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

Andrea, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Authentik Home exists to create homes that are curated, elevated, and inspire our clients to experience their best lives. This is more than a mission statement; it is a code I live by.

Interior Design has historically been an industry built on luxury and feels out of reach for most people. I aimed to create a different approach; our vision started with a want to make interior design more accessible to those who may not have considered their space as “design worthy.”

Our homes, whether small, large, or in-between should reflect our style and function the way we need them to. This doesn’t always create picture perfect, magazine cover spaces .. but it does create beautiful spaces that are authentic to ourselves and our needs.

My approach always starts with curated. This word is used quite often as a buzzword and is everywhere in marketing today, from cars to specialty bakeries and in my opinion, is being bandied about a little too much. At its essence it simply means carefully chosen and thoughtfully organized or presented. This is at the core of how I design, thoughtfully. Many of my clients have possessions in their homes that are of the utmost importance to them and that they want included in their home and in the final design. For example, Grandma’s rocking chair or a painting they’ve had since college, a collection that they are passionate about. I love working with client’s meaningful objects. Oftentimes refinishing, reupholstering or re-framing can give a whole new look to these items. These pieces tell their unique story, we work on editing some of these items and placing them in a way that is intentional. I am not the designer who will come to your home and convince you to throw everything out and strong-arm you into a design I think you ” should have.”

Elevated is another simple word. It simply means to “raise above.” What does that mean for interiors? It means taking something and making it better. For example, a simple furniture layout can be elevated. Most times, I meet with clients whose homes could be utilized better for their needs. They may have thought they really needed a formal dining room when they moved in, now years later, it never gets used and collects dust.  We might create a design plan that uses the space in a completely new way that works for their lifestyle. That is just one example, simply put, we make the space the best it can be for their needs.

Lastly, we inspire our clients to live their best lives. We do this in dozens of different ways. Most importantly, is deep diving into who they are and how they use their space. Many of my clients say on our first meeting ” I don’t have a style” I know from years of experience, that they truly do. We all have a signature style, a way of living, a way of expressing ourselves ; my job is to find that out and communicate it visually in their spaces.

My goal, is to create spaces that my client’s love living in, reflect who they are and allow them to live their best lives. It’s at the heart of every design I create.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been an interior designer for 20 years this year and it’s been an amazing journey so far. I quite literally became a designer by accident, it was not my intention at all. I was fully committed to becoming a theater arts teacher and was going to school to do just that. On a summer break, I decided I needed a bit of extra money and answered a newspaper advertisement ( yes a newspaper ad!) to apply to be a receptionist at a furnishings and design center. I had always been enamored of this place, it was located in a historic building (a converted hotel from the 1800’s) and boasted four floors of gorgeous custom furnishings and decor. I was in love and thought it would be the perfect summer job. I went in to bring in my resume (yes in those days we physically brought in a resume printed on high quality paper) dressed in my best dress and shoes. 

There was a young man at the counter of the establishment, and I struck up a conversation. I must paint this picture, because it truly was one of the moments that changed the trajectory of my life. The young man was dressed very casually, ripped jeans, t-shirt and obviously had been working in the back warehouse. I asked him if I could drop my resume off for the position and we started chatting. He then asked me if I would like an on-spot interview. I said, “Well of course!” and assumed he would go to get the manager. He then explained that he was in fact the owner and they had been short staffed today and he was assisting with deliveries. 

You can never judge a book by the cover, and I am glad that I was taught that at an early age. This moment could have simply not happened at all if I was judgmental or if I had just left the resume on a desk. We stepped into his office and had a wonderful conversation, about how he had just taken over as the owner after his grandfather had passed, the legacy of the design studio and how they had been family owned and operated for over half of a century. It was a truly one-of-a-kind business. At the end of our conversation, he revealed to me that they had already hired a receptionist, however he thought I would make a great designer. 

