Episode 3—Bridget Chirigos of Chirigos Designs
Episode #3 | Bridget Chirigos | Chirigos Designs
Take a colorful journey from the streets of fashion to the spurs of Texas and ending up in the land of 10,000 lakes! We explore the different design, architecture, and builder points of contact paths around the country from a client’s point of view. We discuss the talent of the Minnesota craftsmen and the quality work that is produced here. Also discussed is empowering employees and trade partners to let them shine!
Listen to the full episode:
Listen to the highlights from the episode:
About Bridget Chirigos
Bridget Chirigos is the Founder and namesake of Chirigos Design. Among her many professional accomplishments, she graduated from the esteemed Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Bridget believes that creating a space you love ought to nourish your soul, comfort you, and help to foster limitless memories and new experiences.
When she’s not busy designing, you can find Bridget with her son, husband and dog, Gracie; antique shopping, traveling, or enjoying the many lakes in the Minneapolis area.
Resources
-
00:00
Welcome to the curious builder Podcast. I'm Mark Williams, your host, I've got Bridget Cherie goes here. I pronounced it right. She goes, Yes, she
00:07
did. Yes,
00:08
that is a tricky name, I believe. So she goes designs. And we've worked together now for a couple of years and a couple of big projects and a couple of smaller remodels. And so thanks for coming on today.
00:19
Oh, thanks for having me. I'm excited. Congratulations.
00:23
Well, thank you. Let's get right into it. Basically, design you have quite a background. So maybe like to hear about that actually, for myself, but as well as our listeners, tell me in five minutes or so like, give me your origin story. I know you're kind of from Texas, but we'll dive into sometimes. Just a little bit. Take it from here. I want to hear about it.
00:43
So yeah, from Texas, and I just went back to my passion in 2009. I looked at my husband and said, I just wanted to design I didn't know what that meant. I didn't plan I didn't have a mission. I just started really decorating more. But I immediately within the first year fell into remodels. And I fell in love with it, and came alongside some local builders and it boomed from there. I was raising my son. So I was home, I had a home office, I didn't have a studio, but we got so busy. So I did hire an assistant to help me. And we kind of navigate the whole thing. And I just I just created it, I created processes. I saw some of the challenges early on. And so in 2015, my husband job was transferred up to Minneapolis. And that was a shocker. We didn't even know how to blow out our irrigation system. Okay. They need Yeah, they need a southerners moving to Minnesota 101 book,
01:48
but freeze your lines, or did someone tell you?
01:51
We almost did Oh, boy. Yeah, pretty scary. But no, the people were great. We immediately fell in love with the Twin Cities. We did. I don't know. It just it felt right. And then my husband's job ended within two years. And so we were like, we felt like we were supposed to stay here. And so we went big. And he with his support. We opened up the studio in 2018. And, and just I started cold calling builders.
02:25
That's amazing. How did you out of curiosity, we'll go back to the origin in a minute. But how did you find that experience of cold calling? How did you introduce yourself? How did you get on people's radar because it's once you're kind of I can speak for myself, you being someone now that is kind of on our inner circle. I get called in a lot by other interior designers and they're very talented. But you know, kind of like a racing stable, I can only have so many thoroughbreds in that I can race. And once you get very comfortable, we'll talk about that a little bit later about the process, you really a respect the other person, you find a good fit not only for your builder, but for your clientele. It's hard. It's got to be hard to break in with new builders, when you have established relationships, or did you find it not as difficult that a lot of people were willing to sit down and meet with you?
03:08
You know, I found openness here, I really did. And I think it's because I just spoke true to my passion. I love to improve their process, not impede it. I'm I love to work alongside them. And I was vulnerable. I was willing to just say, throw me your smallest project. I mean, and I will dig in and understand your process, get to know your subs get to know the people that are actually building the crafts people not staying in a box. I wasn't, you know, of course, the client is the most important. You know, and I just had to give me a try. I mean, and I think I spoke their language. And you know, I'm willing to throw on butson Get in there. And we said that, you know, if a builder calls me it's important, right? But if the tile installer calls me it's critical. Like, yeah, that's good phrase. Yeah, do you, you have to be on call. And I wanted them to know that, you know, because they're the experts. And, and I'm also willing and open I don't think I know everything. And I have to know a lot about a lot. But I'm not an expert in all of it. So it takes that team. So I think that that really I wasn't coming in with a diva mind, you know of going oh, well give me your you know, whatever. So I think you just have to people want to work with people they like and people want to work with people that know that they're going to be respected. You know, so I got my first project and cold calling. Well, it was from my hated one job that I had to cold call for two years and I hated it. But it taught me so much about cold calling. And so I think also too when you are in a situation, you know with your family and you have to be You know, step up, it just kind of adversity creates this advantage where you just you just, you know, get your determination and grit and just get on the phone.
