We were lucky to catch up with Caroline Parrish recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Caroline thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

Short story long, some context on how became a Home Stager / Art Curator / Realtor / Blogger (because frankly, I didn’t realize I could be all those things at once until it actually happened!) My first job out of college was in Accenture’s management consulting practice, writing and designing corporate communications. I realized how much I loved being creative, and dreamed of one day using my creativity to help people on a more personal level. The world of consulting was filled with long days, late nights, work travel, and lots of “wining and dining” with clients. I wanted a lifestyle change that would give me more control over my schedule, time to cook my own meals, and to know that when the work day was done, I would get to sleep in my own bed at night. Ultimately, I was craving comfort and an outlet for my creativity.

My entrepreneurial journey began when I started working as a design consultant for small businesses shortly after getting married. At the same time, Charlie and I began to renovate our cottage built in 1942, which helped me realize that branding and color theory are just as important in a living room as they are in a boardroom! So I started to shift the focus of my design work towards interior design, and I also got my real estate license to understand the business side of the industry. I started a blog to document this journey, and as I was brainstorming a name, Comfort Is Created popped into my head. It felt like the perfect summary of what I was trying to achieve in my own life and share with the world, and it stuck!

Caroline, 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 am a home stager, art curator, realtor, and blogger. It’s a lot of hats to wear at once, but in my mind they make perfect sense together. Your home is an expression of who you are, and art is an expression of what you like. I love helping people find the place they want to call home, and I love helping them fill it with art that speaks to them. When I stage a house, I consider it a blank canvas that I get to fill with art and furniture that will help buyers imagine themselves living there. The blog ties everything together, documenting my journey and sharing some of the ideas that have worked for my clients. I also write a neighborhood spotlight series that highlights different pockets around DFW. One of the things I love most about living here is how diverse the different neighborhoods are. Whether you want to live on a lake or horse property, or in a house or condo that’s walking distance from shopping and restaurants, you can here. While I couldn’t articulate this as my “dream job” as a child, I really feel like I’m living the dream – I get to write about houses, art, and the city I love living in, all in a way that (I hope!) helps people feel more comfortable in their homes and inspires them to have fun exploring DFW.

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

Word of mouth! I’ve been staging houses for a little over a year, so I don’t have the same years of experience or level of inventory as many home stagers in the area. But we all have to start somewhere, and I bring a strong work ethic to the table. I do my best on every project, and I try to make each my best one yet. It’s been really fun to see the progress I have made over the past year in my portfolio (linked below) – seeing where I started, with my first listing that I staged using a combination of furniture I borrowed from my personal home and bought on Facebook Marketplace. It really blows my mind to see how much my vision and inventory have developed since then. And it’s been such a delight and an honor to keep getting better for the people who hire me, and to see them refer me to other people who I hope to do an even better job for.

https://comfortiscreated.com/portfolio

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I couldn’t do my job without the team that helps me do it, so I make an effort to be sure they feel respected and appreciated. I credit my entrepreneurial parents with teaching me to lead generously. Growing up, I watched them make decisions that prioritized their team over themselves, and it’s been lovely to watch their team take each other in return over the years. They work with an amazing group of people, but I think my parents deserve a little credit for setting the tone and leading with joyful, generous, and grateful hearts. It’s a beautiful example of the type of team I hope to build in my own business!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://comfortiscreated.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfortiscreated/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Comfort-Is-Created/61562016046349
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clhparrish/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@comfortiscreated
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@comfortiscreated

Image Credits

1: Norman & Young, 2-3: Photography By Spross, 4: Shoot2Sell Photography