Hema Persad didn’t set out to design interiors. In fact, her first calling looked nothing like the sunlit, soul-filled spaces she creates today. At twenty-five, she was deep in the trenches of law, navigating the aftermath of the mortgage crisis, armed with a degree, a sharp mind, and a promise of stability.

“It was exciting at first,” she recalled. “Fresh out of law school, big paycheck, long hours—it felt like the real world had arrived.” But as the years passed and her responsibilities grew heavier, something shifted. The once-thrilling pace dulled into routine, and a question began to surface: Is this it?

By the time she was a few years in, Hema had two children and an uneasy feeling she couldn’t shake. Fulfillment felt distant. She began entertaining a dream that had lingered on the edge of her mind—fashion. Not just as an interest, but as a career. And not in Tampa, where they lived at the time, but in Los Angeles, where opportunity matched ambition.

“I told my husband, I think I could be a celebrity stylist,” she laughed. He didn’t flinch. Together, they packed up, left Florida behind, and headed west.

It was 2012, pre-pandemic, and remote work was almost unheard of. But Hema’s law firm let her continue working from afar, a gift that allowed her to intern under celebrity stylists without worrying about income—at least not at first.

She quickly found herself assisting major names. What began as an internship became something more. She started picking up her own clients. For a while, the dream seemed to be taking shape.

But reality, again, had other plans.

As glamorous as it looked from the outside, the fashion world was inconsistent. Payments were delayed, respect was fleeting, and behind the curtains, the industry lacked structure and security.

By early 2021, one of her longtime styling clients—a well-known influencer—moved into a new apartment. “She said, ‘I just trust you. We’ve been working together so long. Why don’t you just help me decorate my apartment?’” At first, Hema hesitated. “I like my house... I always enjoyed decorating my own places, but I never thought of it as a career.” Still, something nudged her forward.

“I had just read The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer. The whole premise is that you should just say yes to things, because you never know where they’re going to lead you. The universe gives you clues—if you just listen.”

So she said yes.

They took photos, collaborated with brands, and posted the results. The response was immediate. “All of a sudden, I had clients,” she said. “People were like, ‘Oh, I saw you did this. Can you do mine?’” What she had assumed would be a one-off favor turned into a steady stream of projects. “All of 2021, I was styling and doing these interior projects… and the projects kept getting bigger.”

By the end of the year, Hema was overwhelmed—in a good way. She had one foot in two worlds: dressing clients by day, overseeing construction and design by night. She made the choice to step away from styling. “A lot of my clients were like, ‘Okay, great. But still help us with our house.’ They were very supportive.”

In early 2022, she made it official. Sagrada Studio was born.

“I sort of dove in,” she said. “And that’s how I got here.” Each chapter of her life built on the last.

“When I take on a new client, I ask myself: How can I make walking into this home feel like the best vacation they’ve ever had?” For Hema, great design is experiential. “If I went to Italy one time and that place spoke to me—why shouldn’t I live like that all the time? Not like a theme park version of it, but the essence. What are the textures, the light, the emotion that made it unforgettable?”

She often sources vintage items from around the world and designs every space with a story in mind. “We don’t just design to be pretty,” she said. “There always has to be a story.”

That philosophy is now guiding the next chapter of Sagrada Studio, as the team takes on immersive vacation homes, med spas, and even their first international project in the Bahamas. “Business owners and creatives are often more willing to go there,” she said. “They want something that feels like an escape. That’s where we really shine.”

As the studio evolves, one thing remains the same: Hema’s deep belief in creating spaces that don’t just look good—but feel unforgettable.

Visit Hema at sagradastudio.com and http://instagram.com/sagradastudio