Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Schmitt.
Hi Heather, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started my business as a side hustle in 2004, I had been getting a lot of people asking for help with their homes and offering to hire me even though I was in a completely different industry. (I was a pharma rep).
At some point, we all have to follow our heart and pursue what we really love. So, I decided to take a risk, and I photographed my daughter’s nursery and sent it in to a local magazine that had an interior design section. My belief was, that if they liked it and published it, then it meant that I was talented enough to appeal to people who had never met me and that my business might have a future. Well, the editor loved it and sent a photographer out to shoot the room. She then asked me if I had any more projects because the response was good from the first one. So, I said “of course I do,” and I redid the guest room of my house because well, there was no way I was gonna let that opportunity go. It was so funny, too because the photographer that shot the nursery came back the second time, and he was a little bewildered that he was coming back to the same house to shoot something different.
After that, people started to find me and my business went from baby rooms to whole homes to full remodels and custom homes.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are always challenges, and there have been several challenges along the way:
Market conditions, recession, the sudden death of my spouse, and then Covid and supply chain issues have all thrown a wrench into things, but we ride the wave. It’s just life, and it can be unpredictable.
The key is to be a “shapeshifter” and embrace the current situation without hesitation and just kind of dive on in.
Also, I think there is an expectation these days that remodels happen like they do on social media and HGTV, and that could not be further from the truth. (Especially time-wise) There are always things that pop up and you just kind of have to be ready.
I always tell clients, “I know it’s challenging, but I promise you’ll love it,” and they do! I have never had anyone say, “I am so bummed I remodeled.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a creative first, business second kind of person. I’ve been painting, sculpting, and building since I was a little kid. Thankfully, I had a few years in the corporate world to learn about business, sales, management, etc., but my true core is an artist. This allows me to “create” with my clients organically as opposed to having one particular style and each project, while there may be similar themes, is always different in feel than my others. I have a lot of clients who will use me repeatedly, and they know going into it will be organic, and we will co-create. It’s more of a passion project we develop together, and it is super fun!
Recently, I was commissioned by a client for one of my abstract paintings, and that really sent me into a happy frenzy because I get to match tones to their remodel. So, fun. (I forgot to mention I started to sell my art recently and that has been a huge compliment to my design business. Who knew)?
I had the honor of winning Home of the year in San Diego Home and Garden magazine a few years back. That was incredible. That was an 8000,00 sq foot home in Cielo. I was just there for a party last month, and it was so fun visiting the house again!
In any case, I am proud of the creative world I live in because it is totally me and completely authentic which is the best way anyone can hope to live.
I guess what sets me apart is that I am willing to take risks and encourage the client to do so. I mean, if we’re going to do it, let’s do it boldly, right? Safe is boring. (Ok, let me dial that down a bit, with taste and aesthetics in mind, of course).
What do you think about luck?
Luck and I have an interesting dance. Luck has been really awful to me and then really good to me.
I have gotten lucky because I have met amazing people in my life and have a job I love. I have gotten lucky that I was given artistic talent. It is so interesting to me when people say things to me like, “I could never do what you do; I don’t have that kind of brain,” and I think, “of course, you could,” but apparently, that’s not true. I have gotten lucky because my kids are amazing and supportive, and they believe in living authentically and following their dreams. I have gotten lucky that I have wonderful people in my life that I adore and are supportive.
But I have had some bad luck. Widowed at 49 is really bad luck. I’m gonna give that one a top 5 rating on the bad luck scale.
But there are lessons to be learned from that experience as well, and you come out stronger; you really do. So, maybe I’ll change “bad luck” to “change of course.”
Contact Info:
- Website: heatherschmitt.com
- Instagram: @heatherschmittinteriordesign, @hschmittart
Image Credits
charlotteleaphotgraphy
