Daily Inspiration: Meet Grace Hernandez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Hernandez

Hi Grace, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been a creative, whether I was painting, dancing, writing music, or redecorating my room. In the early 2000’s it was hot pink and lime green. It was always an area of contention for my younger sister and me, because of the amount of times I would repaint and rearrange our shared bedroom. After quitting college early, I moved to Pennsylvania where my older sister was living and pursued opening up a coffee stand in a farmer’s market there. When all the doors closed on me, I moved back to Colorado and started my own business refinishing, building, and selling furniture. I had my own space in a co-op home goods shop where I could sell all my products. At the end of 2019, I picked up a couple of vintage campers off the side of the highway and when COVID hit and we had to quarantine, I spent most of my time remodeling those little campers. That turned into a whole other business where I continued to buy, remodel, and sell vintage campers and RV’s. After a couple years of doing that, I started to really develop a love for design and began to think about pursuing interior design full-time. It always felt like a pipe dream for me, but I decided to take the jump. I spent a year taking classes online to complete a program. Shortly after, I got a job with a company where I was designing and staging short-term rentals all over the country. It was the most fast-paced, challenging job I’ve ever had. But I learned so much and got to practice my skills with so much creative freedom. It truly launched me. But I always knew that I wanted to start my own business, so I quit that job and started my own LLC, which is now Brighten Designs. My journey has taken a lot of twists and turns, but I really believe every creative venture I’ve pursued has given me the drive and skills to do what I’m doing today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. I knew I was taking the off-the-beaten path when I quit college early to start my own business. But I didn’t think it would take me 10 years to actually find the thing that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Every creative venture had its challenges. Some failed, like the coffee shop in Pennsylvania. Some were fun, but weren’t scalable for me, or even sustainable. Some were even just really hard, laborious work that took a toll on my body and mental health. In my last job, I remember one week I was working 14-hour days at a property in Pheonix, AZ and it was 116 degrees every day. The house had AC, but with the amount of runs to Home Goods and IKEA and assembling furniture, I had never sweat so much in my life. My flight home was canceled because the plane was overheating. But I remember thinking, “I have a job where I get to do exactly what I’ve only dreamed of doing, and I’m growing and learning so much”. I think getting through these kinds of experiences has made me realize the reward on the other side that is so worth the struggles and challenges that come in the moment.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an interior designer and decorator for short for short-term rentals and residential spaces. My specialty is designing and staging unique spaces that will attract and awe guests, while being functional and comfortable. I always like to use a mixed palette when I’m designing, whether it’s varying colors and patterns or combining different design styles, like mid-century modern and rustic-southwestern. I like to tell a story with my designs so when someone walks into the space, they can step into an experience. I would say I’m most proud of my story and how I’ve gotten to where I am now. I think that’s why I like to tell stories through my designs so much.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
A lot of my experience in getting me where I am today has come from friends and family. My dad has hired me to redesign different spaces in his office building. More than that, he runs his own business, Stailey Insurance Corp., and has been my business mentor ever since I quit college. I would have to say both of my parents have always been my biggest cheerleaders from the beginning. Friends have told friends who have hired me for different jobs, and those jobs gave me more and more opportunities to try different things and fine-tune my craft. And I have to give credit to my friend, Karis, who reminded me of something I had said to her when she was about to start her own business as a wedding planner, “you have everything you need to do this.” Because, sometimes all we need to do is start with what we have.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brightendesigns.com
• Instagram: @brighten.designs
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brighteninteriordesigns

Image Credits
Abbie Joy Photography, Micah Stailey Photography, Golden Hour Production LLC, Picture My Listing