05:12
How much of your experience in Texas translated to Minnesota and other different markets? And going back to I guess the original question of how you got started kind of curious because you hear about it? What is, in your words difference between decorating and design? Because you often I have some preconceived notions about the two words, but I'd be curious from a designer, how do you view those two words?
05:33
Oh, there is a gray area decorating, I think, where I started is, you know, color and scale and more of the decorative finishes, the paint colors on the cabinets, and on the walls and furniture, or hardware lighting. But there's so when he gets into design, that's really when you can see around the corners of knowing, okay, what, what are the codes, you know, how big is that light fixture need to be? What are the electricians need? I mean, little things like the size of backplates, you know, are important because you you know, you don't want to cut a six inch hole for a four inch backplate. Right? And then, you know, especially putting it on tile. So that, I think, is that lesson. And then if you're willing to embrace it, and learn it, and know it and breathe it and continue to learn it and come alongside, then I think that that develops that design mind. And now you can actually design and then also to sitting alongside architects, you know, I mean, gosh, their minds are just I, you know, and learning from them.
06:52
Yeah, they're incredible. I mean, really unique mind of how they can put stuff together in a spatial space, it's kind of 3d built in their mind. And then when they present their ideas, even as a builder that's been doing this for 17 years. I'm blown away at the process. I'm very good at visualizing things, but I love the unveiling. It's funny when we are with our clients and seeing the design, I think I'm as excited if not more to see what the architects gonna come back with. And you're like, yes. And sometimes, you know, obviously, I'm a very energetic person. So I will see their plans, and the client will look at me, and I'll just be like, it's all over my face, like, oh, wow, that's amazing. Yeah, I haven't wondered that if they were on the fence. But they saw how excited I was like, would they actually, I don't really like it. Oh, wow, he seems really excited.
07:35
Right? It's it. And it is seeing that vision, right. And then also knowing the why. And hearing that from the architect. And actually from the builder, I think that that's kind of segue into my hope is always to try to be in on the first very beginning meetings of understanding what the vision is for the client, what the needs are for the client, their family needs, how they live, and then just kind of sitting back like a fly on the wall and just listening, seeing the architect build this, and seeing the why behind it really helps us because I start putting in all the other things with it, and not fighting it. So and then of course budget, you know, that's another conversation, right? We're just talking about creativity, right?
08:24
Yeah, and I want to touch base on the order here in a little minute. But just to go back a little bit for the beginning. Did you have a formal education in design? Or how did you segue into design or you just felt like you had a knack for it? And it just kind of opened up and as you did a few you're like, Wow, I'm I'm really talented at this. Because I can speak from experience that what attracted me to your firm and to you a, like you said, there is a connection, like I can trust this person. They're very competent, I know that I can trust them with our client. And then skill level was something that I just trusted because of your reputation. But ultimately, it was your organization that personally attracted me to you. We had a mutual design friend that introduced us, and she had just raved about how organized you were. And I know we're gonna touch on that later in the podcast about just the challenges of order in a very chaotic field being homebuilding. Anyway, going back to the to that part of the question, what was your background and your evolution into interior design?
09:17
So I did attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. And I started in fashion, I worked for a fashion designer on Seventh Avenue. I hated it. Really? Well. I just didn't you know what, I what? I didn't like it. Oh, that was so last season. And I was like, Wait a minute. I kind of like last season stuff.
09:38
It wasn't just black for everything. Yeah. Right.
09:41
And so I kind of always had an affinity for antiques and other things or also to an appreciation for different fashion styles. I mean, who's to say that that's out of fashion? I don't know. I'm just kind of I mean, there are some things okay, that we're not going to do but you I don't know, I'm just more of an organic type of person. So I really quickly said, No, I'm not going to do that. And I was approached by a professor that started this and interior design was not even on my radar. But back then, back then, it kind of dates me, but that's okay. Interior Design, education was more in my mind a lot of people's mind for commercial design, and drafting and that just was not on my, in my headspace. It just was not even a thought. And I always like I was always painting my walls and taking I mean, I would dumpster dive, well, you don't really have dumpsters in New York? I would. I would street dive. They would leave stuff on the sidewalks and grab it, as you know. And yeah, repurpose it. Yeah, I would retain it. You know, piano benches, a coffee table. And, you know,
11:00
we were way ahead of your time. Now everyone does DIY stuff on YouTube of you know how to turn a picnic bench and, you know, a dining table. You were
11:07
Yeah, we didn't have the internet thing, right. We didn't have cell phones. I mean, oh, gosh, that was telling.
