We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Courtney Petrin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Courtney, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s go back in time a bit – can you share a story of a time when you learned an important lesson during your education?
I didn’t grow up thinking I was going to be a business owner.
In fact I was a pretty creative somewhat introverted child. I didn’t have much confidence. Then in my teenage years I struggled even more with confidence. I was pretty shy and insecure as we all often are. It was all confounded by a lot of trauma and abuse that really followed me.
Fast forward to my 20s figuring out who I was and taking the school to career path of life. I majored in clinical psychology. I have never taken an interior design class.
I use psychology more today then I ever did working in the direct field.
I gained so much confidence in working and in graduate school. Despite this being my second career; Those 8 years I don’t regret. It helped me realize I was an intelligent woman. A capable woman. It was really the first time in my life adults believed in me. My value wasn’t based on my looks, or my ability to please someone. It was the first time I was good enough. That my voice and my opinion held value. That creative thinking, that intelligence was welcomed. It was like family in a sense. I can’t say enough how my professors impacted me. How people can shape you. The lessons they taught me. Most of all; that I can make an impact on people,
Then into my 30s realizing what I want. What I want my life to be.
I realized more and more that I didn’t want other people determining my worth. I didn’t want others telling me when I was ready. I didn’t want others telling me when I deserved a raise. I definitely didn’t want others telling me who and how I should work with people. It’s truly not an ego thing but really I lost some trust in the system.
The system of putting money before human beings, the system where people use their own agendas to get ahead. The system that doesn’t listen to the very people on the front lines. I was exposed to the other side where systems are challenged and opinions are valued.
I was pretty burnt out from the mental health field as a whole.
I truly didn’t think any of this would lead me to become a business owner or designer.
I realized I wanted to use my creative skills more and pair my knowledge of people with it.
Now I manage client alignment. I determine when I’m ready for a project. I determine my self worth, I determine where our business goes. I determine how I earn an income. I determine how people and a team are treated. I say no to people and projects that do not value me or serve our business. I drive the business and vision.
I never feel as though 8 years in clinical psychology were the wrong path. 8 years of interior design would’ve never allowed me to built the confidence I have and the people skills I’ve formed.
This is a client first business and I always feel so much of my success stems from those formative years.
Courtney, 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 own and operate a design and renovation company with my husband. We specialize in partial to full home and commercial interior design and remodeling. We are skilled at customizing homes to clients needs, style and season in life. We are very proud of the fact that we create uniquely curated homes that still feel timeless. We provide a full turn key service and one stop shop.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
We started our business by purchasing a property to flip in Bradenton Florida. We sold our home in Massachusetts and used that profit to start our business. We lived in our travel trailer with our newborn baby here in Florida and started our business. We sacrificed a lot to make it work.
How’d you meet your business partner?
My business partner Carlin and I met when we were both 16 in high school. We both always shared a passion for home design and renovation. We renovated and designed two personal homes together before we started our business together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.savannahshomeanddesign.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/savannahs_home_and_design?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Savannahs-Home-and-Design-LLC-159033128355174/
Image Credits
Beckah Lee Photography