Meet Phoebe O’Neill | Interior Designer & Founder of Pendentive Studio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Phoebe O’Neill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Phoebe, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
At the start of 2025, my friends and I were making vision boards. I set the intention that by year’s end, I’d be looking at spaces for a hybrid office and gallery. I’ve always known that when I opened a studio for Phoebe O’Neill Interiors, it would be more than just an office—because art is at the heart of my work, I envisioned something that felt like a gallery, where exhibitions and design could live side by side.

At the time, I was running the firm from my dining room table with two design assistants. I didn’t realize how much I needed separation between home and work until I started to feel the strain.

Then, on a random Wednesday, I was dropping off a piece at my upholsterer’s small, light-filled office. She wasn’t in, so I called to let her know—and on a whim, asked if she knew of any available units. Minutes later, her landlord was running after me in the parking lot. He showed me a few spaces in the building (none of which were right), then offered to take me to a newly purchased property nearby.

The first space was awful—dingy, dark, and uninspired. But then he mentioned a retail unit “a little over budget.” I walked in, and despite the clutter and dated finishes, I felt it: this was the one.

The timing was uncanny. I had just rented a storage unit for vintage furniture too good to pass up but unused by clients. My first job out of college had been helping open a vintage clothing store, and I knew the thrill of creating something that was part retail, part experience. I asked my team if they thought we could open a vintage furniture store. Their answer was an instant, enthusiastic “YES.”

The very next day, I signed the lease.

From the start, we decided it wouldn’t just be a store. We’d host exhibitions with local artists, hanging work salon-style and creating vignettes with the furniture. The concept became Pendentive Studio—a warm, inviting space that’s part vintage showroom, part art gallery, and entirely unique. We even transformed the “terrible” back unit into part of the showroom by knocking down walls, creating a cohesive, light-filled workspace.

Now, it’s not only our office—it’s a hub for community, creativity, and connection in Miami’s art and design scene. What began as a vision board wish has become a living, breathing space that embodies our firm’s ethos.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It’s a bit of a funny story…Phoebe O’Neill Interiors was born after I was fired from my job as an assistant designer at a South Florida firm. For a long time, I didn’t tell people because I felt ashamed. I’ve always struggled with perfectionism, and the most valuable lesson I’ve learned as a business owner is that mistakes don’t define you; how you respond to them does. I used to be crippled by mistakes. Now, I see them as opportunities for growth. And as a young business owner, I have plenty of those opportunities.

Looking back, I understand why I was let go, and I’ve grown from it. In many ways, a lot of success stories start with failure. That moment pushed me to finally do what I had been putting off—starting my own business. I opened my LLC, launched my website, and landed my first serious client. Since then, my team has grown, our projects have gotten bigger, and I’ve opened Pendentive Studio, something I had only dreamed about.

Being a business owner isn’t easy. I learn something new every single day, sometimes the hard way. There are moments when the inevitable mistakes of growing and challenging yourself feel exhausting or discouraging, but I keep going because I love what I do. When I complete a project and see my client light up, it reminds me why I do this: to help people create spaces that feel like home—warm, comfortable, and beautiful.

The lesson I’ve learned is to shift my focus from the shame of making a mistake to what I can learn from it. That mindset fuels growth and resilience. I’m excited about the future of Phoebe O’Neill Interiors and Pendentive Studio, and I’m planning for great things ahead!

What sets us apart is the energy we bring to our projects. My team is all female and all under 30. We’re driven, excited, and genuinely enjoying both the work and each other. That chemistry creates a vibrant, collaborative environment that fosters creativity, opportunity, and productivity. We are eager to keep growing and to create truly unique spaces, especially as a contrast to the typical Miami gray.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
These days, I’m so busy with work and leading my Girl Scout troop that in my free time, I’ve become a bit of a homebody, but if my best friend was visiting Miami, I’d make sure they got the full experience.

We’d start the day with a workout: a walk in Morningside (a beautiful residential neighborhood) or on South Beach, Pilates at Pilathon, or tennis on the bay with 821 Tennis (they play music and host a lot of fun events—it’s such a cool community). Breakfast would be at Caracas Bakery (merguez toast, pastries, and a sakura matcha latte) or lunch at Doya or Lung Yai Thai Tapas (the crab fried rice is a must). Nothing beats a true Miami beach day—with a chicken tender sub from Publix—and if it’s evening, a sunset walk at South Pointe Park followed by dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab or grabbing a seat at the outdoor bar at Smith & Wollensky (get the shrimp appetizer and wedge salad).

One of my favorite things is a boat day with friends, pulling up to a sandbar and cruising up the Miami River at sunset into the night—it’s magical. For culture, Fountainhead Arts has affordable memberships and great programming. I also go to a lot of gallery openings—La Cometa is one of my favorites in Miami, but there are so many! Frost Science Museum has a fantastic aquarium, along with fun themed laser shows in the planetarium. Very occasionally, I’ll go to a Miami Heat Game or an Inter Miami Game if I am willing to drive north.

Lately, we’ve been hosting a lot of community-building events at Pendentive Studio, my vintage furniture showroom and exhibition space. We host “Crash Course Nights” with short art and design lectures (like college without the tests or papers), bingo nights, karaoke nights, and artist meet-and-greets. We’ve had great turnout, and the events are just as fun for me as they are for guests.

Dinner would be a mix of favorites: Casa Tua (preferably outside), La Natural for healthier food, Sunny’s for an amazing steak and dinner rolls, Pastis for a pickle martini, Carbone if you can get in and are in the mood for a splurge, and Uchi—always ask what’s fresh at the sushi bar. For drinks, I love Sobremesa for their wine selection or Miami Sound Bar for good cocktails and music, or for something casual: Gramps Gateway (especially at sunset), or Mac’s Club Deuce. And if we’re feeling really wild (which is rare these days) I love E11EVEN. It’s just so Miami and a really fun spot if you’re in the mood for a party. You can also head over to Space across the street, another iconic Miami nightclub, which oddly serves a truly amazing grilled cheese.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my success to my truly amazing team—Ruth, Sabrina, Toni, and Francesca. They are endlessly supportive, deeply competent, hardworking, and enthusiastic. I couldn’t do any of this without their creativity, kindness, and dedication. Together, we’re building not just a business, but a community, and that starts with us. They bring positivity and welcoming energy to every project, every client interaction, and to Pendentive Studio and Phoebe O’Neill Interiors as a whole.

I also want to shout out my incredible group of friends here in Miami—many of whom are fellow female entrepreneurs. I feel so supported by them, both personally and professionally. At the start of 2025, I stated my career goals in front of them with intention–asking for their support, and they’ve shown up for me time and time again—attending events, making connections, and offering invaluable advice. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such a driven, generous, and inspiring group of people.

Website: https://www.phoebeoneillinteriors.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoebe.oneill.interiors/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@phoebe.oneill.interiors

Other: Pendentive Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pendentivestudio/

On our YouTube we post Artist Studio Visits. Since I work closely with artists, I often visit studios to see what artists are working on. We decided to start filming some of these visits in a “fly on the wall”/run and gun style to give people an inside look at one of my favorite parts of my job. The videos are casual, intimate, and give you a real understanding of the artist, their process, and their work.

Image Credits
Susie Jetta