In this episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I interview Marissa Cortese. Marissa is the founder of Vienna Lane Interiors, a New Jersey–based staging and design firm known for its elevated, design-forward approach to preparing homes for market.
A former tech leader turned creative director for high-end listings, she sees staging as a puzzle to solve—crafting curated spaces that resonate with today’s buyers and help listings truly stand out.
Marissa is passionate about building strong business relationships – partnering with agents, artists, and local businesses to create one-of-a-kind spaces that connect and convert.
Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple, Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
In this episode you will learn:
How Marissa left a career in tech to start a staging business and all that she has accomplished in a short period of time
How Marissa faced her biggest fears and how she got past them
Why Marissa decided to coach with me after getting a Certification in Home Staging
How Marissa stopped hiding behind the “safe” tasks that hold so many stagers back from gaining any traction
What Marissa did consistently to win the business of Real Estate Agents
What Marissa sees for the future of her business and how she plans on setting her business apart
Xo Marianne
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You don’t need to “convince” the right Agents to work with you. You just need to know what matters to them — and how to position yourself as the solution they’ve been looking for.
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This is NOT a generic marketing course. This is the insider strategy playbook for Stagers ready to grow fast and build referral-rich businesses.
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I would love your review! If you enjoy what I share in this episode, please leave a review and comment on iTunes. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Connect with Marissa:
Website – https://www.viennalaneinteriors.com/
Instagram- @viennalane.interiors
Connect with Marianne:
Set up a coaching discovery session to see if coaching is right for you.
Website: https://coachingbymarianne.com
Instagram: @homestagercoachmarianne
Join my FB Group: Fire Up Your Home Staging Business: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fireupyourhomestagingbusiness/
FB Group: Design for Today Collaborative- https://www.facebook.com/groups/DesignForTodayCollaborative
Visit my FB Coaching Page: https://www.facebook.com/CoachingByMarianneCherico/
Join my LinkedIn Group: Interior Redesign, Decorating and Real Estate Staging Professionals here.
Episode 148: Boss Babe Branding with the Ultimate Hype Girl
In this podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I interview Laurie Graham, the owner of Boss Babe Creative + Visuals. Laurie is an Amazon best-selling author, international speaker, and branding powerhouse with over 20 years of experience in photography,...
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In this podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire, I talk about pricing your services. If you’ve ever struggled with charging what you truly deserve or feel that hesitation when presenting your rates, trust me, you’re not alone. Many other Stagers and...
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In this podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire, I chat with Christine Rae founder of CSP International™ Staging & Decorating BUSINESS Academy. A passionate educator, Christine has mentored thousands of professionals empowering them to build...
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In my latest Home Stagers and Designers on Fire podcast episode, I chat with Heather Cook of Social Savvy Stager. Heather is a multi-award-winning stager with over a decade of success in Canada’s staging industry. Now, through The Social Stager, she helps stagers...
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In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire, I talk with Alisa Sparks. In 2017, Alisa founded "Linden Creek Home Staging," where her financial acumen and attention to detail seamlessly transitioned from corporate into the world of interior...
Episode 140: Hot Design Trends 2025
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire, I talk with Debbe Daley of Debbe Daley Designs. With over 40 years of experience in the interior home industry, Debbe is also a published author and president of the New England Chapter of IDS. She...
Episode 139: Win Lots of Business by Making it Easy to Work with You
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire, I talk with Jeff Martin of Mint Home Staging Company in California. Jeff started his company after seeing a need for affordable, on trend staging with quick turnarounds. Jeff is a Real Estate Agent...
Episode 138: Marianne’s Musings on 2025 Life and Business Plan and Dating
In the latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire, I talk about creating a Smokin’ Hot 2025 Life and Business Plan and musings on how venturing into the world of dating sometimes takes the same mindset as building a business. I also share a time...
Episode 137: Inside the World of a Top LA Home Stager and HGTV Personality
Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple, Spotify and most major podcast platforms. In this episode you will learn: What it is really like to be on HGTV How HGTV Stagers get paid (or not) How Kevin’s experience doing model homes helped him land HGTV...
Episode 136: Business Tips from a Multi Dimensional Entrepreneur
In this episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I talk with Shauna Lynn Simon. Shauna Lynn is a multi award winning Home Stager and Designer, owner of SLS Academy and business coach for the busy female entrepreneur. She shares lots of “golden nuggets of wisdom”...
Episode 135: A RE Agent/Home Stager’s Advice on Winning Business
In this episode I talk with Shawn Varwig, the dynamic CEO of of Home Staging Northwest and Broker for Heritage Home Team Real Estate. His deep understanding of market trends, property values and buyer psychology allows him to provide staging solutions that position...
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In this episode I talk with Red Barrinuevo, owner of Redesign4more in Toronto. Known for his transformative approach to home design, and a passion for elevating spaces, Red's work goes beyond aesthetics. His thoughtful and innovative designs have not only enhanced the...
Episode 133: Financing Staging Inventory
In this episode I talk with Rod Basconcillo, president of R&R Financial... Since 2017 Rod has been serving the Home Staging Industry, providing financing solutions for his clients. Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple, Spotify and most major...
Episode 132: Million Dollar Stager
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a million dollar stager? Well you’ll get all the “inside skinny” in my latest podcast episode. Listen in as Michelle Minch of Moving Mountains Design talks about how she built her LA staging company. Listen to the podcast...
Episode 131: Transitioning from Corporate to a Successful Staging Business
In this episode I talk with Ellen Mann of Chrysalis Creative Home Staging. Ellen left a 30 year lucrative career in corporate to start a Home Staging business in Calgary Canada and now British Columbia. She takes us through the journey of building her business Listen...
Episode 130: Takeaways from RESACON 2024
In this episode I talk about the numerous takeaways from attending (and sponsoring) RESACON 2024. Even though I have been in the staging business since 2005, I am always excited to learn from others and share with my coaching clients and listeners.
Episode 129: Get Top Dollar for Your Staging Business
In this episode I interview Steven Denny, a partner at Innovative Business Advisors and the coauthor of the book You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know This book details the steps to take in order to build a profitable Home Staging business and one that has a strategic...
