We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christy B. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christy below.
Christy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?
Frequently, my clients become my friends. We form a close relationship during the design and building of their home, and that trust grows. I usually become their design consigliere for years after and I’m happy to answer random questions that pop up. Sometimes, they get so comfortable they forget that I’m not just their friend, I started as their designer! Such was the case with a client I had known for years that had decided to embark on a bathroom remodel on her own. I answered her calls and questions and supported her on the journey as best I could, in a friend capacity. Honestly, it never bothered me that she hadn’t hired me for the work, it just was difficult hearing how bad of an experience she was having. One day, I guess the lightbulb went off and she called this time not to ask for advice, but to ask me to please come take-over the job! It wasn’t the first time I had been in the situation, it happens so often I’ve dubbed it “rescue renovations.” We got her project sorted out within a few weeks, providing a complete design packet for the contractor, plumbing shipping list, tile selections, and solving a window location challenge that the contractor hadn’t been able to figure out. After that, she swore she’d never do another project without me and she’s been good to her word – I’ve even designed a renovation on the other side of the country for her! It gives me such satisfaction to know that the work I do is valued and the relationships I create with my clients are meaningful.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Although I come from an Arts & History of Architecture background, my real education in home design and interiors has been learned “in the trenches” of remodeling projects. I did a lot of hands-on work in the beginning which sets me apart from most designers today. I’m very autodidactic so anytime there was an opportunity to refinish a piece of furniture or sew new drapes, I was doing it myself so I could learn. I went on to work for companies that built custom cabinetry and I learned kitchen design that way. I taught myself the SketchUp software, which we primarily use today for our 2D and 3D drawings. I even worked as a construction manager for a design-build firm and was the primary contact for organizing the sub-trades on remodeling projects. All those experiences led me to develop my own firm where I could focus on creating the type of experience I saw missing from the design-build industry in general. I wanted to be in control of the relationship with the client because I knew what frustrations and worries they were having and maybe even past negative experiences they had with builders or designers. It’s an ambitious goal to want to change this industry, but so worthwhile because I also know firsthand how impactful the work we do is in people’s lives. Part of our mission statement is, “to lead our valued clients through the design-build process with integrity and excellence …” so that is what I strive for every day.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Before I accepted myself as a design professional, I was making a pretty good business providing professional organizing services. Clients would hire me to come to their home or office and help them sort through their clutter and develop new organizing systems to keep them on track. Many of these organizing projects grew over into design-related work, which was ultimately what put me on the design path. In fact, my first renovation project was because I had helped a client organize her whole home and once we were finished she could finally imagine fixing it up – it was such a rewarding experience! However, not all organizing projects went this way, and often, the clients couldn’t adapt to the new organizing systems, leaving me feeling like I was just spinning my wheels and not creating real change for them. They relied on me to keep them organized, and although I felt needed, I did not feel creatively fulfilled. I struggled for a while with the idea of pivoting my business to only design work. I worried about leaving clients behind that depended on me, but ultimately, my growth had to be prioritized and I know now that I’m doing what I’m meant to do and having the most positive impact I can.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
By far, my favorite way to stimulate my entrepreneurial brain is to listen to the “How I Built This” podcast with Guy Roz. It is so fascinating and inspiring to listen to the stories behind some of the biggest names and brands in business. I love how different everyone’s journey is and it reminds me that there is never a singular “right” way to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.christyb.com
- Instagram: @christybhome
- Facebook: @christybhome
Image Credits
Christopher Lee Photo