifestyles.

What got you started in interior design? I started my career in the late 1960s/early 1970s with NBC Television in New York.  My boss at the time was a single, older gentleman, and I did a lot of design preparation for his parties and background setups.

What do you love most about your job? I love taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. When I meet with people, I try to understand their tastes and help them go to the next level by surrounding them with things that are beautiful and lasting as well. I want to give them a setting that makes them feel good and makes them smile.

If you could change one thing about your industry what would it be? I think architects and interior designers have a very complementary relationship, but working together as a team can sometimes be challenging. I believe the architect builds the frame and as the interior designer, my job is to fill that frame with color, style, and beauty.

What accomplishment of yours makes you the most proud? My son Michael. He’s 36 and about to have my first grandchild: he is my greatest accomplishment. I think being successful with some physical limitations was also one of my biggest achievements. I got hit by a car many years ago and was between a wheelchair and casts for almost three years in my late twenties. The ability to come back and make a normal life is an accomplishment.

After whom do you model your career? My stepfather worked for a small bridal company in New York all his life. He used to take me to his work as a teenager, and he showed me all the things you can do and make with fabric. I think that is primarily why fabric is my great love in design.

Who in your life was most instrumental in helping you get started with your career? My husband of 35 years, Bill, has always been my biggest supporter. He made me believe in myself and gave me the confidence in my ability to do great things in my career. He pushed me to be the best I could be and is the driving force in my life.

What was the biggest challenge you had to face to get to where you are today? How have you managed to overcome it? Building a business is always very difficult and as a woman it was even more challenging to be taken seriously 30 years ago. In the beginning, it was hard to make people believe that interior design was more than a hobby. I have a lot of “stick-to-it-iveness” and after many years I have gained the confidence and respect of my peers by creating a viable business that supports me and my staff of professionals.

What did you want to be when you were five? A career person. It’s always what I wanted. I didn’t like babysitting; I wanted to have some place to go and earn my own money.

If you could do anything other than what you are doing, what would it be? I’d be a florist because I love being able to play with fresh flowers. I love making beautiful arrangements that brighten up my day. It’s really soothing for me, especially growing up with one rose bush in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

What advice can you offer someone wanting to get started in your field? Education is very important now, but you have to have your own idea of style and sense of color. People can train you in the mechanics of interior design but you have to have an innate ability to see a room’s potential. Try to work with people who have a talent for interior design and can show you the ropes.

Contact:
Justine Sancho Interior Design: justinesancho.com or 301-765-6034