Weekly Newsletter Jan. 23 '26 - Five Years Later: What Hard Work Really Builds

Hi there, designer 👋

I can still remember it so vividly - my son was just six months old when I looked at my husband and said, “Do you believe in me?”
And he smiled and said, "I believe in you more than I believe in myself!"

I was postpartum, exhausted, and had no idea what I was doing -
but something inside me said: why wait?

So I registered my business that week and received a business license  weeks later with January 27, 2021 as official filing date! 
No clients, no systems, no brand - just a fire in my heart and a baby in my arms. 

My First Project: Free & Exhausting

That same winter, a friend of mine reached out - their friend needed help with a home renovation. No brainer - I said yes immediately!
It was entirely for free, but it was my first real project.

Then came another friend, then a restaurant design, and a few fake 3D project I created just to look like I had a portfolio.

By that fall, I was fully booked - three home renovations, one restaurant, and a baby on my hip.
I worked during nap times and until 2 a.m. every night...
Looking back, I honestly don’t know how I made it...Seriously, how? 

Fast Forward to Today

January 23, 2026 - I’m sitting here with a full heart and a full project calendar.
This month, $52,000 in deposits came in - from a full gut renovation deposit, a primary bathroom design deposit, and a local contractor needing consultations.

And what’s wild?
These are the exact three service tiers I built my business around:
- Full-Design Services
- Kitchen & Bath Design
- Consultation Services

It’s full-circle in the best way possible.

From NYC Life to Building Brick by Brick 

Before all this, I was a lead designer in NYC - corporate life, stupid-busy, and totally burnt out!
On paper, it looked like I “had it all.” But inside, I was running on empty..

This may be too personal, but it’s part of my story - after losing my first pregnancy to the stress of that corporate grind, something in me broke open. That loss was my wake-up call.

I realized that no title, no salary, and no “dream project” was worth sacrificing my health or my future family. So I quit.
I walked away from everything I’d built - with no clients, no safety net, just a vision and a need for change.

I chose this path because I wanted freedom - the kind of flexibility that lets you design your life as beautifully as the spaces you create.
I wanted to be present - to work during nap times, late nights and quiet hours most people never get when tied to a 9-to-5.
I wanted to build something on my terms - even if it meant rebuilding from scratch.

Those first three years were hard. I worked seven days a week.
Sleep-deprived, messy, determined - fueled by nothing but belief that something beautiful would come from it. 

And it did.

The Bright Side: Hard Work Never Goes Unnoticed

If there’s one thing I’ve learned - it’s that your hard work always speaks for you.
Clients notice your dedication, your late nights, your attention to every detail.

Over the years, I’ve been asked countless times, “How do you manage a design business and still have a family?”

And my answer has always been - you just do it.
Because when you love what you do, you find a way!

For five years, every single client I’ve had has come through referrals.
People talk. Clients refer clients because they see how deeply you care about their homes.

I went from working with clients on tight budgets to now designing for my biggest project yet - $14 million home undergoing a $2.5 million renovation.

Whattttttt 😭
Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe how far this journey has come!

Why I Started Interior Design Den

Because the truth is - it was so damn hard!
There were so many nights I cried at my laptop, trying to figure out how to price a project, write a contract, or talk to clients with confidence.
No one was talking about those parts of the journey.

I felt alone, overwhelmed, and desperate to learn what it really takes to build a design business.
And that’s exactly why I started Interior Design Den.

I wanted to create the kind of space I wished existed back then -
a place where designers could find guidance, tools, and support without feeling lost or behind.

Every course, every e-book, every resource I’ve created comes from that same heart - to help designers build their craft, refine their process, and believe that success isn’t reserved for a lucky few - it’s something you can design for yourself, step by step.

To My Fellow Designers

If you’re in that early season, tired, unsure, or wondering if it’s worth it - this is your reminder that it absolutely is.

Every unpaid project, every sleepless night, every client who took a chance on you - they’re all part of your foundation.
You’re building something no one else can see yet, but one day, they will!

Keep showing up.
Keep trusting the process, even when it’s slow.
Keep refining your craft, even when it feels like no one’s watching.

Because one day, you’ll wake up and realize - you became the designer you once dreamed of being.
And your dream clients?
They’ll be the ones finding you.

Now A Little Bit of Victory

One thing I’ve learned over these five years - it’s okay to be proud of your work. 

Don’t shy away from sharing it with the world.
You poured your time, your vision, your energy, and your heart into every project. That deserves to be seen.

When you share your work, you’re not just showing pretty photos - you’re showing your growth, your courage, and your craft.
You never know who you might inspire by simply pressing “post.”

So, here it is - a glimpse into some of my favorite projects, the spaces that taught me the most, and the clients who trusted me to bring their dreams to life.

All rights reserved to Anastasia Mitrovic Interiors LLC. 

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Ana 🌸
Interior Design Den