We caught up with the brilliant and insightful April Littmann a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, April thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

Our business started off as my husband/business partner and me. We both wore all hats in the business for almost 3 years before we took the leap to hire. I think learning how to do all aspects of your business is essential for success. Learning the not-so-exciting roles and learning what you do not excel at helps you understand where you should hire first within your company. Our first two hires were contract employees – a bookkeeper and a contract interior designer who helps with all aspects of the design process. We still work with those two people today and they both are wonderful. Those interview processes were more casual and over the phone.
Our next hire was for a part-time position who happened to be a friend and our most recent hire has moved into a full-time position. It’s been exciting to see the growth within our company, growth that has felt fast, but at the same time slow in terms of when we could afford to hire the needed help.
Our interview process was somewhat formal during that. My business partner also works a full-time job in the corporate world, and he helped us navigate the process based on his experience. I remember meeting with our new employee in our newly unfurnished office space and feeling that I hoped she took a chance on us just as she was hoping we would take the chance on her.

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

Neighbor Interiors was founded by award-winning interior designer April Littmann with the sole mission to provide exceptional client service while designing intriguing spaces and luxury homes. Our style can be described as a blend of transitional and modern design elements. With over 10 years of industry experience, the Neighbor Interiors team focuses on all aspects of full-service residential interior design as well as multi-family developments. Every client is treated with warmth and consideration as they are thoughtfully guided through the interior design process to create the home of their dreams. From professional drawings and renderings to clear communication with craftspeople, Neighbor Interiors values collaboration with others to ensure a beautiful and functional design that will stand up to the test of time. What makes their team especially unique is not only their personable approach to interior design but their diverse portfolio that covers projects from Dallas to Houston. Our team was awarded the Luxe 2021 Red Awards along with multiple ASID awards for excellence in interior design.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Our business name, Neighbor Interiors, isn’t just a simple name to us. When my husband and I were developing the business, a lot of business names came to mind. Even my own first name – the majority of design firms are named after the business founder. However, we wanted to build a business and a brand that focused on creating a reputation for being friendly, approachable, and having a servant attitude towards every client. I think our name alone sparks interest in our market along with our dedication to remaining true to our mission of serving others.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Being in a luxury industry, the economy plays an important role in how busy our business can or cannot be. It has been important to remain resilient and positive through every up and down along the way. We have experienced multiple large projects being put on hold all at once and as disappointing as that was, by remaining positive and continuing to focus on our mission, we have overcome these situations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.neighborinteriors.com
• Instagram: @neighborinteriors.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neighborinteriors/

Image Credits
Nathan Schroder Photography Adam Littmann Photography