AMA: 11 Years, 11 Burning Questions

#1: What’s your most controversial interiors or design opinion?
Just say NO to cheap synthetic rugs!!!
Also, to those who say they can’t have a vintage rug because they have pets and kids, you should reconsider your thoughts because wool hand knotted rugs are the healthiest, easiest to clean, longest lasting thing you can bring into your home. I will die on this hill!
#2: Love your brand! I'm a newer follower, how did you get your start?
Thank you! But seriously, how much time do you have?
I spent nearly 12 years in corporate accounting, about half-way in I knew I couldn’t do it for the rest of my life. I’m half creative and the corporate life was draining my soul. To find balance I launched a DIY & design blog, ran that for a few years on the side, gained traction, influenced before “influencer” was even in our vocabulary, but realized I couldn’t authentically sell my soul to brands. I felt I had my own POV to share I just didn’t know what yet. In 2014 after working with a mass produced rug brand and seeing the piece fall apart within a couple months of use, I hit my limit and just had enough with fast home fashion & bad quality things for my home. I couldn’t fake it! I was also spent on spaces looking exactly the same. It was this intersection of time where I experienced a connection and fell in love with a vintage rug at the antiques fair. It was like a lightening strike! That feeling of being connected to something with history, with soul, and I felt compelled to bring that experience to others. I pitched the concept to my husband, slowly acquired my own inventory and built my own website by myself from scratch, and launched @vintagerugshop at midnight of my 30th birthday. My small batch of 20 or so rugs sold out right away and that’s when I knew I found my path. It took 3 more years for me to grow the brand, replace my income, and quit my day job (which I also did on my birthday!) the brick and mortar storefront came shortly after and here we are!

#3: Are you taking any clients? I love your kitchen!
Thank you! And yes, from furnishings and styling to kitchen remodels & more. Send your inquiries here:
#4: How would you describe your style?
With fashion, I'm probably kinda boring lol. I love a good pair of denim and everything else I seem to choose around that. I also love a uniform which is why you’ll most likely find me in a sweater or a button down with jeans and ballet flat or a pointy low heel. Everyday comfort forward with elevated materials so I can keep the pieces in my wardrobe a long time!

#5: Any tips for staying focused on your vision and avoid comparing yourself to others?
Take breaks from IG, unfollow accounts that negatively infiltrate your brain space, invest in good noise cancelling headphones, and try your best to focus on your own goals and work. There’s a lot of noise out there and comparing yourself is human nature, but it will eat away at you if you don’t control the inputs and protect your self worth.
#6: How would you describe your style?
I love this question, I think about this a lot since, naturally, my style has matured over time lately it feels most “me” than ever before.
My style is heavily influenced by my surroundings. Born and raised in Northern California, I inherently desire spaces that are attached to no trend, feel collected over time and filled with materials that get better with age like real wood, marble, linen. Alongside that, I love a quiet flirty element such as a vintage curvy hand blown glass sconce, a feminine swoop on the back of a sofa, or a floral motif in a rug. Earth tones are core, and visual texture is my magic touch!

#7: What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?
And football! I unwind at night watching clips of @patmcafeeshow
#8: What are your “absolutely not”s?
Absolutely not to:
- fake vintage aesthetic (things that are mass produced made to look old)
- synthetic rugs
- screen printed rugs
- “for the gram” interiors that aren’t practical
- can lights!
- brushed brass
- anything made of mdf

#9: Did you teach yourself photography?
I did! And I learned it the hard way. I’m no professional and would still love to learn more about lighting set-ups but I can talk my way around manual settings, mirrorless cameras, etc.
#10: Your dream job if you weren’t doing this dream job?
Probably forcing my brother @trackdogmotorsports to let me work for him even for free!

#11: What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?
F1! Ask me one question and I won’t stop talking for at least an hour.
#12: What’s inspiring you right now?
Every detail and every moment from our trip to Italy this summer. I have never been more shaken awake by such exquisite, historical surroundings. How do we get back to this level of appreciation for design in the spaces we build for ourselves?

