Because I needed a job, and decided I didn’t want to work for someone else! That’s the practical reason. The heart of it though was that I longed for creative freedom to serve people I saw had a need that I could meet with my specific gifts and skills. I hoped I could make a living doing so, because if not, I was going to have to get a side job to fund this passion. Ha! Having a business is the channel that dream could come to life through. So, I took the leap. As it turns out, I’m now a business nerd too and find that entrepreneurship is in fact the life for me!

What is unique about your business?

I hope alot of things, but the number one feedback I get from my clients on what they believe if unique about working with me is that I truly listen to them and honor them throughout their project. And it is my joy to take their unique requests, little quirks, and unusual treasures and take all of that in to account when creating their design so that it truly reflects them and meets their specific needs in a very special way. Interior Design is such a personal business. People are trusting me with their personal space, letting me in to their homes to see how the live and letting me in on what they need help with. I see the messy closets, the piled counter tops, what’s working, what’s not – the behind the scenes of their lives. I treat that kind of vulnerability with utmost care and respect. I consider the ground on which we work – their homes – sacred.  There is alot of self-discovery along the way, as they learn about their own likes and dislikes, priorities and preferences when it comes to their own lifestyle and home. We all need to be able to work together within a safe space, so criticism and judgement have no part in the design process. Only listening, problem solving, and creating. Improving your home should be an uplifting, enriching, personal experience!

What’s on your Playlist?

Goodness! This could be a wild one. I just checked my “recently played” on Spotify and have everything from the jazzy classics of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr., to indie and synth-pop like Walk The Moon, Magic Man, and Borns – to folk such as Lord Huron, Joshua Radin, and Taylor John Williams. Basically my musical taste is about is eclectic as my decor taste. My newest song find that I’ve been playing on repeat this week is “Feel it Still” by “Portugal. The Man” – who I’d never heard of until this song, which has such a fantastic beat!

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere! I have 24,000 photos and counting on my phone largely due to my snapping-inspiration-everywhere-I-go “problem”. It doesn’t matter if I’m eating at a new restaurant, meandering down a sidewalk, driving through a neighborhood, traveling to a new city, wandering through the park. I look up, down, and around, expecting to be amazed – and I’m never disappointed. There is always a pattern, color or texture just waiting to be discovered and appreciated! 

Why did you decide to work with Doodle Dog?

I’ve always believed “dog people” could be trusted. I’ve also always believed in and been sold on stand-out branding. (I’m the kind of person who buys wine just because of the visually appealing labels or witty names, which basically makes up my mind that I’m going to love the wine!) Something about the whimsical and fur-friend themed brand drew me in, because – have you met my dogs?? I studied Doodle Dog’s work and dove further in to the brand. Almost instantly, I knew they were the firm I wanted to work with. Everything from their own website to portfolio, to their voice, message, mission, and methods (loved the organization of their processes, the clarity and visual loveliness of the media packet – I could go on and on about what I loved from the start) just stood out in every way like no other firm had in all of the research I’d done in and out of state. The fact that they worked alot with creative brands specifically, really sealed the deal for me. I’d met with and considered several other firms before finding Doodle Dog, and none of them really seemed to grasp how/why my brand needed to look and feel different from their typical organization’s or commercial client’s website. Doodle Dog just “gets” it.  (And, another small factor might be that they are a Texas brand. Originally being from Texas myself, I’ve also always believed Texans can be trusted, too. ;))

Why did you feel the time was right to kick-off this project?

 I had been wanting to update my original website for some time, as I became increasingly aware that my company’s needs had grown beyond my original sites functional capabilities. It was during Marie Forleo’s B-School course that I realized it was time to build an updated site that truly represented my brand aesthetically and functionally. I had been searching for the right firm for about a year before B-School finally prompted me to buckle down and make it happen, which is when I made my final search out of state and to my delight, found Doodle Dog! We started working together shortly after with a goal of launching the new site around my company’s 5 year anniversary, which just seemed like the perfect way to celebrate that milestone!

What’s your favorite part of your new site or new brand?

Gosh, it’s hard to pick a favorite part – I love it all so much! I am definitely pumped to have a Home page and About page that finally feels like an invite to hang out and get to know us, instead of the sometimes over-polished “interior designer” box I felt I had to fit in to when starting out 5 years ago. Nikki and her team did such a great job of listening to me and helping me translate my heart and vision for this project in to a site that is truly an authentic representation of my brand in every way.

What advice would you give to someone considering a rebrand or relaunch?

That’s simple! Three words: Hire Doodle Dog!! 🙂 (But for an extra tip, start saving and archiving your company’s journey in an organized fashion as you go to so the important things are always up to date and at the ready. If you wait until you have 5 years worth of images, reviews, and other content to sort through – you may be amazed at how long it takes to round up everything that you want to include in your new site. Don’t ask me how I know this… )

Is there anything else you would like to mention?

I’d like to thank my dogs, Rufus and Nellie, for being so adorable unfailing examples of unconditional love in a world of conditions. They inspire me.