Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Nicolls.
Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Karyn and I met in high school in the small town of Truckee up by Lake Tahoe, CA, where we initially starting working in the fashion industry. Karyn went on to work for a local interior design firm, and I left for southern California, where I attended design school. During a particularly snowy winter, I finally convinced Karyn to move down to San Diego to start our own design firm in sunny Coronado.
We set up our business in the front of my kitchen while I was pregnant with my daughter Hadley. Our first year was carting a baby with us to meetings, showrooms, and installations and wondering if we were going to make it. Once we got into our groove (and got childcare), we opened up a small shop on C Ave in Coronado. The space was tiny, and taking on a rent expense seemed so daunting at the time. Before we knew it, we had outgrown our tiny space, and we were able to expand into the space next door. We made a larger shop and showroom for our growing business and were able to work with some of the most amazing clients.
After almost a decade, we had to move our little shop due to rising costs of retail space. We just opened a new showroom at 1001 B Ave STE 201, Coronado, CA, and are excited for the next chapter of Bungalow 56. Our upcoming projects are some of our best designs yet, and can’t wait to share with everyone!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road to where we are now, but every challenge has provided us with an opportunity to grow. Every time we had outgrown a space it felt like a daunting hurdle to take on more expenses or unknowns, but we always landed on our feet and made smart decisions for the longevity of our business. There is also always the struggle between balancing home life and work life when you own your own business. We often have to remind ourselves to take a break or not bring out work home.
We’ve been impressed with Bungalow 56, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are an interior design firm and shop located in Coronado, CA. We opened Bungalow 56 in 2011 and designed homes from California to Florida to Hawaii. We are known for our relaxed, organic neutral design that compliments the beach lifestyle of Southern California. We always know our clients have many amazing options for designers in Southern California and believe that designing a home is a very intimate process, so finding the right fit for the process is super important. We take a lot of time to make sure we are a good fit for every client and that our design visions align before we start any project.
Every little accomplishment has made us proud of what we have created. It is so much fun to see the final product of every project we design and look back on the process or how we got there.
As a full-service Interior Design Firm and showroom, we believe that good design starts with the smallest of inspirations, and our goal is to guide our clients through the design process from initial ideas to placing the last pillow on the sofa. Bungalow 56 Interiors can assist with ground-up construction projects, complete remodels, kitchen + bath remodels, furniture, and styling accessories. We tailor a blend of organic and contemporary design elements to create gorgeously curated spaces.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
We are both avid podcast listeners, and when we aren’t listening to true crime podcasts, we love Second Life and More Than One Thing to hear stories of other creatives and how they have navigated their careers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bungalow56design.com
- Instagram: @bungalow56living
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bungalow56design
Image Credits
Samantha Goh Photography