#13: Do you consider yourself an interior designer?
Here’s a peek at a project we completed earlier this year! I’ll share more when we’re allowed to!
#14: Love your brand! I'm a newer follower, how did you get your start?
Thank you! But seriously, how much time do you have?
I spent nearly 12 years in corporate accounting, about half-way in I knew I couldn’t do it for the rest of my life. I’m half creative and the corporate life was draining my soul. To find balance I launched a DIY & design blog, ran that for a few years on the side, gained traction, influenced before “influencer” was even in our vocabulary, but realized I couldn’t authentically sell my soul to brands. I felt I had my own POV to share I just didn’t know what yet. In 2014 after working with a mass produced rug brand and seeing the piece fall apart within a couple months of use, I hit my limit and just had enough with fast home fashion & bad quality things for my home. I couldn’t fake it! I was also spent on spaces looking exactly the same. It was this intersection of time where I experienced a connection and fell in love with a vintage rug at the antiques fair. It was like a lightening strike! That feeling of being connected to something with history, with soul, and I felt compelled to bring that experience to others. I pitched the concept to my husband, slowly acquired my own inventory and built my own website by myself from scratch, and launched @vintagerugshop at midnight of my 30th birthday. My small batch of 20 or so rugs sold out right away and that’s when I knew I found my path. It took 3 more years for me to grow the brand, replace my income, and quit my day job (which I also did on my birthday!) the brick and mortar storefront came shortly after and here we are!

#15: Why didn’t you become an interior designer first?
I felt I could share my design perspective most effectively through the shop and let the interior design part come organically. Also I’m an introvert!
#16: Favorite rug of ALL time?
It’s like Sophie’s Choice!
I have a mental list of the “rugs that got away”, including this one that we may or may not be trying to recreate.

#17: Do you consider yourself an interior designer?
Yes! While I have had dreams of having my own design firm at one point or another—I sure love a kitchen or bath remodel! Right now my time is best served helping furnishing clients through @vintagerugshop.
#18: Advice you would give anyone daring to make their dream a reality.
If you want it bad enough you should do it no matter if you know what you're doing. Do it knowing it won't look pretty or perfect at first. Do it because you don't want to look back on your life and say "if only" or "I should have". Get to the point where you want your dream so bad you don't care an ounce what other people think.
If you don't know where to start, write out your top 5 goals, then write out the steps to take to get to each of those goals. Carry it with you in a notebook every day. Chip away at those steps. Do a little bit each night. Small progress is still progress and then you'll look back and see how far you've come and it will feel silly that you once didn't know where to start.

#19: Where do you get your vintage rugs?
Well well well, that’s our secret sauce!
#20: What’s your enneagram?
3w2

#21: What pushed you to take that first scary step?
That middle of the night dark feeling of PURE DREAD I would get during the years working in corporate. I could see my life as an accountant play out before me, on a monthly rotation until I grew old and gray. I couldn’t bear to live it out, but I also couldn’t just quit and start a new career from scratch. I knew I had no other choice but to try and create a new path of my own.
#22: What was the biggest risk you’ve taken that was well worth it?
Hands down relocating our storefront. It was tough to walk away from our first home, all that we poured into it, and do it over again. Retail pre and post Covid were two different worlds, and to succeed now it’s critical to be in a high traffic area. Hcomm is also critical, but experiencing luxury/quality products in person is essential to our customer and I knew for our growth and our future I had to make the tough decision to relocate. We love our new home in Berkeley and Berkeley loves us!

#23: What do you wish you knew 11 years ago that you know now?
Besides the obvious things I learned the hard way like cash flow and inventory planning—I wish I had known to put more trust in my intuition, act quickly on red flags, and don’t spend any time seeking approval from people who don’t get it.
#24: How would you describe your style?
I love this question, I think about this a lot since, naturally, my style has matured over time lately it feels most “me” than ever before.
My style is heavily influenced by my surroundings. Born and raised in Northern California, I inherently desire spaces that are attached to no trend, feel collected over time and filled with materials that get better with age like real wood, marble, linen. Alongside that, I love a quiet flirty element such as a vintage curvy hand blown glass sconce, a feminine swoop on the back of a sofa, or a floral motif in a rug. Earth tones are core, and visual texture is my magic touch!

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