We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shelby Adamson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shelby, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I know that each person in this life wants to be able to make a difference, I think it is in our human nature to want our legacy to live on beyond us.

If there is a legacy that I could leave, it would be my faith, and that it is something that you can make known and be proud of. I feel that especially in this industry it is so easy to have your head get ‘lost in the clouds’, faith is that pillar that not only keeps you grounded but also gets you through when stress levels are high and economic times are uncertain.

There are so many hallmarks of faith that also make a leader in the field. Honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Leading with these characteristics, strengthened by faith, are what I believe makes me a strong leader and upstanding business owner.

Shelby, 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 always knew I wanted to be an interior designer, but I was overwhelmed by the talents in the industry and honestly a bit self-conscious of being able to follow this career path and succeed. I started on the showroom side, from there I worked with a home stager and also helped builders in with specifications when investing in properties to turn. I believe I brought a high end look on a smaller planned investment. From there I worked at a boutique design firm and then during COVID launched Little Black Fox.

I have patience when working with my clients, really assessing the room as a whole, be it the living room, kitchen, or bath, I want to create a space customized to their needs that feels beautiful and timeless. Every detail thought out and mulled over. I find out how my clients live and work to create a space that is fluid with their lifestyle, a livable space that is not only beautiful but functional.

I think the fact that I get bored easily works well in this field, I have seen the trends, come and go, and I want to give my clients a design that is ahead of the curve. I want to set them apart from the mass trends, so when they renovate or design their room, they not only love it NOW but 5 to 10 years from now.

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

Starting your own business is hard. Many see that you have the power to set your schedule, and you do, and that freedom is amazing. But what a lot of people do not see are the long hours worked, you may see someone take off a lunch on a Friday but you don’t see them working until 10pm or later Monday through Saturday. Waking early to tweak that presentation or prep for the next days’ installation.

There are times when the phone doesn’t ring, and the emails slow. This is when you lean into faith, and you do something towards your business, each day, to keep the machine running. As a business owner you learn fast what is worth the investments and what is not. Where the investments pan out, and where you realize that you made a mistake and you take another route. A wonderful mentor once told me, if you can see each mistake as a lesson, you will succeed, and you will also have gratitude for those hurdles in your life.

My business is my baby, and in the slow or down times I turn to educating myself or finding a way to utilize my time towards the community. This not only works to better your community and gain exposure for the company, but you are also giving back, which I feel every business should do.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I always pray for clarity. But I believe, in my line of business, truly find where your heart lies, and follow that path to a career. I also find that the most successful businesses are ones that create a solution to a common problem.

Everyone wants to be successful, but not everyone is willing to be flexible and pivot. I think revisiting, reassessing, and reevaluating your goals is a continual practice. My goals today may slightly differ from the goals that I set when I started my company 3-1/2 years ago, and that is ok!

I want to inspire others; I want to show them that interior design can be life changing! There is a psychology to it. And I also want to invite clients into my company and my life that not only I can help but that I can learn from and that can help elevate me as a designer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.littleblackfoxdesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleblackfoxdesign/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=little%20black%20fox
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-adamson-33b1357/

Image Credits
Photo credits: Christina Wedge Sophie Lindler Rustic White