We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adrian Jenkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adrian below.

Adrian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

In choosing the name of my company, I wanted a name that was meaningful, unique, and something that I loved. My daughter’s name is Dani and I love flowers, so I thought the name was a match made in heaven.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Adrian Jenkins. I am the founder of Dandelions Design Studio. We are a Premier Home Staging, Design, and Custom Renovations company serving all of the Atlanta area. We have been in the Staging and Design industry for over 14 years.

Earlier in my career, I was an Information Technology professional at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. I have always had a love for things that are beautiful. I started out as a florist, which is still my first love, but staging and design is my passion. I designed floral arrangements for several years before venturing off into the Staging and Design industry when my position ended with my company. This was the most challenging and scariest time OF MY LIFE.

Although, I have a business degree, it is a different world, when you have to execute what you have gone to college for into your own business because it’s very personal. And if my business failed, I failed. My background is in Information Technology, which is a completely different world from the Staging and Design Industry. Although I have an eye for things that are beautiful, there is a business side to it as well. I have many hats in running this business.

There have been times I’ve had to physically move furniture, market, plan, and do design sketches, amongst other things that comes with building a business. I now know the true meaning of blood, sweat, and tears. I’ve never cried so much, while working to achieve a goal.

When my contract ended, I took a big leap of faith. That’s huge coming from someone who is master planner, but I never looked back. Even when I tried to look back, my business was so busy, that I couldn’t look back. I’ve always heard from my family, friends, and Colleagues that I should become and stager and designer, but I always felt like how can I make money doing something that I love. It’s crazy, that now I can say, oh yea, it is possible to work and have fun.

The challenge is determining exactly what your client wants. I strive on making people happy. I put my heart and soul into my craft. Another challenge has been finding a team to grow with you, believe in what you believe in and stick with you through thick and thin. I’ve learned that no one can do everything and you have to have people around you who believes in you and has a genuine interest in what you are building. My bestfriend, co-founder and business partner, Heather Paulin and I share a deep passion for Staging, Design, and Real Estate. We have a lot of ideas and visions for Dandelions Designs.

Although, I’ve come very far from where I started, my vision for my company is very big, I still have a long way to go, but I Can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). This has been my go to Scripture during this journey that GOD has put me on. If GOD had not shown me in a dream what my path was, I would still be working for someone else to help them fulfil their dreams. This GOD given passion excites me and awakens my soul. It drives me like nothing else. To see a blank canvas come together with different colors, textures, fabrics, brings my joy to my heart.
There were times when I wanted to through in the towel and go back to the corporate world, but I’m not built to throw in the towel. This business has taught me that you have to believe in yourself, even when your friends and family don’t. You have to have crazy faith and trust in the process. A lot of people give up right before their breakthrough. When one door close, cry, but keep pushing, because there are 20 other doors. We are so excited about what’s in store for Dandelions Designs.

When I look back on where I started, all I can say is TO GOD BE THE GLORY. We all have a passion. Dig deep and find yourself, it will pay off. I was scared to death and to be honest, there are times that I am still afraid, but I keep walking because I know GOD is with me. You know that you are on the right path when you are faced with obstacles all around you, personally and professionally, but continue to walk because those obstacles are what builds character, faith, strength, and endurance because one day they will all be a part of your story.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I met my business partner in Real Estate school. I never dreamed of being a real estate agent because being a designer is my passion. One of my good friends called me and told me that GOD laid it on her heart to tell me to get my license. And because I wanted to be obedient, I enrolled in real estate school. I was super busy with building my brand, so it was a huge sacrifice to go to school, but I knew I had to go. Heather enrolled in the same class, but she missed the first 2 classes because she decided to enroll the same week the class started.

On her first day, there was an empty seat next to me. Our instructor referred to me as a stager and Heather looked at me and said, are you a stager, I said yes, and she excitedly said, so am I! We hit it off immediately!! We started off working on design consultations together and before you knew it, we made it official and became business partners. I decided not to pursue becoming a real estate agent. Heather is the real estate agent. Dandelions Design Studio and Heather Paulin Homes has grown so much over the last few years. Our partnership and friendship is truly a divine connection.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think I helped build my reputation by going above and beyond for every client. We give 100% to our clients. It’s all about over-delivering and showing them that we care about their needs and we hear them. We want to be life changers in our industry and we want our clients to see our passion and trust that we will deliver. Because our client base is rapidly growing, I think that speaks for itself that we are delivering what we promise.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dandelionsdesignstudio.com
• Instagram: Dandelionsdesignstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DandelionsDesignStudio

Image Credits
Stillman’s Photography