We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Niki Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Niki below.

Niki, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

If I were starting over today, I would start by hiring a talented designer to work with me as soon as I can. When I started my business, I was wearing all the hats; designer, marketer, bookkeeper, procurement, and client management. Now, almost 5 years in, I see how having a team has enabled me to be the creative director and face of my brand.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I was born & raised in Raleigh, NC and originally attended UNC Chapel Hill as a pre-med student, only to realize that the business of medicine was not for me. After some soul searching, I realized that interior design was the perfect mix of the technical process—technology and principles of design—that spoke to both the designer and scientist in her and would allow me to create a tangible, visible final product that would treat both me and my clients to world-class design.

Soon after completing my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, I enrolled at Meredith College in Raleigh where she completed a BS in Interior Design and have been immersed in the industry ever since!

I spent the first five years of my design career in Atlanta, GA. That is where I started as an intern for a residential design firm and moved into working as a production assistant for HGTV. I learned how to produce interior design content for TV. In 2011, I put my knowledge to the test as a featured designer on HGTV’s “Design Wars,” then, in 2013, she joined the design team for the Emmy award-winning show, “Elbow Room.”

My experiences in Atlanta taught me a great deal about interior design, but I ultimately decided to move back to Raleigh to continue developing stronger professional opportunities and to connect with my family and loved ones regularly. I settled back into life in Raleigh, where I was grateful to be near my family and the local housing market that is booming. I joined a small design firm that introduced her to the multi-family market, which gave her a valuable blend of commercial and residential work experience.

In 2018, I launched my own design firm which serves both residential and commercial clients in the Raleigh area and beyond.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One day in 2014 I lost 90% of my eyesight suddenly, which led me to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Talk about a wake-up call and catalyst moment! I went from feeling generally healthy to not being able to see the street in front of me while driving in a matter of hours and from that day on I went through an intense process to recover my eyesight and find a new regimen for managing this incurable disease.

Now, 8 years later, I am confidently living with MS and not allowing it to stop me from living my best life and serving my clients at the highest level.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that you have to work A LOT to make a LOT. I think we were all taught this, to a certain degree, but in actuality, learning to work in your zone of genius while delegating the rest is the key to financial wins. By focusing on what I do best and trusting my instincts, my work is way more valuable.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mcneillbrowninteriors.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mcneillbrowninteriors
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mcneillbrownint
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikimcneill/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikimcneill

Image Credits
Breakfast Nook – Alonzo Dining Room, Chair Nook – Catherine Nguyen Photography Bedroom – Images by Amber Robinson Photo of me – Images by Amber Robinson