“When I take my clients countertop shopping we go to the Cosentino warehouse where they can view the slabs and have an expert explaining the product benefits, manufacturing process, and more.”
Mark Hermogeno, ASID, NKBA is the Owner and Principal Designer of Los Angeles-based Hermogeno Designs. He has been creating inspiring custom residential and commercial spaces all over California, working with clients from design conception through construction to decoration and final move-in.
In this exclusive interview, Mark takes a deep dive into his holistic design approach, his journey from a career in retail into interior design, incorporating sustainable practices, and more.
A Natural Progression Into Interior Design
I’ve always been somewhat involved in the interior design space, even before formally going into it. I was in retail for 12 years working with amazing home furnishing companies such as Natural Wonders and Zodax. I was with Restoration Hardware when they first opened and that role got me into the management and merchandising side of the industry. I oversaw the opening of new stores and was responsible for setting them up visually and from a management/human resources perspective as well. I also worked with Smith & Hawken, The Gap, and The Disney Store where I delved deeper into the world of home furnishings.
I moved to San Francisco in 2003 and as fate would have it the University of California, Berkeley Extension had an interior design certification class in the same building I lived in. All it took was an intro class for me to fall in love with the interior design world, which led me to quit my retail job and enroll in school full-time. My professors noticed my knack for space planning and furnishings and encouraged me to start working with clients.
My Big Break
In my second year of design school I put an ad on Craigslist saying looking to get real world experience. I got two clients out of that ad, one of them being a ground up 3,000 square foot custom new build that needed a designer. I did everything from designing custom furniture, stair railings, window treatments, cabinetry, and more. That project was published online and my business skyrocketed.
Design by Hermogeno Designs | Dekton Rem Countertops | Photography by Michael Anthony Hermogeno, 8x10 Proofs
From Corporate to Entrepreneurship
Going from the corporate world to entrepreneurship was definitely an adjustment, but also an asset. I worked for very large companies, running big centers where I learned the business side, inventory, human resources, payroll, and more. All of that helped me transition into working for myself. At these companies, though, I had a team around me helping me execute these tasks, but as a small business owner I was doing everything myself. Another challenge was having to find my own clients and truly putting myself out there. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to network and go to events. After so many years I have found the perfect balance between talking about myself and my business without being pushy.
Working at these big corporate companies gave me a sense of confidence - if I could run a multimillion dollar business for someone else, I can run my own as well.
Keeping Days Dynamic and Fun
My days are all different and very fun! I’m an early riser up by 6:00 am, then I turn on the news, do light stretching, and have my mushroom coffee. After that I start checking my email and setting myself up for the day. I have office days where I’m working from home and offsite days to visit job sites. We set up multiple visits in one day, for example, today we’re going to an installation in Downtown LA, doing an art installation in a commercial site, and visiting a residential remodel in Pasadena. We like to stagger out projects in different phases to keep it fun.
It’s also important for me to make time to go to events and talks, visit showrooms, and see my design friends. I make our weeks and days different from one another to avoid redundancy.
Private Residence in Montrose | Design by Hermogeno Designs | Silestone Statuario Countertops | Photography by Michael Anthony Hermogeno, 8x10 Proofs
A Recipe for Success
It makes me extremely proud that a lot of the business we get is either referral or repeat clients. I think it’s a true testament to the work. When undertaking a new project the first step is to hop on a discovery call to find out more about the project, what the client is hoping to achieve, and gather some initial information. We then meet in person to talk about the design process, timeline, and fees. We then put a proposal together to review it. We like to get the numbers out of the way so we can focus on the fun part.
Keeping it Sustainable
Our main business is kitchen and bath, and in those spaces (especially the bath) you usually gut it completely and get rid of tile, plumbing, cabinetry, etc. which ends up in landfills. Our first filter is to go through everything and try to salvage, resell, or donate what we can. Clients sometimes ask us for ways to recycle or donate as well. I remodeled a 1900s home and actually took the side board and used it for the bathroom vanities. We love exploring creative ways to reuse elements.
Another big thing for us is sourcing locally. For instance, our Cosentino Center is very centrally located and close to a lot of our projects. We also have a fabricator within two miles of the Center. If we can’t do much on the demolition side, we make up for it on the construction side of it by keeping everything as close as possible. For a long time people were not overly concerned with where products came from, but now they do. I have many clients going fully electric in their homes and using more green products.
Private Residence in Montrose | Design by Hermogeno Designs | Silestone Statuario Countertops | Photography by Michael Anthony Hermogeno, 8x10 Proofs
Design by Hermogeno Designs | Dekton Rem Countertops | Photography by Michael Anthony Hermogeno, 8x10 Proofs
Inspiration is Everywhere
I love that we’re shifting from the old school model of only using what was in a design center. Today, you can find new and innovative products everywhere you look with many companies, such as Cosentino, having their own buildings.
When I take my clients countertop shopping we go to the Cosentino warehouse where they can view the slabs and have an expert explaining the product benefits, manufacturing process, and more. I’ve been working with Cosentino for the past few years and they actually were a part of the space I designed for the Pasadena Showcase House in 2022. I designed a bathroom using Dekton throughout and a fireplace hearth. The customer service and products are top-of-the-line, which is why I specify it in most of my projects.
“Working at these big corporate companies gave me a sense of confidence - if I could run a multimillion dollar business for someone else, I can run my own as well.”
Mark Hermogeno
Interior Designer
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