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Conversations with the Inspiring Alyssa Hill

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Hill.

Alyssa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Interior Design has been a love of mine since I was a little girl. I was the kid re-arranging and re-imagining her room over and over again, and the one binge-watching the OG Trading Spaces. The funny thing is, I grew up and didn’t really consider Interior Design to be a viable career path. I wanted to do something that “made a difference” in this world and for some reason, I couldn’t see how design could do that. After high school, I attended a small music program in Colorado Springs, where I met my husband, and then we both went to college in Boulder after that.

Fast-forward a couple of years after an unplanned pregnancy and getting married a week before I turned 20, I was suddenly thrust into being a mama way before I ever imagined I would be. On top of all of that, our baby boy also required special medical care. I found solace in loving my son and amazing husband, and also in finding ways to make our little rental apartments and condos feel like home. We didn’t have much, and I was forced to get creative on a *very* tight budget, but I was determined to make these places shine.

A few years later, we bought our first house right after our second child was born. The house was a foreclosed hot mess, and I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. With the help of dear friends and family, we poured blood, sweat, and tears into that remodel. By the time we were done, the place was a gem, and I realized how much joy I found in creating a home that reflected us as a family; our journey, our hard work, our personalities, and values. It was a place we were proud to invite others into and raise our family in. All of this life experience taught me that design is a powerful way to contribute to our community and to “make a difference”. Our homes are so much more than the places we dwell. They’re facilitators of culture and community, mediums of personal expression, and our havens.

So, I went back to school via online courses at the British Academy of Interior Design. After graduating, I began consulting services with a local residential remodeling company as well as helping family and friends design their homes. From there, Hill Interiors was born. I’m now two years into this crazy hustle of running a design business, and I can tell you with confidence that I love what I do so much. I love to help my clients create homes that reflect their own beautiful stories. Life is just too short to not love our homes!

Great, 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?
The road to follow any big dream is rarely smooth. In overcoming the bumps and obstacles, I became much more confident, knowledgeable and capable to accomplish my dream. I’ve had many failures, from business ideas that fell through to professional relationships that have fallen apart. I’ve learned so much from these experiences! I am certain I’ll have plenty more failures to come, but I’ve learned that failure is actually just as important as the big accomplishments and milestones in your journey.

When I tell people that I’m an interior designer, their response is usually, “Oh, how fun!”. And yes, while it can definitely be fun (that’s part of why I love it so much!), it also requires an incredible amount of boldness, follow-through, grit, and expertise in several areas. As designers and business owners, we have to wear many hats. We have to be artists, admins, marketing directors, accountants, masters of software programs, project managers, and mediators. It’s not just “fluffing pillows”, and it’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure!

If I could offer any advice, I’d encourage you to spend some time finding your core motivation to create and design that goes beyond just liking pretty things and making a buck. It has to come from the heart. This core motivator is the thing you’ll come back to over and over when you need to realign yourself with your values and mission. Also, be sure to surround yourself with people who believe in you, encourage you and help you to stay true to yourself along the way. As a solo entrepreneur, you will need outside support to prevent burnout (remember all those hats we have to wear?!). It’s essential to have a friend or mentor with a similar business mindset who you can call or meet with, to run an idea past or ask advice. My last, but not least, piece of advice is to know your worth. Be confident and stand up for yourself, whether that’s ensuring you are billing enough to cover costs or defending your design. There’s no other person and no other designer out there who has the same perspective, vision and core motivator that you do. You are truly unique! Own that.

What should we know about Hill Interiors? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I specialize in residential interior design. I love everything from full-service interior design, such as home remodels, to decorating, which includes sourcing new furnishings, paint, and decor. I offer several designs and decor packages that fit various budgets, and I can also create custom packages according to a specific need. You can see a full list of services on my website. I am also beginning to join forces with a company called Guest House Shop. We stage homes on the market with art, furniture and home goods that are all made locally and then we open these gorgeous homes up to the public to shop the items. (Yes. You can ogle pretty houses and support local business at the same time!) It’s been a huge success in Denver and Boulder, and now, I am so thrilled to bring this staging model to the Springs as well. I love how it brings together all kinds of small businesses, makers, realtors, developers, and builders, etc. It really promotes community and the local art scene here in the Springs, and if you don’t already know it, we have some amazingly talented makers and artists here! So, keep your eyes out for our first Guest House Shop pop-up of Colorado Springs, hopefully in the next couple of months!

Design-wise, there are a couple of things that set me apart. First of all, I’m a Colorado Springs native, so I completely understand this city and, in general, the folks who live here. We’re mostly very relaxed and down to earth people who love our families, friends and the great outdoors, so I try to implement those values into my designs. You’ll find my aesthetic to be fresh and modern, but always cozy and functional to serve homeowners and allow them to live and host comfortably. My favored interiors are very reflective of our beautiful natural surroundings. I don’t have to look far for inspiration with the glorious mountains in my literal backyard! Being born and raised here, mountain modern design is in my blood, and I love showing people my interpretation of that for Colorado Springs. This is an amazing city that deserves to be recognized for its own fresh Colorado vibe just like Denver, Aspen, Vail, etc. are, and it’s a goal of mine to help establish that! Secondly, I favor a slightly minimalist approach. For me, less is almost always more. I don’t like cramming random objects and pieces that have no personal meaning for my clients into every nook and cranny of their homes. I try to source things that reflect my clients and have some personal meaning or specific function for them. If I feel that purging and organizing are necessary before the design process can begin, I’ll definitely recommend that first. Having a space cleansed of clutter allows the special details to really shine, not to mention the fact that the up-keep of that space is then much easier, which promotes better mental health and less stress overall. Our homes should serve us and be a joy to live in and maintain! I love helping my clients to discover that joy.

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
I’m really into podcasts right now since reading doesn’t happen nearly as often as I’d like it to with our current pace of business and family life. For designers, I highly recommend “The Business of Design” podcast with Kimberly Seldon, “The Chaise Lounge” with Nick May and “A Well-Designed Business” with LuAnn Nigara. The Influencer Podcast with Julie Solomon is great for social media inspiration. I’ll also sporadically read Emily Henderson’s blog, Alyssa Rosenheck’s blog, Amber Lewis’ “All Sorts Of” blog, Eyeswoon, Design Milk, the Coco Lapine Design blog, etc.

Pricing:

  • Initial Consultations for * full-service design* projects are Free!
  • Services begin at $100/hr and vary depending on the project type.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Photos by Autumn Rae Photography & Hill Interiors LLC

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