Tell us about your family. Where is home and who thrives in it with you?

Our little family of five has finally planted roots in Rochester Hills, Michigan after a decade of bopping around the Midwest! My husband, Matt, asked me to be his girlfriend on my 16th birthday, and he’s the kind of supportive partner in life we all hope for. Fun fact: our kids will now go to the same school where we met!

We have three pretty awesome kids who keep us laughing and constantly trying to find a way to pause time for this stage. Tayler (12) is our natural leader - she’s got enough determination for all of us. Seriously though. Harrison (10) is our gentle, thoughtful soul who continually teaches us about life. And Finley (8) is our in-house comedian and spunky little firecracker. In my next life I’m coming back as Finley. We also have an Australian Labradoodle puppy, Charlie, that is our real life brown bear and snuggle queen. Our home buzzes with love.

Tell us about the conditions you need to get into your creative flow. What do you need to feel inspired?

I’m always in pursuit of what we call “the hum”. Its that state when you become so engrossed and inspired in your work that the whole world around you kind of fades away. Your heart beats a little faster due to the adrenaline spurred on by your mind buzzing with ideas and problem solving. Your motivation kicks into next gear, and you feel a natural high of excitement with possibility. If you know, you know. A quiet house, a clean office, my chill playlist in the background, and a solid block of uninterrupted time can usually get me there.

Often times it’s when we learn more about our clients and their lives that sparks us, a solid piece of furniture or designer we admire to inspire us, traveling to new places to ignite our fire, and leaning on each other through the breadth of the creative process that brings us home.

One design element you get most excited about choosing?

Oof this is tough. I’d probably say lighting though. I think lighting is one of the most critical yet overlooked pieces of a design, and can make or break a space. Part of a cozy home is cozy lighting, which requires intention. Whether it’s the lighting incorporated into the home’s structure, the mood and function of fixtures and lamps, or the strategic intent of directional lighting to highlight things you love most - I love the endless possibility they provide and the different needs they all fulfill throughout a home. Lighting affects everything. Let there be light!

What is your favorite kind of project to work on, and why?

My favorite kind of project is probably when we get to have a hand in both the design of the home itself, as well as the furnishing and decorating of it after. Being able to be part of the process and decision making is really fulfilling in the sense that you get to see the project in a full 360 degree view. The consideration of every detail and the possibility you have for the utmost intention is a dream to be part of. This is one of the reasons we love doing all the design work for the spec homes that Olive + Oak Custom Homes builds — we can design the home and know how we plan to stage it after completion and carry that throughout the entire process. Getting to the final product after a long road together is the very best feeling.

Speaking of Olive + Oak Custom Homes, can you tell us how they mesh with Hygge?

Yes! Our Hygge and Olive + Oak partnership is a match made in heaven for us! I am part of the founding and ownership team for Olive + Oak Custom Homes in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Our team came together when my family lived there for several years and we started our own building company built on the tenets of customer experience, a design forward approach, and quality materials. The design work for our builds is all contracted to Hygge, so we really get the best of both worlds in our work. We love designing fully custom homes whether they be spec homes or builds for clients, and we obviously love the design and furnishing work we do on our HLD side! Our O+O and HLD teams blend beautifully both professionally and personally - we all truly enjoy each other!

What is it like to work Kaitlin? How do you two compliment each other? Shoot us the real!

I’m not embellishing when I say I couldn’t have dreamt up a better partner. Not only is she brilliant at what she does, but she’s a wonderful human full of grace, vision, drive, compassion, and warmth. I think our biggest strength together is our balance. In every facet of our business, we provide balance for one another. She’s often the dreamer, and I’m often the realist. She’s the outside the box, I’m the let’s also consider why the box exists. My very favorite messages from her are the ones that start with, “OK. So I have a crazy idea”. I know whatever follows that statement is about to be brilliant. We push each other to grow in different areas, and feed off of each other’s energy and direction. We have a natural ebb and flow that always seems to be flowing in the right direction.

We laugh. Like, a lot. If only y’all could hear the background sound track of chaos during our million voice message clips to each other everyday, or see how many times we send each other the exact same message at the exact same time. I think the only thing I enjoy more than having her as my business partner on this ride is having her as a close friend.

What designer(s) are you most inspired by and why?

Gosh there is certainly no shortage of inspiring people and businesses in this space, but I have always had the deepest admiration for Amy Storm & Company. Not only are her designs impeccable and demonstrate flawless range, but the way she cares for her clients and for her team is something worthy of that admiration. I am constantly absorbing knowledge and inspiration from her work.

What would you say your design philosophy and approach is?

I think every project is unique and it is critical to learn how those living in the home need it to function and feel within it so it becomes a true representation of their personality. I believe authenticity should always trump trends, and that following your instincts will likely lead you to where you want to be. Design is a team sport and true collaboration, and requires all parties to be engaged. I deeply appreciate the power your environment has on your well-being, and firmly believe that function should match aesthetics. Homes are meant to be loved and lived in.

What do you enjoy in your free time? Other than design, what lights you up?

I’m a pretty simple creature who thrives off time spent with those closest to me. Deep late night chats at the kitchen island or around a bonfire with close friends or my husband and an ice cold dirty martini. Home improvement projects while jamming out. Getting lost in a book till 2 am while the rest of the house is quiet. Being active — I love playing soccer and basketball, running, and hiking. I love going to a good honky tonk with live music and crappy bar food, and game nights around a table with family.  My people and these small joys make my world spin round. 

