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

Frances, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I had always been passionate about the creativity and innovation behind beautiful spaces since I was a little girl. My mother, grandmother and aunt are all incredibly artistic and have that effortless knack of creating a home with wonderful details. It was after my second child that I really started to consider changing careers and shifting into Interior Design. I knew I needed to garner more experience before taking the plunge, so I started small. I took on small furnishing and decorating projects while taking courses through the Interior Design Institute. I also took Sketchup and became certified. After gaining that knowledge and a little experience with various clients I started to feel more confident in my abilities to take on Interior Design full-time, however, I still feel there is so much more to learn. And I am here for it!

Some obstacles I still face are probably the intricacies of running a business (it’s more than just floorplans and fabrics!) and working for yourself. It’s not for the weary. Holding yourself accountable while also advocating for yourself and the value you bring to a client is essential and something you can’t really learn in a class. For me, I am really working on taking everything, good and bad, as a learning opportunity, and using that to move forward towards hopeful success.

Frances, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It’s a story you’ve heard a hundred times—a passion project turned career. But what makes this story different is the heart behind it. I have has always had a love for interiors and a knack for making a space shine. Whether she’s diligently studying every shelter magazine, book, or website or taking her time going aisle-by-aisle at an antique store, Frances is constantly on the hunt to find the unique.

After graduating from the Interior Design Institute and becoming Sketchup certified, she’s gone on to renovate several homes while working closely with her clients to thoughtfully create a space that perfectly suits their lifestyles and taste.

Hill House Interiors & Design offers personal and collaborative interior decorating to clients all over the country, or remotely from the comfort of your own home. Whatever your vision is, we can’t wait to help bring it to life!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had researched and relied more on financial guidance to really ensure a profitable business. Numbers have never been my strong suit, so understanding where your strengths and asking for help where you need it is important. In my creative journey, a stable foundation of capital and income would have been very beneficial in the beginning steps.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2019 I had my second child. The following year, I was recruited by a big airline to join their marketing team. I left my career of 9 years at Yelp to join said airline. That was early March 2020. Needless to say, I was let go, along with 50% of the marketing department, from the airline. I had two young children at home, no job, and a marriage on the rocks. I took on part-time work while trying to keep my sanity, marriage, and home in tact, however, by November 2020 I was separated and moving back in with my parents. It was then I decided to seriously consider starting an LLC and embark on the small business journey. I still continued to apply, and appy, and apply to find work full-time as a salary position, so I could continue to provide for my family and eventually own a home in Austin. I finally landed a job as a Product Marketing Manager for an e-commerce site only to be let go due to downsizing 6 months after I purchased a home. At this point, I had several residential design projects under my belt and could sufficiently promote a portfolio. So I made the scary but exciting decision to launch Hill House Interiors and Design full time in October 2023. It’s been about 7 months and there still scary and stressful days, but I am learning so much while creating spaces that bring happiness into a home. And that makes it all worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hhinteriorsanddesign.com/
• Instagram: @hhinteriorsanddesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frances-hill-40a55a13/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hill-house-interiors-and-design-austin?osq=Hill+House+Interiors+and+Design&override_cta=Request+a+consultation

Image Credits

Amy Corley Photography