Inspiring Conversations with Dana Marino of Dimora Designs & Compass

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Marino. 

Hi Dana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
After the passing of my younger sister, Jenna in 2020 I found myself in a place of grief and was in search of an outlet to place the pain. Before graduating with a Master’s in Business Administration, I attended Ringling College of Art & Design and majored in Interior Design. After my sister’s passing, I purchased a home and began to remodel the house room by room.

It was during this time that I rediscovered my passion for architecture and design, and this is also where I began to heal. In 2021 I partnered with my sister, Michelle, who lives in Atlanta and we founded Dimora Designs, an Interior Design studio, and Home Décor retailer. I also began to study for the Florida Real Estate Sales license and passed the Real Estate exam on my first try on my deceased sister’s birthday in 2021. I have learned to turn my pain into passion, and have not looked back since. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am a single mother of two daughters and when they were younger, I struggled to make ends meet while I put myself through college while waiting tables at an Amish restaurant in Sarasota, Florida. Even with all the adversity, I have experienced in life I remained focused on my goals because I knew a brighter future was ahead.

As you know, we’re big fans of Dimora Designs & a Real Estate Advisor with Compass. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?

I am a businesswoman, but I am also an artist and a creative. Having an eye for design and appealing color schemes allows me to offer my clients a unique experience by helping them see how to imagine an empty space becoming their home.⁠ Not only can I help my clients find a home, but I can help them design a space that they will enjoy for years to come.

At Dimora Designs we specialize in working with neutral colors as a base and adding pops of color throughout the space. Monochromatic colors, gray, black, white, silver, and gold, and adding in wood and metal accents to round out a modern or industrial touch and blend it into a transitional home.

Lately, we have been working with investors to design their short-term rentals which has been a dream of ours! Being a realtor allows me the opportunity to be a part of my client’s journey of creating generational wealth by purchasing real estate, and my favorite part is watching a first-time home buyer receive the set of keys to their new home. Owning real estate is powerful and it is my goal to help my clients understand the benefits that come along with it.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is my family.

I want to leave a legacy and financial stability for my children, and I want to be able to take care of my mother and travel with my nieces and nephews. I imagine one day being able to take my entire family on a vacation without them having to spend a penny! 

Pricing:

• Single Room Design: $800 per room with a 20% discount for packages of 3 rooms or more
• Virtual Design Consultations: $50
• Entire Home: Vacation & Investment Home Furnishing: $4,000
• Real Estate Services Consultation: Free
• E-Design Packages: $500 per room

Contact Info:

• Website: danamarino.com & dimora-designs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dana_marie_realtor/ & https://www.instagram.com/dimoradesignstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanaMarinoRealtor & https://www.facebook.com/dimoradesignstudio

Image Credits
James Jean Pier