11:15
Was there round wheels when, when you were around? My son
11:18
says thanks. I really appreciate that. Yeah, so I don't know. I think I just picked up books. I went to I don't know. Yeah. So yeah, I was approached by the professor. And he started, he was starting a new program was a bachelor of science in marketing. But it was a focus on home furnishings, product development. And so I immediately was excited about it. So the focus, I thought when I graduated was I would do product development, within like a pottery barn or, or a company like that in, in working in between the marketing team and the design team, and working with, you know, manufacturers across, you know, in, in, you know, in Asia or whatever to develop these products. And so that's so I learned about ceramic and tile and wood and fabric and won a competition actually, and got a trip to hook Celanese when microfiber came out see that? Someone is going to Google this? I don't know it is I know, I don't know how old I am. So, yeah, so then I left that, but I went back to Texas, I New York was great. But I didn't have family and friends there near to hard city. Yeah, I went back to Texas, and I still didn't have decorating or interior design. On my mind. I did all that
12:40
even after all that because you were thinking more manufacture more like working with product line creating textiles, and whether Interesting, okay. Yeah,
12:48
I was. So there really wasn't that industry in Houston. And a friend who was was a recruiter and in a recruiting firm. And so I got a job as a corporate recruiter. And I did that for a few years. And that time that my husband, see, that was the path
13:04
that was the path one, I'm guessing you. I mean, it was their entrepreneurial spirit and your family. I'd be interested to hear about how you, I know you, you've touched on it earlier, you know, you've met a few builders, and you started working like and then you took your big plunge in, in Minneapolis here in 1018. Right. Yeah. So tell me a little bit about the entrepreneurial family surrounding that caused you to say like, I'm gonna start my own business. And this is the reason why
13:27
I always knew I was gonna have a business even early on. Yeah, interesting. My father didn't go to college. And he started a business very young. And is just has a knack for growing businesses, starting businesses. It's been very successful in his life selling businesses and in different industries. And both of my brothers and my sister are all self employed.
13:56
So you've got to you've got a roadmap and a blueprint to follow. So
14:00
it's in the DNA, I don't know. Is it independent? When I moved to New York, I'd never been there. And I didn't know anyone. I moved on my own. And again, let me remind you, there was no Google, there is no internet right. Now. You've opened up a map, and you've actually got on the phone.
14:17
Just call. This generation by doesn't even know what a phonebook is.
14:21
I know. But you know, it's it's funny, you had asked about the transfer from Texas to Minneapolis, I have to give kudos to Minneapolis. There are so many incredible craftsmen here. And the build is very different. You know, we're ripping out carpet there. We're putting in carpet here. We don't have basements down there. Right. A lot of the woods are very different. So knowing the different materials and the different build styles. And for Minneapolis, I think in particular, I don't know this for a fact, but it seems like it's so build driven which Is it's beautiful. I love it. It's people really, they keep their homes here a long time. In Texas, they're a little bit more transient. So they invest more, I think
15:12
I think people in Texas are moving and staying within Texas or it's transient, the fact that people are coming to Texas for another job and then leaving the state.
15:18
Yeah, I think both. Okay. I think both. I just, you know, it's, it's, it's interesting. And I think that that's what I love about here. It's very, I'm very hot. I like the homegrown pneus, I guess, you know, that fits me really well, too.
15:35
I'm very biased, because obviously, I grew up here and surrounded by a bunch of Nordic, Eastern European craftsmen. And so of course, we think that, you know, our craft labor is the best. But I often hear from other states, like we it's just an amazing amount of talented, craft loving individuals that are in love with woodworking. And so I don't have any comparison. So one of my questions to you is, what do you see in terms of quality? And in terms of is there something that like, you could walk into a home in Texas, and like that would not even make it in a starter home in Minnesota, for example? Or is or things like that, that's like, wow, the craftsmanship level up here in Minnesota is so much different than Texas. And obviously, this is, you know, at this point, you know, 810 years ago, so it's not to say that there's not talented people in Houston, of course, I know, there's plenty of talented builders, but in general, just the talent pool, and I know our styles are different, too. I would have suspect up here. You know, we're doing a lot of very traditional home heavy on the woods, the wainscoting, the bathrooms? You can tell me a little bit more in Texas, what kind of style is prevalent? Cuz I'm guessing that there's plaster and other styles that would probably be more familiar Adobe, down in Texas that would have no place maybe up here? Or if so there's so few of them that is just not commonly seen.