Tell us about your family. Where is home and who thrives in it with you?

Our family of all boys (+ me!) reside in Rochester Hills, Michigan. As you can imagine, there is never a dull moment in our home. There are lots of bumps and bruises, dirt, and good old fashion fun! My husband Chris and I met 15 years ago on a lucky St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, and the rest is history! He brings out the best in all of us with his easy going personality, and willingness to jump right in to any crazy situation me or our kids come up with.

We have a (9) year old son Flynn who is our karate, music, and dance loving sweetie pie. His tender heart and love for performing brings so much joy to our family. Our youngest son Emery (7) is our sports loving, outdoor enthusiast. He loves playing hockey, baseball,  basketball, and  exploring the outdoors just like his Dad.  Last but not least is our black Portuguese Water Dog, Lenny, who is the sweetest fur-baby that rounds out our family perfectly.

What brought you to this point? What was your biggest challenge getting here? 

I’ve always loved interior design - anything where I can be creative makes my heart happy! I went to a year of interior design school in Chicago but at the time wasn’t ready to fully commit. It took years of building my confidence and realizing I had what it took to do what I love professionally. When Erica and I decided to join forces it felt like it was meant to be. We really compliment each other so well and come at our projects from different angles which really helps take our designs to the next level.  Since starting our business almost 5 years ago we have come such a long way. We are continuously learning the ins and outs of this business in order to put out thoughtful and intentional work that our clients will love. I’ve had to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable while figuring out how our business thrives best. I’ve also learned to trust my gut, and to take chances. We started by taking a leap of faith that this could be something and I’m really proud of how far we have come in such a short amount of time. Our willingness to grow never wavers and I think that will continue to take us far.

What are two parts of the design process you find most fulfilling?

After going through a design consultation, when we have this initial rush and creative juices start flowing of how to make the room come to life. It fuels and excites me. I can’t get working fast enough and begin piecing together the initial concept!

The other part of the design process I love is seeing our plans and hard work beautifully executed at the end of a project. The peace and elation we see on our clients faces when they walk into their finished space is everything. Seeing them so happy and content in their home, let’s us know we did our job well and it truly fills my cup.

What is something you hope all clients get from working with you?

A sense of peace and trust. The power of home is so important to me. I feel a very strong need to help a client who feels like their home does not function well or represent who they are. Our homes are one of the most intimate parts of our lives so handing over that trust to us to create a space they love and want to be in is not always easy. I want them to know we always have their best interest in mind and want them to feel at peace with their decision to work with us.

What is it like to work Erica? How do you two compliment each other? Shoot us the real!

Ummm a dream. Hah, truly! Erica works HARD and puts 110% into everything she does and won’t stop until it is right. She’s honest when I come up with sometimes crazy ideas, and I appreciate that. We balance each other well. Our personal styles and aesthetics are similar, but also we push each other in the right ways to look at things differently which I think ends up with the best results. We compliment each other so well and when collaborating together our design tends to go the extra mile. It ultimately fuels us creatively to getting the best result. We also have so much fun together! It’s easy in the sense that we don’t take anything too seriously and enjoy the ride.

Outside of each other, who is your biggest supporter and how important are they to your success?

Hands down my husband, Chris. He is my number one fan and his support is unwavering. He’s also made all my personal home dreams come true thus far by doing all the physical labor himself. He’s an incredibly talented builder. 

He’s poured a lot of his own personal time, energy, and knowledge into helping us build a foundation for our business, which is yet another way he has shown up big time. He believes we have what it takes and wants us to do well. That means everything to me.

One design element you get most excited about choosing?

There are many but one that is so impactful for me is paint. It can change a whole space. It’s such a simple and inexpensive design element but really guides the direction any room can go. I can walk into any space and if the paint is wrong I have a hard time looking past it. Choosing the right color palette is crucial in interior design. The power of paint is real!

Tell us about your favorite project to date. What about it has it holding such a special place in your heart?

I think project number one. Our very first together. It was two boys’ bedrooms. We learned a lot about time management, about client expectation, and seeing a project through from start to finish. The end result was so incredible for our first project that it just felt like it confirmed that this is where we belong and what we should be doing. It was such a great feeling. The family was so ecstatic with how it turned out, and it was truly the best feeling in the world.

One Instagram account you find the most inspiring and why?

There are so many, but my favorite is probably Dwell Magazine. The homes on that account are so insanely beautiful. The architecture is incredible, and it just encourages me to dream big and venture outside the box. I also love that it showcases so many different designers and design styles - it fuels my growth. There are so many beautiful homes and talented designers in this world and it’s so fun to see them through photos.

What do you enjoy in your free time? Other than design, what lights you up?

A lot of what I do revolves around creativity and finding different outlets for that. When I’m not designing homes I love baking. To be able to be in my home, creating something beautiful and tasty that I can share with my family and friends really brings me joy.  I also love to travel, with Chris and my boys. Seeing beauty in different parts of the world lights me up, and being able to do that with my family means everything to me.  And as much as I love globe trotting, I love spending quality time with my boys in our own backyard equally as much. They are growing up so fast and I love spending any down time I have creating memories with them.