Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Begonia Barbancho. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Begonia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

My partner and I have always fantasized about bringing a little bit of the Mediterranean culture to Austin, so around 2016, we gave it a try after completely renovating a house from the 1970s in San Antonio. This baby step was the beginning of LBF Homes. After that project, we continued with a few more renovations in San Antonio and a couple of new residential builds. We soon had the chance to build in Austin, and we took it. Our motto has always been “firm baby steps”. Fast forward today, LBF Homes develops new unique design residential homes and provides project management and design services for investors or custom home seekers.

Begonia, 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?

Hi y’all! My name is Begonia ( yes, like the flower), and I am originally from Barcelona, Spain. I co-own a boutique design-build company in Austin, TX.
In 2015 I moved to Austin after living in Shanghai, China, for three years. My complete transition to the design and construction world came a few years after working in a few local tech companies in the Customer Experience and Marketing department. After a while, I got burned out and realized I was not living up to my full potential in that career path.

My vocation has always been there, but I ignored it for years, trying (sometimes too hard) to fit into the corporate world or what others expected from me. This new path has fulfilled me in many ways, and I see myself working in the field as a lifetime career. I have no regrets about taking this chance and leaving my “safe” career path.

Building a house is a journey with many phases, and our goal is to provide a stress-free building experience for our clients from start to finish. After six years in business, we have the knowledge and resources to achieve it project after project.

Being a first-generation immigrant woman in a construction management position still brings unique and all-too-common challenges in a male-centric industry. While I do see more women joining the field, we are still a minority. Entering the construction industry can be challenging but extremely rewarding in so many ways. I am hopeful that more women will join this industry in the near future.

Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?

We started in the business as developers working exclusively on our new residential projects. As a boutique building company, we envision each new project independently, meticulously hand-picking each material, finish, and fixture to make the overall space functional, appealing, and timeless. It was only a matter of time before we started offering project management services to investors and individuals looking for a custom home builder, where we follow the same detail-oriented approach.

We carefully plan and monitor the progress from beginning to end, ensuring the effective management of the project’s budget, safety, schedule, scope, and function.

As someone born and raised in one of the European capitals of design, bringing a European-Mediterranean aesthetic to every design and project comes naturally to me. I enjoy integrating my roots in my design work in Austin, working with everything from natural colors to locally and imported sourced materials and vendors, all to help create inviting, timeless and functional spaces. Earlier this year, I publicly opened my design consultation services after being approached several times by other builders and investors to fulfill their design needs.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing various groups of contractors and independent workers is a big part of my daily routine- one that I find both challenging and simultaneously rewarding. My parents in Barcelona were entrepreneurs, and since I was a child, I have seen the dedication and effort it takes to keep your business running daily.

Your team and the people you surround yourself with are the keys to your success, they have taught me, and as a manager, you need to be very intentional about it.

If you treat your colleagues with respect, value their time, and acknowledge their effort, you will receive passion and dedication in their work. Most people don’t assume they are doing a great job and need to hear it often to stay motivated. Communication is crucial, and opening the line of communication both ways makes all the difference in managing an effective and efficient team.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lbfhomes.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lbfhomes
• Other: Interior Design Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by_begonia_

Image Credits
– Bridget Daehler – TK Images