Maryanne Stewart has always excelled at dreaming big, but executing those dreams did not come easily. "If you knew me before I started this journey, you would know I was the most timid and nervous person there ever was," she explained. You wouldn't know it today as she exudes energy and enthusiasm for helping clients and making beautiful furniture. Starting a business forced Stewart to step out of her comfort zone. She knew this was what she wanted to do.  "I continuously had to tell myself, even if I fail, at least I gave it my all," she shared. She remembers the advice of a college professor who told her, "Magic doesn't happen in your comfort zone." She held onto her words through her first year as a business owner. "There were lots of ups-downs and tears-laughter throughout the last two years, but I kept going and continued to break through my shell, She reflected. "Market after market and client project after client project, slowly I realized I could do this. Was I scared? Heck yeah! It was not easy, and sometimes it still isn't, but I grow every day."

 Growing up, Stewart loved everything about design, from architecture to home decor. She knew early on, one day she would end up doing something in the design field. She founded Modest Method to provide design services and beautiful spaces to people who couldn't afford extravagant upgrades. Then, COVID happened, and things shifted a bit. She decided to focus more on furniture and curated pieces than spaces, and continue to offer affordable products through her process and products.

She didn't have the money to do much in the beginning and funded her new business by flipping and selling her first dining set. That dining table was a curbside find--thanks to her sister--and the chairs came from an old restaurant she worked for thanks to her friend Catie. "I had more support than I realized, and ever could have imagined," shared Stewart. 

Once she was able to buy materials and tools, she kept refinishing and reimagining what the piece of furniture could become. Finding cast off furniture and giving it new life started as a passion for creating something beautiful out of furniture that might have ended up in a landfill and turned into a business.  "I not only loved the process, but knowing I was helping the environment was such a huge bonus."

As time moved on, opportunities continued to evolve, and then "Judy," her vintage 1961 travel trailer, her business blossomed! "I was on cloud nine the first time I took her with my refinished furniture to the Rogers Local Food Market in June of 2021," explained Stewart. "I was living my dream and in my eyes, I made it! I did it!"

As the business began to flourish, Stewart made connections with her clients and friends and began seeking space to move out of a rented workshop and into her new space where she can refurbish furniture in the back and have a retail showroom in the front. She will open her storefront located at 115 West Chestnut Street, between Wesner's Grill and Nola's Pantry. Her opening day is Saturday, November 26th--Small Business Saturday. Modest Method Designs focuses on reviving the old and unwanted furniture pieces while staying affordable. Stewart is enthusiastic about this next step in her business. "It is my art and it may not be perfect, but it is truly a piece of my heart. Thank you for supporting me and my dream!"