16:46
Right? Well, we'll for example, well, and it's whether it's climate, you don't have to build the homes down there, like you have to build here. For the weather. The extreme weather? Yeah. So, you know, a lot of the we don't have a lot of heavy casing around the windows down there. You don't have to. It's a little bit area and lighter. I mean, it gets hot, but in and that's to be sad. But yeah, I think also to back then it's hard for me to say I mean, obviously, you know, in some of the higher end, luxury homes in Texas are beautiful. I mean, in that the craftsmanship is there. And at that time, I was in the suburbs. So a lot of my surroundings, a lot of the the, you know, the projects I was doing was they were nice homes, but they weren't as custom. You know, they weren't as custom down there. There were a couple of custom projects that I worked down there. So
17:46
yeah, because there was other more spec homes down there, meaning that they're getting a mess model homes, and they don't know who the buyer is versus I don't know, actually stats up here. We're a high end custom home builder, of course. So I actually don't do any model homes, everything I do is specifically for clients. So because of that they become a little bit more nuanced, very specific. And, you know, obviously, like the upcoming Parade of Homes, you know, we'll get people that will come through and be like, Wow, that's amazing. And maybe we would have done it, maybe we wouldn't have but likely we did it because of that client. And sometimes we get credit for that. The opposite could be true to you know, a client could ask for something that you're like, Oh, what's this gonna look like, but it's their home, I'll build it for him. And you know, it's like, okay, that's not what I would do. But it's their home. And we'll stylistically make it as as best as possible. But at the end of the day, there may be a reason for that. And so, you know, we'll do it for him.
18:33
No, that's absolutely true. There's a lot of developments and developers more so in Texas, especially in where I'm from Houston. So you have fast growth. You have spec homes. Yeah. And they're by, you know, larger builders. And so I was going in and remodeling them, you know, and putting in more custom things, updating, updating them and putting in, you know, and taking out niches.
18:57
I know, we've talked about this before offline, and I'd be kind of curious where this goes. Tell me a little bit about the process. And just high level is that down there, you'd kind of mentioned that people come to designers to build their homes and under Minnesota, just because of the strength of our building network. I think we have one of the oldest tours in the country the pray to homes Yeah, and now the artisan home tour a number of others, but basically people would come to builders and I'll and we'll talk about this process now. But like, you know, for for me, I would summon will come to me, and they'll say, hey, we'd like to build a home, we love your homes, or we've seen you online, great the sit down the interview with me, they pick us we enter into a design agreement, then at that point, we'll introduce them to an architect or two for them to choose between, you know who they feel a good fit for. And then you know, after a few rounds of drawings will bring an interior designer. And that's kind of the process doesn't it's not always that way. I mean, you can obviously go with architects first but in Minnesota, there's a very strong builder very strong first bias, if you will. Tell me about it, because it's not that way in Texas, right? No,
19:57
I mean, matter of fact, I I don't think my build my contractor brought me any business. It was 100% me, and we would have three new remodels a month coming in. So it's it was very designer driven. And I don't think that's not a negative. But it was, it's really hard for me because I met, I want to give back, right? And I'm like, Okay, I know you've brought me projects, but I'm in I'm in it. Yeah. So I'm like, you know, so it was it's good in that's the conversation you and I had, I was like, do you get a lot of projects from designers, and it made me feel better? Because I felt really bad that I, you know, I'm not known as much
20:43
the only one who hasn't gotten introduced No. And in 17 years, I mean, I'd have to think a little bit more about it. But we actually have one right now that interior designer has given us and we actually just signed the design contract last week, and it'll be a remodel. And so we'll kind of go from there. They're a past client of this interior designer. And so that was kind of the lead in and so we'll take it from there. But by and large, no, it's in my guess part of it. We've all we've been talking about remodels, I'd be curious how many downloads? They don't. But shifting back to Texas, did you ever Were you part of any new homes? And how often would someone come to a designer for a new home? Because I do understand, you know, you scope creep, right. So like I get called in for because we do both we do new homes, and we do remodels. And every year, it's a little bit different split. So like this year, it's probably 6040 to the new homes. But let's say some brings us in for a remodel. And kind of my golden rule on that is if you can't tell me what you're keeping, that's a tear down. And I get a lot of people that will say well, I wanted on a bump out the back, I want to do a whole new main floor. I want a new kitchen, I want to add a second story and like, what are you keeping? And they look at me just kind of like glassy eyed and like yeah, that's not a remodel. That's. And so anyway, back to the question a little bit as how many of new homes were coming through you and you brought in a builder. Are you specific specifically talking about remodels in Texas?
