We were lucky to catch up with Aubrey Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Aubrey, thanks for joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?
“The Man” by Taylor Swift.
I remember the first time I listened to the iconic song with the iconic line: “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I’d get there quicker if I were a man.” (I’m a big Taylor Swift fan)
I never thought I’d be in a work environment dominated by men…not in a million years.
Don’t get me wrong; I love men, but I know from a societal standpoint finding yourself in the trenches of specific, less adaptive environments as a woman can sometimes illuminate the challenges which still exist and reinforce the certainty that it’s entirely up to us to evolve our present day.
Here are a few things I’ve learned from just the past three years:
1. Many will talk at you, not to you (my skin has gotten thicker): Questions go unanswered, and ideas remain unacknowledged, but you must persist.
2. Knowledge is power: You need to be able to walk into any room and challenge what’s being said about your project in a way that makes people forget that you’re a young woman and take you seriously.
3. Speak up & ask questions: without fear of looking inexperienced (they are going to assume you are anyways)
4. Don’t view other women as competitors: focus on you; these women may turn out to be your biggest advocates & supporters
5. Work your a** off, take pride in what you do, and remember why you started: work your a** off every day, especially if you’re new to the job, and, eventually, no one will be questioning your ability to do the job in a male-dominated field.
6. Never lose your confidence: The second you start second-guessing yourself is the second you fail.
I now understand that the most critical reason I am in this position is to provide a unique perspective. I must embrace my view and, most importantly, unapologetically share my perspective.
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’m a central Ohio girl born and raised. My passion in this lifetime is love, connection, empathy, and supporting others.
I strive to live my life as a masterful creator; I love seeing my ideas come to life. This is why my career has been so fun and fulfilling. Magical things happen around me when I’m lit up in what I’m doing.
My job title is Project Coordinator and Lead Interior Designer. As an independent contractor, I work for @aisrenovationsltd, my family’s 32-year-old home remodeling company. We build additions and remodel bathrooms, kitchens, basements; you name it.
I never pictured myself working in this career; in fact, I was supposed to be a veterinarian, according to “Aubrey’s Life Plan,” but it turns out that the universe had other plans for me.
I grew up on a farm, showing horses nationally, and I always loved all types of animals. I went to school to become a vet and worked in the agricultural field for two years as an “Animal Behavior Specialist” at a Humane Society and a “Farm Hand/Breeder” at a Standardbred horse farm.
Boy, was I miserable. I spent my entire life working for this career and hated it. I have never been so depressed and misaligned. The number of traumatic animal cases I would see daily would have me coming home as an emotionless zombie.
I was so lost and depressed, but I didn’t think there was a way out; I had exhausted all my time and money to be in this career.
Luckily, in a series of unfortunate events, my Dad called me home one day to let me know that my grandmother was passing away and the family business was struggling to stay afloat. I took this as my way out; I moved home (thinking it was just temporary), helping out the business in the little ways I could.
I eventually realized, “damn, I’m good at this…”, which I hated to admit because I swore, I wanted nothing to do with the family business. I wanted to be “different.”
My career and calling were under my nose my entire life; it took me 24 years to realize it. Humans can be stubborn; I suppose we need to figure it out for ourselves.
I now love to work and love the work I do.
Every day I’m cultivating dream spaces for people in my community. Building spaces that reflect who they are and align them to their highest purpose.
I have big plans to one day have my own studio/firm/decor one-stop shop that combines Feng Shui & remodeling.
I believe that our spaces reflect who we are and who we become.
Change your space=Change your life.
My designs are for those seeking sacred and curated spaces that convey feelings of warmth and belonging. I approach design differently than most, and many might call it “Holistic Interior Design.”
The holistic interior design approach considers the health of the mind, body, and soul of people as it comes to the process of designing the interior of a building to achieve and maintain a state of wellness.
It’s all about balancing the energy of a space in a way that reflects my client’s spirit and everyday needs. (how beautiful is that?!!)
Holistic interior design gives me purpose and a way to help others heal.
Whether it is to heal them from a long day of work by boosting their mood, making relaxation easier, or finally creating a space to help them make the time for that hobby, they’ve been interested in.
Everything is a divine expression. You, me, and what we create.
Finding the sweet spot where what I do naturally is in service to helping others live their best life is a dream come true.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I consider the health of my clients’ mind, body, and soul in interior design.
It’s all about balancing the energy of a space in a way that reflects my client’s spirit and everyday needs.
This gives me purpose and a way to help others heal.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
25% of the time, my clients don’t like what I present.
I’m used to spending hours on a project and people picking it apart.
Most of the time, it’s those who have no inspiration for the space and not a clue what they like.
A good client typically likes being involved and providing me with clear guidance on what they’re looking for.
Presenting my design is a conversation that goes something like this:
“I went this route after that conversation we had….”
“This piece came from one of your ideas in our first meeting….”
“I chose this color because I thought it would resonate well with your lifestyle.”
I make sure we feel like a team; everyone likes being a part of the team and the conversation.
Sometimes, I must swallow the pill and get the job done even when a design idea goes against my likes and inclinations.
At the end of the day, it’s not my design. It’s theirs.
I will always express my professional advice but never force anyone into something they dislike.
I will always:
-not take feedback personally
-acknowledge their concerns
-consider their feedback
-get clarification
I present my designs confidently and demonstrate how they align with my client’s objectives, which instills trust.
This construction stuff is challenging, and it will take more than one idea, design, and meeting to ensure the project is correct.
Above all, it takes patience and trust between the client and the designer.
My feedback on reviews is always how responsive I am, how good I am at communicating and how the client felt SEEN.
If you listen close enough, the client will tell you exactly how to sell to them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sacred.spacesco
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/aubreyreneedavis
Image Credits
All images are mine!