Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Holljes Samantha Viski-Hanka.
Hi Rebecca Holljes, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We’re sisters and co-founders of Samantha Sara Interiors—a boutique residential design studio based in Coconut Grove serving the South Florida community and beyond. Our journey began organically: Samantha was drawn to interior design from a young age, spending weekends exploring design showrooms and antique stores with our mom. Her curiosity evolved into formal training, hands-on experience, and eventually, a deep desire to create something of her own. At the same time, I (Rebecca) was looking to try something new (I was working as a commercial litigator at the time) and knew I wanted to work with family. Starting something new with my best friend would be an added bonus.
Designing homes together allows us to merge our strengths—creativity, structure, intuition and trust. Each project feels personal because we’re not just designing for clients; we’re connecting with their lives and translating those into their spaces. In many ways, by designing people’s homes together, we’re inviting clients into our family while they invite us into theirs.
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?
Like any business, the path hasn’t been perfectly smooth. Building a design firm from the ground up while maintaining our commitment to our clients, each other and our respective families requires constant balancing of creativity and logistics, design and budgets, motherhood and professionalism. But we’ve always believed that challenges are opportunities to refine our process, strengthen our partnerships and clarify our purpose. Every project, even the difficult ones, has made us better designers and collaborators.
We’ve been impressed with Samantha Sara Interiors, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We hope people associate our brand with the creation of warm, refined and deeply personal spaces that balance beauty and function. We’re also particularly focused on the relationships we build—we want our clients to feel seen, respected and supported throughout the process.
Our work is guided by three elements: trust, diligence and positivity. Designing someone’s home is an intimate collaboration, and we like to think we approach it with the care it deserves. We take the time to understand our clients and their lifestyles, then blend those with the home’s inherent character—its tones, architecture and natural surroundings.
Every client and home have their own rhythms and energies; our role is to bring that to life with clarity and intention. From custom millwork to timeless textiles, every choice is rooted in craftsmanship, balance and longevity. Our goal is to make the process as joyful and seamless as the result—so that home is completed and feels like a sanctuary.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://samanthasarainteriors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthasarainteriors
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samanthasarainteriors
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/samanthasarainteriors/_saved/
Image Credits
Photo of Samantha Viski-Hanka (left) & Rebecca Holljes (right) by Tami Wilkes (www.instagram.com/tamijillphotography/)
Interior photos by Marta Xochilt Perez (www.instagram.com/martaxperez/)