I nearly fell off the chair and explained to him that I was going to school to be a teacher, I had wanted to be a teacher nearly my whole life and that I knew nothing about interior design or sales. Up until this point, I had waited tables and worked at Disneyland. He insisted, noting my experience with set design and natural ability to converse with people. I thought he was very mistaken, and I told him that I really didn’t feel I was a good fit, that they needed someone with more experience. He then explained to me that there were two women at the studio who had worked in design for over 30 years each and he felt if I was open to it, they could teach me, and I would be a natural. 

I started that Monday morning. He was absolutely right of course, I was taught by amazing women who really took me under their wing and because of that opportunity, discovered a passion that I had no idea was there. I left that company a year after being with them to go to school for Interior Design. That moment was the beginning of my career, but more than that, I feel so incredibly lucky to have found not only a profession but a passion, early on in my life.

 I love telling this story and recently told it to a panel of potential design students. I truly feel one of the most important things for any young designer is to work within the industry, to really see the ins and outs of the business. I count myself extremely fortunate that this was my path.

Authentik Home offers a variety of interior design services. The reason for this is interior design is not a one-size-fits-all business. We offer full-service interior design, which by definition is from concept to installation, start to finish. We love doing this design package as it creates the “wow” factor and the “big reveal”. However, we also offer a-la-carte services. Color consultation is one of our most popular. Another popular service is Re-Design. We are passionate about sustainability and have created design services to refresh our client’s spaces using their own furnishings and decor in new ways. Our passion is to create interiors that are tailor made for our client’s needs and this is always the focus.

I believe one of the most important things that sets me apart in the Interior Design industry is that I design for my clients, not for a magazine, or for other designers to admire my work. I work within an endless variety of styles. I am not focused on having a design reflect my “signature look.” My portfolio is filled with many different aesthetics and price points, the reason is simply because no project is alike. I design for my clients and their singular style and specific needs.

I am most proud of creating Authentik Home. I have spent my time in the industry gaining invaluable knowledge and working with award winning designers and brands, all this knowledge went into creating Authentik Home. I truly mean that. Many designers today start firms right out of college, without having the real-world experience to understand our industry or how to work with clients. While, they of course can be successful, I am proud of the fact that I created Authentik Home after working in the industry, in different roles . Every hat I have worn in the past has helped make me the designer I am today and creating Authentik Home in my 40’s vs. in my 20’s or 30’s was how it was meant to happen for me personally.

The main thing that I would like potential clients, fans, or followers to know is that when you hire Authentik Home for your project, is that it is personal for us. We create gorgeous spaces, but more importantly, we believe in our mission of inspiring you to live your best life, in your home. We believe in lifetime relationships vs. transactions. We believe in creating the best client experience for you, from our first phone call until delivery day and beyond. Your home is personal to you and to us, we design accordingly.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

This is a very important question for me and something I tell every new designer in the industry I have spoken with. It’s the simplest, but also the most profound thing I have learned. Treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s the golden rule for a reason. 

Early on in my career I spent time on what I would call the “back end” of the industry. Working for manufacturers etc. and would meet a number of types of personalities that would treat me disrespectfully. They did not see how integral the golden rule was! The vendor associates, the sales representatives, the installers , the cleaning crew , the painter .. Every profession that you meet is worthy and deserves your respect. Furthermore, you never know when treating someone the way you wish to be treated will come back to you. Good or bad, I guarantee you it will. The interior design industry is notorious for bad apples, designers who think their opinion or needs comes before others. I’ve always gone back to the golden rule. I practice it with clients. with industry partners, and with everyone!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an interior designer is knowing that I have helped someone live better in their home. I could stop at that sentence right there, because it really is as clear as that.

 I truly believe that we are understanding more, every day, how important it is that we love living in the space we call home. It is where we begin and end each and every day. The impact of how our homes affect us is being studied and talked about now more than ever. I am one hundred percent here for that conversation! Living well in our spaces is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Knowing that I have helped shape the way someone is living their life and have assisted them in living better than they had been before we met, is the greatest reward. Interior design is an art form that is not just visual, but lived in and utilized.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://authentikhome.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authentik_home/

Image Credits
Photo one – Project in collaboration with K.Smith Interiors Photo two – Project in collaboration with K.Smith Interiors All photos – credit Thomas Pellicer