Today we’d like to introduce you to Samar Nashash.
Hi Samar, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey in design began long before I founded Shades & Design Studio, it started with a belief that spaces have the power to change how we live, feel, and dream. I was raised in a culture where craftsmanship, hospitality, and beauty are part of daily life. That foundation shaped my vision and taught me that design is not decoration, it is experience, emotion, and quality of life.
I began my career in the Caribbean, where I spent many years working on luxury villas, boutique hotels, commercial spaces, and private residences. There, I learned how to create environments that balance elegance with practicality, and how to deliver world-class service under demanding timelines and conditions. Every project taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of relationships.
Three years ago, I moved to Miami with a single goal: to build a boutique design studio that blends luxury craftsmanship with personalized service. I didn’t arrive with a network or shortcuts, I built everything from the ground up. I knocked on doors, made connections one handshake at a time, and earned trust through hard work, integrity, and excellence.
Today, Shades & Design Studio specializes in luxury window treatments, commercial & hospitality wallcoverings, hurricane-rated exterior shading systems, impact windows & doors, and Italian kitchen & closet solutions from Lube. We serve high-end residential, commercial, hospitality, and retail clients across Florida and the Caribbean.
From private penthouses to global luxury brands, each project is personal to me and that’s what sets us apart. I oversee every detail, from concept to installation. My clients don’t just receive a product they receive a curated experience, guided with expertise, honesty, and passion.
What brought me here is simple: dedication, vision, and a love for creating spaces that people are proud to live and work in. I believe a successful business is built on service, reputation, and authenticity. I am grateful for the challenges, grateful for the growth, and grateful for every client who trusts me with their space.
Miami gave me opportunity and I give it back by elevating every project with care, quality, and commitment. My story is still being written, and I’m just getting started.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth, and honestly, I wouldn’t want it to be every challenge shaped me and brought me to where I am today.
When I arrived in Miami, I didn’t come with a ready-made network, investors, or a safety net. I had to build everything from scratch relationships, reputation, credibility, and trust. Entering a competitive design and construction market where many companies have been established for decades required patience, consistency, and belief in my vision.
There were moments when doors closed, when people didn’t take me seriously, and when projects fell through after months of preparation. As a woman-owned business in a male-dominated industry, I also had to work twice as hard to prove my expertise and capability not with words, but with results.
Learning how to navigate city regulations, trade partnerships, lead times, logistics, technical details, and construction timelines in a new city all while simultaneously growing a brand and earning trust was not simple. There were long days, long nights, and many sacrifices.
But every challenge was a stepping stone not a setback.
I used every “no” as motivation. I treated every small opportunity like it was a million-dollar project. I stayed committed to excellence, integrity, and service and slowly, my work began to speak for itself.
I believe obstacles are part of the entrepreneurial journey. They build character, sharpen vision, and teach resilience. The difficult moments made me sharper, stronger, and more confident in what I bring to the table. Today, I look back with gratitude because those challenges didn’t break me. They built me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Shades & Design Studio is a boutique luxury design and specialty trades firm based in Miami and proudly serving Miami-Dade, Broward, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, and the Caribbean. We provide turnkey solutions that elevate residential, commercial, hospitality, and luxury retail environments blending refined aesthetics with technical excellence and meticulous execution.
We specialize in:
Luxury manual & motorized window treatments (Lutron, Somfy, Crestron)
Custom drapery & soft treatments
Commercial & hospitality wallcoverings
Hurricane-rated exterior shading systems & awnings
Impact windows & doors (aluminum systems)
Luxury Italian kitchens & closets – Lube
Front-of-house boutique finishing solutions
Our approach is boutique by design. We guide every client with care, transparency, and personal attention from concept and selections to fabrication and installation. What sets us apart is not only the craftsmanship we deliver; it’s the experience. We believe luxury is not just a product; it is a feeling created by service, trust, and consistency.
As a Miami-Dade Certified Small Business (SBE) and woman-owned company, we are proud to bring diversity, dedication, and precision to an industry where attention to detail and accountability make all the difference. Whether we’re outfitting a penthouse in Brickell, a luxury retail boutique in Bal Harbour or Boca Raton, or a boutique hotel in West Palm Beach or the Caribbean, our work is defined by craftsmanship, technical knowledge, and absolute commitment to excellence.
Our clients don’t choose us as vendors they choose us as partners. We protect their vision, manage every detail, and deliver finishes that are beautiful, functional, and lasting. Luxury isn’t just what you see it’s what you experience. And at Shades & Design Studio, that experience is our signature.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Miami is its energy and diversity. This city is vibrant, stylish, and full of ambition. People here dream big and move fast, it’s a place where creativity meets opportunity, and where cultures blend into something truly unique. I love the architecture, the design influence from around the world, the sunshine, and the entrepreneurial spirit. Miami has a special rhythm ,it inspires you to work harder, think bigger, and enjoy life at the same time.
If there’s one thing I like least, it would be the fast pace when it comes to construction and business schedules. Miami moves quickly, and sometimes that means unexpected changes, tight timelines, and a level of urgency that can be intense , especially in our industry. But even that has shaped me, made me stronger, and taught me how to be agile, resourceful, and resilient.
Overall, Miami is a place that challenges you and rewards you. It pushes you to grow. And I love that about it because growth is where the magic happens.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shadesanddesignstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadesanddesignstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samarjihadesign
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/105808566/admin/page-posts/published/
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/6MF075QzqqzMq-ds4OwpYA
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samar-nashash/
Image Credits
Samar Nashash