22:03
You know, it was mostly remodels. Okay, I did a couple of custom homes, but they already had a builder, but I was but they I was referred to them not through the builder, but just through through my network. Sure. So the client came directly to me. So I don't know, you know, I can't speak for that today. But I definitely know that Minneapolis is so much more builder driven. And I think it's important also to why it's important to create that relationship with the builder, but also for the clients to understand with it, what the role of the designer is that we're not just for finishes. Yes, that's a hard, you know, so it's really important for us to come in early. And you've been so great about that. Because bringing us in early, really builds that trust with the client. And then we all know each other's roles. And I bounce ideas off of and I'll call the architect, I mean, you know, and say, Hey, what was your intention here, you know, I don't want to, you know, mess up the lighting or whatever, when we're doing a lighting plan. And I love that collaboration with them on the beginning. But a lot of clients don't understand that they think of designers, as just, we're going to pick out pretty things.
23:19
It's interesting, because early on in my career, you know, I benefited my dad was a builder. My mom was an interior designer, a decorator, I was laughing because I have little kids and my sister who was little at the time could not say DS and so she would call my mom a decorator. And I think Dad said that sometimes would be like, yeah, that's pretty true. She definitely wrecked my idea on this. But you know, they were a dynamic duo, it worked out really well that did the building. My mom did all the interior design. And you know, they had a great career. And I think a big part of it later on. My dad would say that, you know, a big part of his success was just how great mom was at Interior Design, especially back then, you know, they're building the 70s and 80s. And interior design is nothing like it is you know, today, and now with Instagram and YouTube and all these, you know, amazing outlets for design ideas. I think the big challenge now for you and I is people will come in and and show us all these pictures. And I know architects struggle with this, in particular is how do you create original thought? And I do like pictures for the initial concept of like, give me an idea of what you're trying to do so that I can early on decipher like, is this a good fit for us? You know, if their budget is 700,000 and they're showing me pictures of a $3 million home, you know, we need to have that conversation right day one, otherwise, everyone's gonna be disappointed pictures have their place. But do you feel like the pictures sometimes stymie the creativity that you would like to demonstrate?
24:39
I do it again, you know, there has gone back to it's both right time is money. We have to spend that time with them because they have to trust. They've only seen pictures, and maybe they haven't traveled they haven't seen some other ideas. So is when we can get in early, and then take the time to build that trust with the client, then we can really start bringing in other ideas. I'm always telling them color outside the lines, we don't want to copy, you want to be different. So it is a challenge. I mean, it's good and bad, right? I mean, it's good. Because it's hard to speak design, you know, to the words like you can say modern, or you can say traditional. Well, that's, it's just hard to put words to it. So pictures are great
25:28
It's like, it's like saying ice cream? Well, what flavor?
25:31
I know. Exactly, exactly. And it's dating me again. But I would have folders of magazine clippings. And that's to do the same thing. Yeah, I and I was, I mean, in, I would just, you know, folders of traditional and transitional, and then what this is, and it's, you know, just to, and I would pull them out, and I would make copies of them and put it in the client file. So now it's, it's just like I was clipping. Before, personally,
26:00
I was still like this the best if you were, if I was designing a home for myself, or if a client was to say, Mark, how would you like to design, I would say, give me four pictures. And that's it. And but they need to be hero shots. I mean, they can't be I was asking people, you know, when they do their sorting of their photos, you know, scale it on a scale from zero to 10. If it's not, if it's below a six, like Chuck it, I don't want to see it again. And you know, I'm really looking for nines and 10s, you know, not that there isn't specific ideas that we need to react to, but to for overall concept I need about, you know, I could do it off to three pictures, because you and I are quick studies, we've done this for a long time, assuming that the pictures are, you know, synergetic with each other, if you will, because sometimes you'll get a modern home and you'll get like a traditional home, and then you'll get like some mock, you know, like, whoa, okay, this is this one is a lot trickier because it's not as congruent together. So I just feel like now I know like the soul of that house, like I know the essence of what you want it to be, let us do our work. But it's it's a, it's an amazing client that allows us to do that. Because they want to control the process, or they feel like the process is too big and too out of control. And so they feel unless they're willing to trust us. I mean, the best relationship and we had an amazing client recently, you and I together, she allowed us to do what we do best. And she gave us a lot of free rein in that house is one of the best homes that I've ever been a part of not only for the process, the client was happier, I can tell you for sure. Our subs and our trade partners and the overall effect when it was done. And of course, everything that you did to make it amazing. And as a collaboration now, because you know, we just did our photo shoot on it with you is you're like, wow, yeah, that's incredible.
