Mariana Costa founded Casa Ernesta in 2016 and has been running it ever since; it is a store specializing in furniture and other items designed by local artists.
Costa, who holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Universidad ORT Uruguay in Universidad ORT Uruguay, described what Casa Ernesta is all about and explained how her education helped her launch her business.
What is Casa Ernesta?
Casa Ernesta was founded in 2016 out of a desire to start my own business, one that would allow me to grow professionally in the field of interior design. At the time, I realized that this space could provide a home for local entrepreneurs in the furniture design industry—who had nowhere to display their furniture—so they could have a permanent retail location.
Other offerings were gradually added: home decor items, children’s products, and workshops focused on design and crafts. As a result, Casa Ernesta is a design and home decor store that also offers workshops led by other entrepreneurs in the field.
I started out working with an architect. For the past two years, I’ve been working with my partner, who is also an architect, and who helps me with my daily tasks.
Your business is rooted in the identity of a home—what’s the story behind the name?
The house where the business is currently located used to belong to my grandmother, Ernestina. Unfortunately, she passed away, and the house stood empty for several years. That’s why I decided to start this business there and name it “Casa Ernesta” in honor of her name and memory.
What is your role at Casa Ernesta? How has interior design become part of your responsibilities at the company?
I handle internal logistics with suppliers, customer service, social media management, and student registration for workshops. The connection to interior design is evident in the selection of products, how they are combined to create displays within the store, and in customer service. In the latter case, I provide advice on customers’ needs, whether regarding materials, display design, or custom furniture.
There is a goal to promote local design. What values have you found in Uruguayan design?
In recent years, thanks to social media, I’ve noticed that a new platform has emerged where we can see a number of local entrepreneurs creating products that deserve to be showcased. These products stand out because they’re unique, because they break away from the same offerings found in large furniture chains, and because of the value they hold as products made in Uruguay. Furthermore, working with local manufacturers allows us to meet the needs of a market that seeks personalized and custom-made products.
In addition to being a design store, they host events every month: what do the courses and workshops involve?
Workshops are the other part of our venture. We felt it would be a great fit to share this space with other entrepreneurs, so they could share their expertise on various techniques. Currently, we offer workshops on watercolor painting, embroidery, and lettering, among other activities that are being added.
How Universidad ORT Uruguay your education at Universidad ORT Uruguay you Universidad ORT Uruguay your business?
My education at the School of Architecture definitely gave me the knowledge and drive I needed to launch this business. Having a bachelor’s degree in interior design gives me a distinct advantage when advising clients. It also helps with the development of the store—from product selection and spatial layout to my understanding of various materials and trends.