Hema Persad has found her calling. She was an attorney for many years before moving to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue celebrity fashion styling. Then, in 2021, one of her clients asked the stylist to go beyond her wardrobe and help decorate her house. Hema took on the challenge with ease and, before she knew it, business was booming. Her firm, Sagrada Studio, offers residential and commercial design services around the country. On top of that, she was the Art Director for the Property Brothers show, Forever Home, and beautifies homes for celebrities, including Jay Shetty and Poorna Jagannathan. And if you ask Hema, she’s just getting started:

MY LIGHT-BULB MOMENT:
The first time someone who didn’t know me personally asked me to design their home, I realized that interior design wasn’t just a side gig anymore and that I had an opportunity to build a business out of it.  Before that happened, I was mostly doing projects for friends and existing styling clients who would ask me for help with their homes. I thought each project would be the last, but they kept on coming. When a referral came through that wasn’t someone I already knew personally, I realized that there was a career opportunity for me in design.

I CAN’T START MY DAY UNTIL:
I’ve had coffee! Two cups.

SUCCESS IS:
The freedom to say no to things you don’t want to do. 

YOU’LL NEVER SEE ME WITHOUT:
My phone and black eyeliner. (I don’t usually leave the house without either.)

MY DREAM COLLABORATION:
I would love to design a beachfront hotel with character, and in terms of products, designing a full bedding line with an accessible brand is something I’ve been wanting to do. I think bedrooms are the most important space in most people’s lives and deserve the most design intention.

THE ONLY PLACE BETTER THAN LOS ANGELES:
I love living in L.A., but for vacation, I think Greece is honestly the best place on earth.

WHEN I FEEL UNINSPIRED:
I look at fashion blogs and magazines. I think it’s a leftover habit from all my years as a celeb stylist. I also book a trip somewhere, or go somewhere new even if it’s a local hotel or coffee shop.

ADVICE I WISH I HAD 5 YEARS AGO:
Learn how to do marketing! We are all selling something. It’s an important skill no matter what business you’re in.

IN 5 YEARS, FIND ME:
Healthy, connected to my family, and crossing a Spain/Morocco trip off my bucket list.

ABOVE ALL ELSE:
Authenticity will get you everywhere.