We recently connected with Nicole Francis and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Oh, there have been so many risks that I have had to take for my business and social platforms. However, the biggest risk was simply starting my account. It’s so scary putting yourself, your family, and your home for all the world to see. I was a new mom, who just quit my teaching career to stay at home with my little gal. I was dealing with postpartum anxiety and always loved to decorate, we were building our new home and had so many ideas for the direction I wanted to take our builder-grade home in and I just needed something for me. I talked to my husband about setting up an account and I remember the night I started setting it up that “If I can just get to 500 followers, then I can do this”. Looking back, three years later, I chuckle to myself at that 500 number. At the time, it felt so daunting. Why would 500 people want to follow me? What do I have that is so special? But in all honesty, I’ve learned that people come around for a great idea and then stay for you! Your personality, your spin on ideas, and your style are what they want to see. The scariest risk was simply starting, but little by little you start to get your rhythm and your confidence in this “new” thing and then it becomes second nature and something you truly love to do.
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?
Absolutely, I’d be delighted to share more about myself and my journey.
My name is Nicole Francis, born and raised in Utah, and I am the passionate creator behind 1776 Faux Farmhouse. My venture into this world of creativity and home transformation started when my husband, Michael, and I built a builder-grade house while I was pursuing my Elementary Education degree. It was this experience that ignited my love for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, decorating, and design. Later, as I transitioned from a fourth-grade teacher to a stay-at-home mom, my passion for DIY projects became more than just a hobby—it transformed into my self-care regimen and my “me time”.
The idea of 1776 Faux Farmhouse came when we realized that our existing house was too small to accommodate our expanding family, including our pet dog and cat their various paraphernalia, and of course, our newborn, Little Miss. After countless home tours and meetings with local real estate agents, Michael and I knew that we would not be able to find the type of home we wanted in our area, so we decided to create our dream home ourselves. This led to us taking on a home transformation project that was significantly bigger than anything we’d done before.
1776 Faux Farmhouse is all about showing people that a home is what YOU make it. Just because you start with a builder-grade home doesn’t mean it can’t be custom-made. Through my platform, I demonstrate that with a little elbow grease, hard work, and a dash of creativity, anyone can transform their home one project at a time, into a unique and custom-made living space.
What sets 1776 Faux Farmhouse apart is our genuine approach to DIY and home design. We are living proof that it’s possible to create a home that reflects who you are without needing an extensive budget or professional expertise. This journey has been a family affair, making us stronger as a unit, and has shown us the value of teamwork.
The aspect of my work that I am most proud of is the community that has been built around 1776 Faux Farmhouse. It’s a space where inspiration is expressed, the reality is shared, and where everyone can find actionable, affordable ideas for enhancing their living spaces.
To potential followers, I want you to know that 1776 Faux Farmhouse is not just about home transformations, but it’s about the journey, the experience, and the joy of creating something unique and personal. The journey might be filled with challenges and it might be scary to take that first step, but the rewards are far greater than any initial fears.
Remember, every great journey begins with a single step, so pick up that paintbrush, tighten that screw, and join me in the fulfilling world of DIY home transformations!
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Building an audience on social media has been an incredible journey for me. When I first began sharing my DIY home transformations and design ideas, I was simply documenting our family’s journey from a builder-grade house to a custom-made home. The initial intent was to show our family and friends what we were doing, and I never anticipated the positive response and the growth that was to come.
I believe authenticity played a crucial role in building my audience. The content I share isn’t just about the end result, but also about the process. I share the challenges we face, the small victories we achieve along the way, and the joy and satisfaction that comes with completing a project. I think this resonates with my audience as they can see the real and unfiltered process behind each transformation.
Building an audience requires consistent effort and engagement. I made sure to regularly post content and also to interact with my followers. Responding to comments, asking for feedback, and engaging in discussions can help build a strong and interactive community.
As for advice to those just starting to build their social media presence, my top suggestion would be to remain authentic and true to yourself. Your content should reflect who you are and what you stand for. People appreciate honesty and genuineness, and it will help you form a connection with your audience. Sharing my mistakes has really helped build that connection with my audience. It shows that I don’t always know what I am doing and the resilience of working through those moments of mistakes helps my audience to know they can do that too!
Your biggest asset with social media is the community aspect. Build your community! Engage with your followers, respond to their comments, and appreciate their feedback. Please don’t be discouraged by slow growth. Building an audience takes time and patience. Staying dedicated and committed to your brand and message is important. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with persistence and hard work, your audience will grow.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
Yes, what started as a side hustle to document our home transformation journey turned into a full-time business, and it’s been quite the adventure.
As I began to share our journey online, we found that people were not only interested in our projects but were also seeking advice, tips, and inspiration for their own homes. Our page was not just a platform to share our DIY endeavors; it became a community where people could express their creativity and find affordable ideas for enhancing their homes.
The real turning point came when we started analyzing my audience’s response. Michael and I spent countless nights figuring out what resonated with our audience and what didn’t. We found their feedback through posts’ engagement, understood their needs, and used this to guide our content creation.
One of the significant milestones in this journey was when I hit 100k followers in September 2022. This was a validation of our work and a testament to the power of authenticity, hard work, and engagement with our community. It was also around this time that we realized the potential of what we had started and decided to scale it up.
In May of 2023, I hit 200K followers, another incredible milestone that we are both very proud of. However, what truly makes us proud is the community we’ve built, the transformations we’ve inspired, and the fact that we’ve turned our passion into a thriving business.
Today, what started as a side hustle is my full-time business. It’s more than just a job; it’s a way of life that has made me a better mom, wife, and person. I am so grateful for the journey thus far, and I am excited about where it’s heading. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1776fauxfarmhouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1776fauxfarmhouse/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1776fauxfarmhouse
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolefrancis22/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVLfRm0RnsGNqYGzjPmK2eg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@1776fauxfarmhouse?lang=en
Image Credits
Victoria Harris Photography