Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Hancock.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Hancock.
Brittany, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
While I have always had a love and passion for interior design, I took a bit of a winding path to get where I am today. I grew up in a real estate family and anticipated following suit. Eventually, I realized that the part of my job that brought me the most joy was helping our clients make changes to their home to prepare them for sale or helping buyers see the potential in a fixer-upper. It was then that I decided to move in a new direction. I took a position with a flooring and design company. I learned so much about project management and the ins and outs of running a small business. I knew I was getting close to where I needed to be. While I enjoyed what I was doing, I wanted more; More project involvement, more creative license, more opportunity to take the “before” to the “after”. It was then that I decided to enroll in courses with the Interior Design Institute. Working full time during the day, getting firsthand experience and learning the finer points of interior design at night and on weekends was a bit draining, but I had never been so excited and sure I was on the right road.
During this period, I had the opportunity to meet and network with other small business owners and entrepreneurs who encouraged me to step out on my own in starting B Home Design and guided me on my path. One of these amazing business owners is David Aguirre, owner of The Paint Guru. He had a long-running connection with another interior designer, Letia Young of White Dog Interiors, who had been working successfully in San Diego for many years. He encouraged me to meet with her to pick her brain on getting my own business off the ground.
Letia and I hit it off immediately. She was so kind and transparent during our first meeting, It was clear that she was incredibly talented and a wealth of knowledge and experience. When Letia found herself overbooked on projects she brought me in to handle the overflow. It was a business match made in Heaven and we have been tackling remodel projects all over North County San Diego ever since! I am finally fulfilling my purpose and passion. I truly love what I do.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When it came to interior design, I would have told anyone in a heartbeat that I would love to get into the field.
My biggest challenge was getting out of my own way. I started out not knowing how to get where I wanted to go. Once I figured that out, I wasn’t sure if I could do it. Could I be an interior designer? Could I start my own business? Can I really do this and do it well? There was a lot of doubt and uncertainty at the beginning. There will always be doubt and uncertainty. That’s just part of owning your own business. Learning to embrace that and keep pushing forward has been my greatest struggle and accomplishment
There was, of course, the struggle to balance work and personal life. Having a business and a family can be challenging at times, especially in the first year of business. I was working all hours trying to get everything in place for my company, managing ongoing projects and drumming up a new business. Coming home to my husband and kids and being truly present for them when I was running on fumes wasn’t ideal. Luckily for me, my entire extended family was incredibly loving and supportive as I figured out how to smooth out all of the bumps and reminded me to take care of myself too. I also had great relationships with other business people who are leaps and bounds smarter than I am. Being able to go to them for guidance and services was invaluable during that launch period.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the B Home Design story. Tell us more about the business.
When I started B Home Design, there were a few things I knew I wanted to be at the core of my business. My clients have to come first, and as fun as it is to make things beautiful, beauty without function has no place in a home. It has always been important to me that my personal tastes and style not dictate the design of a client’s home. Every client’s ideas and preferences should be heard and incorporated wherever possible. I feel that keeping this at the forefront of each remodel has made me much more well rounded as a designer and keeps my designs from growing safe and repetitive.
I partner on all of my remodel projects with Letia Young of White Dog Interiors. Our clients receive the benefit of having two designers and project managers tackling their project. Along with our team of talented subcontractors, we are able to handle our client’s remodel from start to finish. They have one point of contact from beginning to end, cutting down on confusion and inevitable miscommunications. We’ve found that this approach has set us apart from our competition, as it means our clients don’t have to source labor and manage a roster of a subcontractor on their own. Our crew has been working together for years and often spot potential issues before they become costly problems for our clients.
We have recently found that a great number of our clients are remodeling to age in place. They either reworking their current home or have recently purchased a single story that they need prepared for retirement. We love working on these projects, as they truly do incorporate that beauty and function I mentioned earlier. From walk-in showers with grab bars to widening hallways or customizing counter heights for easy access, these homes will be providing a higher quality of life for our clients in the years to come. And that is truly fulfilling the interior design.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have been beyond blessed on my journey. I feel like I’m a walking example of, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” The business relationships and friendships I formed during the years before I started B Home Design propelled me to where I am today. Their guidance, encouragement, and connections allowed me to find success earlier than I ever dreamed possible. Being connected with my design partner, Letia gave me the confidence to continue growing my business with her experience and wisdom to fall back on.
I can’t speak much to bad luck, as I really don’t believe in it. These past few years have helped me learn that things don’t work out sometimes because they shouldn’t. I’m often being spared a lot of suffering and there is always something better around the corner. And I have faith that there are many more corners to come in my career.
Pricing:
- $350 Design Consultation- Full Project Estimate, Floor Plan, 2 Renderings
Contact Info:
- Website: bhomedesignsd.com
- Phone: 7603155556
- Email: bhomedesignsd@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhomedesignsd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bhomedesignsd/
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/bhomedesignsd/b-home-design
Image Credit:
Brooke Hancock, PreviewFirst.com
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