27:36
Well, and I have to say it was the best process for us. There was hardly in two and a half years, hardly a day of stress, your team, the communication. Everybody was so willing, I mean, just to answer our calls, to answer some questions that we had. Because we do I mean, invulnerability is key, you can't, you know, walk in a place and think that you, you know, you have all the answers. And yes, the client, I mean, my gosh, I think it's the projects that are not successful, or the clients that do not allow the process. It's the same, you can talk to it. But but any businesses like that, you know, I mean, you you're you're your best patient, if you know if you can speak and communicate what your needs are and what the ailments are right to the doctor. But allow that process. And then of course, do you know, have questions and get maybe as maybe a second opinion?
28:37
I think you're right, the people that have had the most trouble with the process, which makes them a big part of my job is making sure that the journey is enjoyable on top of this incredible home, which will produce for you almost regardless. But you want the journey to be enjoyable as well. And I think the ones that get into the most trouble is they stop trusting their team. And they start bringing in seven or eight other people's opinions or voices. And it's not necessarily it's insecurity that is either trust or insecurity is one of those two things and it's once you've lost that trust, it's very difficult, if not impossible to get back because for whatever reason, that person and it could be just a personality trait of that person. They need the that reassurances and I think that's a big part of it then. Yeah, anyway,
29:24
I always I always say, Okay, we're gonna have to walk them off the ledge again today. It's okay. And I do that and I actually don't mind that. It's I play psychologist. I don't mind it, as as long as they're willing. And I love it. The clients will even contact me, do you think we should do that? I mean, I'm the littlest thing and I love that and I'm I don't mind that when they get scared or they get nervous, because I understand it. And I can relate to it. I think also too, it's it's our job to set up the X affectations and say hey, look, there's going to be a seven inning stretch, you're gonna get frustrated, I know you really like us now, you're gonna get really tired of us. So we're going to try our best. But when you do, and when there's frustration, just call me, we'll we'll work it out, you know, there's going to be things, and it makes them feel a little bit more comfortable. And also taking off that stress. And this kind of goes to the process. I know, it's hard to not talk about that. But having that detailed process in front of him saying, we're going to select this first, and then this second, and this third, but we have the overall vision. So it's like, even if I'm doing a small little bedroom, okay, just a small bedroom. We don't piecemeal anything, you have to, when you get in the car, you know, your destination,
30:51
that's a very good analogy.
30:52
I mean, you, you have to, and so I'm like, even if you're not going to buy everything today, at least you know what you're going to buy, and you know what color and what direction and what size and scale and feel. And it calms them because they have a plan. I think when all of these thoughts are going through their head, they just get nervous. And when they know that they have a team that's gonna listen to them, but also lay out that plan, and then execute it well, and give enough time to selection to where you're not stressful going. Okay, look, we've still have some time to pick out countertops, but I wanted to start with this first bit. Okay, that's a, that's a good thing. But let's, you know, we still have time, it relaxes them. But my, okay, I'm gonna get on over 13 years, there's one trait that almost every single time, it never works out. And it is the person that wants to create a home, or build a home for someone else, or further image or for the not for themselves
31:57
for keeping up with the Joneses mentality.
