We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Brooks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole, appreciate you joining 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?

When I was thinking about the name for my company, I wanted something that represented me, while feeling different, but also incorporating the purpose of the business into the title. At first I thought about my name, but Nicole Brooks is a popular name, Brooks as a last name especially, and it just didn’t sounds that exciting. Since my business is interior decorating, I started thinking about where I developed my since of style and what home felt like. I thought about my home growing up. I thought about my parents. They loved entertaining, there was always music and art, an interesting story behind different pieces, and most importantly, they created a warm and loving environment that just felt like home. Their names are John Wesley and Sharon Jean. I thought it would be nice to pay homage to them, as they were the ones who instilled my sense of home. OF course my taste and style has developed and evolved as I’ve gotten older, but the root what makes a house a home comes from them.

Nicole, 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?

About Me: As a Marketing executive with 15 years of experience across integrated marketing & communications roles, creativity has always been important to me. However, over the last few years, I started asking myself what else? I love my job, but I felt it couldn’t be the only descriptor of me. During Covid, it felt like there was a societal shift from girl boss and hustle mentality, to what’s my passion and people going after what they want. I wasn’t to existential crisis level yet, but I had been craving a creative outlet for some time and couldn’t put my finger on what it was. I’ve always been interested in décor, art, traveling and a well curated vibe, but considered it just a hobby for me. At the same time, I was seeing people launch brands and businesses, and I was inspired yet terrified. I love decorating and always receive compliments on my home, but was intimidated over my “lack” of formal training. After overthinking it and with the support and urging of my friends to just go for it, I launched Wesley Jean Interiors in June 2023.

What we do:
Wesley Jean Interiors is a décor and interior styling brand that offers design consultations, project management and installations.

My design approach:
When I think about home, it’s not only the décor and what fills the space, but it’s also a feeling. It’s like a warm hug, a safety-net, a place where you are comfortable to be yourself and at ease. With Wesley Jean Interiors, I help curate style on a budget or find splurge worthy pieces worth the investment. I enjoy helping clients find pieces to speak to their personality and what’s right for their home.

I think the most important element to my approach is my ability to listen. Not everyone is a bohemian and or loves modern, but I work with my clients to define a style and aesthetic that is right for them and their budget.

My design aesthetic
I consider myself modern romantic bohemian. I like mixed textures and nostalgic one-of-a-kind pieces from my travels or stumbled upon places. I love plants, patterns and prints, mixed with neutral’s.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Are there any resources I wish I knew about earlier in my creative journey? The truth is I’m still in the early stages of my creative journey as I launched my brand just under a year ago. It doesn’t feel like there’s a rule book on how to do it and trust yourself enough to put your art out there, while still trying to make money-other than just doing it. Social media, podcasts, blogs and Architectural Digest have helped inspire me, but it can also feel like information overload and sometimes a bit romanticized. What I wish there were more conversations about is the entrepreneurial aspect of it. How to set your prices, how to incorporate CTA’s in your social without sounding too pushy or even the frequency you should be following up with clients. I know a lot of learnings will come with trail and error and time, or from the insights of a small business/entrepreneurial coaches, but that would require enough money to pay for their services or to even know that you need a coach and where to find them. What I’ve struggled with is how to go from hobby to monetizing a brand.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect for me is when a client truly loves their home and appreciates the work I’ve done. I consider my home a sanctuary, and to be able to help create that for someone else is a great feeling. As an Interior Decorator, it’s about helping your client find what’s right for them and it’s very rewarding to be able to deliver that experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: wesleyjeaninteriors.com
• Instagram: Wesley Jean Interiors

Image Credits
Natasha Campos for all photos