Meet Emily Taber-Moore | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Taber-Moore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I am probably one of the most conservative people when it comes to taking risks. For several years, I had wanted to branch off on my own and start my own interior design firm but would analyze everything that could possibly go wrong instead of what could go right. Always scared of failure, I never took that leap officially until 2019. And guess what? It was the best life choice I ever made!

Now I associate risk with regret — if you don’t take the risk, you will regret it. How could I possibly ever have been successful on my own if I didn’t challenge myself to take that next step? I now apply the same thought process to how I work with clients — if I don’t challenge their thinking in terms of how they perceive a space, how will they ever know how amazing it could be?

After finally listening to my gut instincts and ignoring all of the unknowns that paralyzed me for the past ten plus years, my business endeavor was a success. After taking some risks and getting knocked down a few times, my favorite quote has been “Success is a collection of well curated failures”. Take the risk and if you fail, even better because you will learn and constantly propel yourself forward with even more knowledge.

Moral of the story: In both design and life, if you don’t try, you’ll never know.

What should our readers know about your business?
Having graduated college at the height of the 2008 economic recession, it has been a journey. With the preconceived notion that my five-year plan after graduation would go accordingly and be smooth sailing, it was anything but that. With my new Bachelor of Fine Arts degree I worked in furniture showrooms for several years. Slowly but surely, I paved my way into some design firms, receiving promotions up the corporate hierarchy from design assistant to junior designer to senior designer. All the while, I was hungry to do more and branch out on my own but still terrified of the idea at the same time. I took on a few side projects over the years through friendly referrals and acquaintances. I would go to my 9-5pm job and then come home and work another six to eight hours, all the while thinking I was an insane person for doing this. The hustle was very real. A work/life balance did not exist for me, but I promised myself this would not be forever. I eventually burnt myself out, which was when I knew I was no longer meant to work for someone else. Circling back to the initial question of risk — I was ready to gamble. As Ellen Johnson Sirleaf once said, “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough” — and there has been no truer statement. I did it, I went all in and bet on myself. In all honesty, I wish I had done it sooner. However, I truly believe that timing is everything and have no regrets about my career choices leading up to the moment that Henry Rose Design was born. I acquired an immense amount of knowledge in previous years, and the culmination of lessons learned and values gained sculpted my firm into what it is today. Presently, Henry Rose Design is a thriving full-service interior design firm specializing in high-end residential and boutique commercial projects. As a company, I am most proud that I offer something different – a flavor that disrupts the familiar SoCal coastal style. My travels abroad and years working for a range of distinguished designers led me to develop a strong love for blending styles and introducing vintage and atypical additions to projects. This is what defines my style yet sets me apart from others. Great design knows no boundaries, and the HRD brand fully embraces that philosophy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Konito’s Café, Pacific Beach– a hidden family-owned gem that has the best breakfast Liberty Station, Point Loma – tour the indoor market, Loma Club for mini golf, Buona Forchetta for authentic brick-oven pizza
Pool House at the Pendry Hotel – cabana and drinks by the pool
Born + Raised, Little Italy – gorgeous interior design and amazing dinner menu
Torrey Pines State Reserve – hike to the beach and watch the sunset
Cody’s, La Jolla – yummy brunch with a view
La Jolla Cove – stunning ocean views, cute seals and kayaking
Balboa Park – check out the museums and botanical gardens
Blue Ocean Sushi, La Jolla – hands down the best sushi in San Diego
Windandsea Beach, La Jolla – relax and have some fun in the sun
Raised By Wolves, La Jolla — speakeasy with a moody design
Coronado Island – tour the historic Hotel Del Coronado and have dinner at Serea or lunch at The Henry
One Paseo, Del Mar – for some retail therapy

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First of all, God bless my parents for putting up with me all these years! I could never have mentally gotten to this point without them and their endless support. They were the ones who taught me not to be afraid of asking those with more experience how they achieved their milestones and accomplishments. As a result, I was that annoying college graduate asking designers and design firms alike for ‘informational interviews’. Maybe every one out of ten gave me a shot, and I want to say thank you. Their stories and practices not only encouraged me but also made me want to do more with my career.

Website: www.henryrose-id.com

Instagram: henryrose.id

Facebook: www.facebook.com/henryrose.id

Image Credits
Jenny Siegwart John William Amber Thrane