We were lucky to catch up with Angelica Da Tavares recently and have shared our conversation below.

Angelica Da, appreciate you joining us today. Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?

I started with an idea only. And for a few months’ worked by myself as home staging strategist for some clients in a booming housing market. After one year, upon request from the listing agents, I saw a business need when I found myself looking painters, granite pros , electricians, plumbers, to not only decorate the house for sale but to also fix some small issues to get the house in the best presentation possible.
So, after 2 years I started to remodel a bathroom from one client that got the house sold and wanted me (specifically) to remodel their master bathroom on their new home. There was the real 1st time I needed to create my own team to start developing a trusting crew.
I drove many times around the city and construction areas looking for a professionals at their sites, stopping and getting to know them and the work they performed on site. It took a few trials to for the great crew I have today. When I was in this selection process, I was looking for a professionals that could deliver the best installation, respect and knowledge of their domains on the process. I also pay a lot of attention on their attitude, and I will tell you right away: you can train a person to do anything in life, but you cannot train a different attitude , either you have or you don’t. Because of what I just explained, I had a few replacements along the way, and I’m so glad I did it. Today’s team is excellent, and the customers recognize it immediately. My team are mostly Latin Americans that work very hard to have a better life for their families and I’m really proud of what they achieved.
My suggestion for folks that are starting a small business : follow the processes and procedures for hiring a person based on experience, quality etc… but also follow your personal instincts when it comes to commitment, respect and attitude .

Angelica Da, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an interior designer, I followed my passion as a designer here in US since 2014 . I’m Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro, and had lived in Venezuela, Italy, and USA . I speak Portuguese , Spanish and English . I’m a mother of 3 beautiful kids. I’m proud to be a woman in a small business, in a predominantly men’s industry .
My company, AT Design, started in 2015 , and this year will complete 8 years in the construction industry in Houston Metropolitan Area. We offer services in Houston and others city around Houston .
After the last years executing multiple projects that ranged from full home rebuilds after hurricane Harvey, several homes that required all rooms to be redone before or after a sale, flips, dozens of kitchens, master bathrooms, media rooms, stairs, backyards, I realized that a passion was in development : I have recently specialized in outdoor spaces , such as patio extensions, decks , spa installations , stamped concrete, and many others . I’m really excited to work with outdoor spaces , and I believe in the past 4 years the ideas for outdoor design grew so much , I guess during Covid period, making people look for that option as extension space of their house , and how to improve the outdoor space .
I see more and more people falling in love with their backyards , wanting to more and more enjoy it with their family and friends.
We provide a full concept design to execution process , which make us one stop shop when it comes to creating the space ideas after the initial customer visit . Then the design on specialized 3D software, then a online quote and approval system, permitting and finance , preparation and execution, commissioning and quality control , walkaround and project delivery .
This year 2023 we have added a new product to offer on our portfolio : pools . We will offer design , permits and construction on new pools , or pool remodelings , all because my clients having been asking me to get their pool done, so much is their trust after they get to know my work . So in the last year I started looking for pool professionals that I could bring and add to my team and this year we are ready for this new adventure as pool builders .

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Definitely the main source : trust from clients that I deliver on what was promised. The word of mouth has been my best source of customers – the majority of the work I get are from recommendations within the community . I do not do any direct marketing like ads or flyers, never had to.
I am always there for my team and my clients giving them answers, explaining the process, timelines , and also giving them opportunity to share their ideas and opinion, making it a interactive decision on the design and execution , having the customer being heard all the time a top priority .
My clients know that I’m on the projects all the time , checking every step , sending updates, informing of changes : this is very important for them to feel part of the process and to feel in peace that the person he or she hired is in charge , getting what they are paying for .

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think the best example of pivot is my wish to move from the core business that I started which was highly based on interior remodeling (in which I got my reputation on) into the outdoor patios and kitchens, in which I have found my calling . The interior business is something that still booms , but I have decided that I needed to really focus on my passion, and with that had to give up multiple interior projects that could have been very profitable to move my attention to developing the outdoor projects . Now I know it was the best decision for my business and for me .

Contact Info:

• Website: www.atdesign.homes
• Instagram: atdesign.homes
• Facebook: atdesign.homes

Image Credits
shinephotograph.media