Today we’d like to introduce you to Loree Beth Harris.
Hi Loree, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My stumble into interior design was a pretty organic progression. I got my real estate license 7 years ago and my husband and I started investing in properties to Airbnb. I decided to furnish and style them myself. Friends and family started seeing photos and I got more and more requests for help with their own homes. I eventually was spending so much time doing that, that it only made sense to turn it into a business. I initially was only doing home furnishings and styling, but after going through the process personally of building a custom home, I really found a passion with the construction element of interior design. We then started investing in homes to restore and renovate and that eventually led to requests for design services in all facets of interior design from my community.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s been a hilly ride. I’ve had lots of things go right and lots of things go very wrong. The biggest challenge on the front end was being able to gauge hours I’d be investing in a project and aligning that with how much to charge. I went from doing space refreshes for a free lunch to full custom homes, so it took me a while to figure out that transition. I’ve left many projects really not making a dime because I invested way more time than I charged for. I see everything as a learning opportunity though and each experience just got me that much closer to honing my craft. The pandemic also hit when I was really only about 10 months into being completely full-time with my business. I started full throttle after having my daughter and caught so much momentum in such little time, but then I had to learn how to work with all the new challenges 2020 brought everyone. So, after having what felt like the tiniest footing, I got hit with the layers of lockdown, supply chain issues, exorbitant material cost increases, just everything that everyone in this industry is having to deal with currently. I’ve drank a lot of wine in the last 2 years.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an interior designer specializing in residential design and styling. I specialize in custom home construction, space renovation and configuration, and curating spaces that bring an overall cohesiveness to a home. I’m known for designing and incorporating neutral and natural elements, but always having an unexpected stroke of color and black. I love black. I’m probably most proud of the general growth of my business in such a short span of time. I’m just still in disbelief some days that people have an appreciation for my work and all of the kinds words I’ve been given. It is truly a way of expression for me and I don’t take for granted, one second, how lucky I am that so many people have received it so well. I think something that sets me apart is having a full understanding of what goes into a home and how to balance splurges and practicality. I’ve been through the process of building and renovating multiple homes, so I understand that it’s not just making selections and creating all these amazing pipe dreams with no consideration of numbers or budget. I approach every client’s project as if it were my own and give them all the details, they need to make the most educated and best decisions for themselves.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
If you’re not excited about a project in the beginning, you’re not going to be excited about that project through the middle or at the end. I’ve said yes to some things that I knew in my gut wasn’t a fit for myself or for the client, and it took some of the joy out of the process and left me with a lot of creative blocks. I’ve learned that money isn’t worth compromising my joy. What’s the point in spending months working on something that doesn’t bring you joy?
Contact Info:
- Email: lb@bothmindsdesign.com
- Website: https://bothmindsdesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bothmindsdesign/
Image Credits
Nativehousephotography
allisonelefantephoto
jessicaleigh.co