32:00
It's a really hard thing, because you're not designing for them. And so you don't really get to know the core of who they are. The goal always changes. Because we go down a path and they go, Oh, my gosh, I went to someone's house and I saw this, and then it's completely different. And I'm like, Okay, well, then it. So that's really hard. And while I appreciate that, and I understand it, it's almost impossible, you're chasing just a ghost. So it's
32:34
very well said, we have one that we have been with for quite a while. And that's you've explained it exactly. And I think that today, the team is stressed out the designers on that project are stressed out in the client. I mean, you know, I'm empathetic towards their journey as well. And, you know, unfortunately, there's nothing we can really do about it, because that's a choice that they're making. But it doesn't yield the best home in you. Like you said, the goalpost keeps moving. And the client stressed out the builder, the whole team is it's a very difficult process, because no
33:03
one has a destination, right? You know, and so, that didn't happen very often. I think most people we you know, and we, we don't want to take every project, right? And I mean, not not every fit, and I'm fine with that. I don't, I don't take it personally, it is really you know, it's a win win win it to fit, because we just want that we want that success,
33:23
just like we mentioned earlier in the podcast, where I'll have you after they they've chosen us as the builder. And I'll bring in the art let's say and architecture to for them to interview. And same with interior design group. And a lot of it is me, you know, why do I pitch one design group over another? Well, it's personality fit, you know, there are certain people as I've gotten to know you, I'm like okay, that'd be perfect with Bridget and your team and other people you're like oh, you know that person might be better with that person and so that's a judgment call that I have to read the room and read the person but even for myself you know there are times when I sit down with people and I'll say You know, you're interviewing other builders and that's fine but you know pick somebody you want to spend some time with like on this new home the one that you and I worked on it's a three year creation a year and design and you know, year and a half was called two years you know to completion and it was great experience for all of us. But you know, you just spent three years with someone that's a long time this is not like going in buying a couch off the floor. Or you know, that's a transaction and we are not we I don't want to be in the transaction business now I enjoy the relationship I have said many times I don't want the company to get too big because I enjoy people and you know if I lose touch with spending time with our clients and with our team, then that's not really what a my skill set is set up for but I'm kind of missing out on the heart and soul of the build. And I do enjoy that.
34:37
Yeah, I know you do and I think that that's why that collaboration was so great. You know goes into hiring to
34:43
tell me about that. You I know you've you've we've talked a little bit about hiring you have a team of three right now. So I ran and when you first started Did you immediately hire someone or were you solo as you called called and try to find builders walk me through how you've evolved your a company culture and be the people that you do have have and where is it succeeding? And where is it failing? And how do you change that?
35:04
Well, I failed at first.
35:06
I mean, entrepreneurs? Well,
35:08
I mean, you know, I mean, we have to fail. It's the only way that to success. It's, we have to allow ourselves and everybody else around us to fail, because that's how you learn. But yeah, I didn't, it wasn't that the people I hired were bad. It just wasn't the right fit for them or for me, but I also didn't know what I needed. Yeah, you know, because being new here, so my story's a little bit different, because I was so new here. Didn't have a lot. But I think for hiring now, now that I know, I really, first of all, I laid out, like you, I want to stay fairly small. I don't want to grow to this ginormous hiring tons of designers. I really don't. That's not I like to stay in the in and involved. But I think the most important thing was not only finding the right culture and the right value person, you know that with the similar values, that ethics, the work ethic, you can't train that stuff. I mean, you just can't. It's not trainable.
36:11
So that's what you hire. And then you train the process? I do.
36:15
I mean, they have to have the skill set to you know, and I want them to have skill set where I don't, yeah, right. Because you're complementing each other. Absolutely. So bigger and better than I am. And it doesn't scare me. I love that. I mean, and I give accolades to my employees. And I have a couple that are just dynamic. I mean, and I love to compliment them in front of other people. But I also don't assume that they don't know. So I give them challenges. But I also tell them, Okay, you can do this, but I'm, I'm going to be your support. So you call me Don't assume, ask questions. So actually, as a business owner, you become the support person for your staff. I think more than anything, I mean, it's like kind of having kids, and they gotta know that you have their back. And then, you know, making sure that they're gonna treat your clients and have that same, and your colleagues and the vendors and everybody else the same, because it's just, I cannot, if there's not a fit with a client, and one of my designers, which that just hasn't happened. Well, it did happen once with someone previously that I'd hired. But, you know, that doesn't happen now. But there, there also is that too, I'll meet with a client, and then I'll say, which one is going to be the best for them? You know, clients that are extremely particular, that will have every question in the book, and they have their measuring tape out, and they double triple measure. I know which designers going to be fine with that. And they're, they're great at fielding those calls. And answering that. So I think it's, it's again, it has to do with that hiring. But I, I love my staff, we have so much fun.
