We were lucky to catch up with Anne Stirland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Anne, appreciate you joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

I’d always wanted to be an interior designer; even wanted to switch to a trade tech school in high school to do it but my parents insisted I graduate and go to college (glad they did!). Got my B.A in English and German, and began my career in HR and then Executive Assisting. Throughout college and the s”single life” I’d often rearrange the furniture or reorganize every cabinet in the apartment just to keep the creative juices from melting away. It wasn’t until I was married and FINALLY had my own home, where I could actually make all the design decisions, that my love if the craft was set free. Almost! Having only been married a few months when we built our first home (a townhouse) I was more willing to compromise on the initial design decisions where my husband had stronger-bearded Welsh-redheaded voice in what he wanted; dark flooring, dark cabinets, and dark counters. I made my design mark in the less permanent things where I could change them whenever I wanted easily and as often as I wanted. I started with our pantry. Not willing to commit to a permanent design element, I discovered peel and stick wallpaper and plastered every wall between each shelf. Like a sneaky lining on a suit coat or a sole on the shoe, that little closet of a pantry was a spark of personality in our home and I loved it. Friends and family would get a peek when they were over and asked me to do the same in their homes. Fast forward past COVID and 2 kids – we moved across the city to a new home where my husband gave up all design decisions in exchange for getting his dream lot size saying “I have seen you make a home now so go for it.” Walls got unique elements, light fixtures got spunk, rugs and curtains had color, and the half-bath got a bold peacock wallpaper. While we were finishing our basement, an interior designer friend mentioned I should start my own wallpaper installation business. “Nah!” I said. Weeks later, a wallpaper installer friend saw the bathroom and my photos of other spaces I’d done with peel and stick and gave that same advice, “start your own peel and stick wallpaper installation business. We get calls daily for that medium and we won’t touch it”. Two voices independently saying the same thing was enough of a push. A.M Haus Designs was official within the weekend. The hardest part being choosing a name. Almost harder than naming my own kids…had the bearded redhead’s opinion on those but this business was all mine. Using a pivotal part of my childhood – growing up in Germany – as the framework, with the word “Haus” meaning house or home, and the 2 names I’ve had since birth – Anne Marie – as the identifier, the business became a part of the family. My goal being to inspire every client towards their next design project. Whether that be to hang the funky picture they bought on a trip, paint a whole room blue, or rearrange their bedroom again. The wallpaper project I do becomes an extension of their home’s soul and I want the client to get the excitement to do the NEXT thing. I plan to grow the business into full interior design company to replace my 9-5 job so I have full control over my availability and schedule so I can be full-time mom with a spunky business to accentuate my personality. As I say to every client – Let me being some HAUS to your home.

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

My specialty is Peel and Stick Wallpaper installation and Accent walls but I won’t stop there. If, as I’m chatting with the client in the wallpaper selection or Installation phase of their project, I learn they aren’t sure what to do next, often having exhausted their own creative juices with the spunky wallpaper, I’ll give design suggestions and help them get to the next step or get up the energy again. Many rooms, the client will have me do a full redesign and finish it all, while others love the tips and finish the shopping themselves. I come in for wallpaper but will stay for the full room when desired.

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

Having the traditional wallpaper installer willing to pass me the Peel and Stick client calls they get. Also my own friends and family needing wallpaper but not wanting the mess and hassle of the glue wallpaper.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Brand marketing and small business accounting. Luckily, the wallpaper installer and interior design friends suggested the financial/accounting tool they like to get me jumpstarted. And a client who happened to be in social media marketing gave me the kick in the pants I needed to get my face out on my Instagram account so potential clients can see the personality behind the craft. Them, I won a giveaway for a brand marketing consultation which helped me hone what could be my next step to keep my business growing – fine-tuning my website and adding a client contract to be protect my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: Amhausdesigns.com
• Instagram: A.m.haus_designs
• Facebook: A.M Haus Designs
• Other: Thumbtack: A.M Haus Designs