Meet Christine Herrera | Owner of Olienna Home

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Herrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

The most important job and the one I am most passionate about is raising our two girls, Olivia and Sienna. My first job, however, was as a physical therapist. I practiced for 13 years, after graduating with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Emory University. In the beginning, my role as a therapist was very hands-on, and on a daily basis I was working and interacting directly with patients. Quickly my role transitioned into a managerial one and as Director of Rehab, my level of responsibility grew exponentially. While a promotion and great role (for someone), I felt like it pulled away from the things I love — my family and spending time with them. Over time, balancing life as a working mom grew more challenging and I realized I needed to make some changes.

Since I was a little girl I have always had a passion for helping and connecting with others, an eye for detail, a love for organization, an appreciation for good quality and a belief that pillows should always be fluffed. I vividly remember when I was younger, my friends moving items in my room ever so slightly and watching with amazement as I entered the room and shifted everything back to where it should be — “a place for everything and everything in its place,” my grandfather would say.

More recently, we remodeled our home. This project made me recognize how much I enjoy creating a space to call home. A home is a feeling, not just a place with things in it. When people visited our home they would always commend us on how orderly things were and reassure me that I had a gift I should pursue.

Often I would help friends organize and refresh their spaces — the process energized me and made me so happy. Early last year, during the pandemic, I knew from my gut that I was ready for a transition. I talked about it with my husband and shared this idea that I had. He encouraged me to put my thoughts on paper and to jump in with both feet. Olienna Home was born. Olienna is what we call our daughter duo as its their names fused together “Oli-enna” — the name felt perfect because they are one of the biggest reasons and inspirations for starting my own business. With a name and a business plan, I was ready to share my gift with the world, refreshing people’s spaces through styled organization so that they can better enjoy life’s greatest moments in their homes.

What should our readers know about your business?
Companies like The Home Edit and Marie Kondo have brought much attention to the general public about organization and definitely helped pave the way for smaller businesses like mine. My goal is for Olienna Home to be a personalized  and transformative experience for the customer, not something that is simply transactional. I like to think of my brand more as a concierge service where I am able to identify the unique needs of the home in order to devise the best systems for organization. Undoubtedly, clutter is a stress trigger and your home should be your place of refuge, not one that makes you feel you are drowning in things. The first step in organizing is the edit, where I assist you in identifying the items that are most important and the mantra goes like this “think less, but better.” Next, I categorize items and develop the system that will work for the client’s goals. I enjoy curating a look that is elevated, clean, and blends with the aesthetic of the home. Materials are super important to me– its not just about throwing things in any bin and slapping on a label. The last step in my organizational process my absolute favorite. I style space with greens, a book, a family photo so that it is personalized and has that refreshed lived-in designer feel. I know I have a gift and I love that I am now able to share with so many others. I love refreshing spaces and am passionate about transforming the lives of my clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was in Miami for a week there are several spots I would recommend. I love the Dune at the Ritz Carlton in Key Bsicayne for a drink or lunch. You sit right on the beach and on Sundays there is a DJ with chill music–ask for Gino at the bar he’s famous for his drinks! While in Key Biscayne you can rent bikes and bike the island including the state park. Another place I would recommend is Coconut Grove– it’s beautiful to walk around and there are plenty of spots to eat, shop, and enjoy the outdoors. The Design District is another unique area that’s great to walk around, shop, have a drink and eat at Mandolin Aegean Bistro or Michael’s Genuine. Obviously, South Beach should be on the agenda in if you want to enjoy the beach. My absolute favorite though is Key Biscayne because I’m a KB native (key rat).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is absolutely to my husband, Javi, and my daughters, Olivia and Sienna. It’s important that I, as a mom raising little women, am a role model for them. I want them to be passionate with whatever they decide to do and always choose family and happiness over anything. I can’t thank my husband enough for giving me the confidence and encouragement to leave my career as a PT behind me and become an entrepreneur– to jump in with both feet and never look back. Lastly, I thank my mom for being my second set of hands at many projects.

Website: www.oliennahome.com

Instagram: oliennahome

Image Credits
Jeanne Canto