38:02
Yeah, no, I can tell I mean, it shows up in your work. And, obviously, just the ease in which you're with each other. I mean, it's really neat. We have a small team, too, right? We have five people. And so you know, and there's not that there's not dynamic. And it's interesting, because just yesterday, actually, I spent probably an hour and a half, you know, kind of moderating between someone who's older than me and someone who's younger than me. And so I guess, because I have three children, it's kind of like, you feel very parentally like, Okay, you do Alright, little one, I understand, okay, you need to calm down. And so you end up I think a big part, something that nobody tells you when you start a business, is that a large portion of your time, is, you know, if your craft is building a home, let's say, and you obviously need to know what you're doing and how to build a home. But you know, ultimately, you surround yourself, as you've said, with people on your team that can either do what you can't do or do it better than you can. I've heard recently that if you can find somebody that that can do your job to 60% efficiency, hire them, and now they can't stay at 60%. But they'll increase I find that really interesting and kind of eye opening. And I got to think of it like sometimes I'll get, you know, discouraged by, you know, an employee's performance on something. But then I if I was to ask myself that question, are they at least doing 60% of it? Oh, yeah, they're way higher than that. They're like 80 or 90%. They're only missing a few small things. And yet, it's, you know, it's easier to be critical of someone else's work than it is of your own. And so you look in the mirror and say, Well, okay, I know I'm making mistakes, too. But you know, are they you know, did they tell me too? Am I being held accountable? And you want to have you mentioned earlier about culture? Just how do you promote that so that everyone has an equal voice, regardless of their seniority, or skill level? I want people to feel comfortable because if people aren't comfortable, you mentioned the word vulnerable. If you're not open with each other, you can't have good company chemistry.
39:46
You just can't You can't. And it's I remember one of them. Um, the first thing they did, they broke a table, and they felt so bad. I mean, I was like, are you okay? Yeah, it's a table right? It, you know, and that I don't, I don't want them to spend their energy on things that are not going to matter, right. And if they have a safe place, I also give them flexibility. I have one that's super independent, Mary is very independent. And I love that I delegate all the time. And I love her independence, because I'm very independent. So, and she appreciates that. So you have to give, you know not it's not always just about money. You know, I mean, there's just different compensation. And people have different needs at different times in their careers. So understanding that and what their goals are, and circling back, I use assessment solutions to kind of do a 360. I haven't done it yet, this year, I want to do it. And it really gives feedback from their perspective. And they rate you as the boss. I like that. Yeah, it's for my recruiting yours,
40:58
you have to send that to me, I'd be very interested. I love personality tests. Yeah, feedback. I'm very intrigued by what it yields. I don't always know what to do with that information. But I do I do like that,
41:08
you can have someone facilitate that. But at least you have the knowledge, and you can maybe get better at it. And then then you know, where to coach yourself as a as a leader,
41:17
because as a fellow business owner, I asked myself this question the other day, you know, just obviously, building over the last two years is been very challenging. It's not just COVID it's like, even out of COVID. Right now, the production as is very well publicized. It's an absolute nightmare. But, you know, I often ask myself, as we're struggling, or as we're, you know, experiencing growing pains, or whatever it is, like, I've just recently it's taken me a long time to like, is it my fault? Is it? Because is it the leader of the company? It? Do I have the Do I have the wrong team member, the wrong trade partner? Or do we have the wrong leadership, and that comes back to me. And so I've kind of blocked out time in my schedule. Now to spend a little bit more time thinking about the business, you know, we're so busy building the house, or having meetings or thinking about this. And I think actually spending some time and just stopping for me, I have to time block, I time block it out, to do a two hour window, and you know, whatever it is that I need to work on. And that's my window to be free of distractions to the best of my ability. And to, to focus on that, and I'm not very good at it. It's something that I need to do a better job of. With that in mind. If you could go back to the beginning, what are some things that you would tell a young Bridgette Dragos about your future? Like what what skills or what assets? Do you wish you would have trained yourself? For him? None of us can go back, of course, and redo history. But what do you think that would have helped you greatly as an entrepreneur and in the interior design world?
42:36
I wish I would have had, I don't know, you know, I? I have no regrets. And I know everything is about timing. Everything is about timing. My faith has gotten huge in the last few years. And that's a big part. I don't let fear overtake me, of course, we all feel fearful, right?
42:57
It's a natural emotion.
42:58
Yeah. But I don't let it drive my decisions. anymore. That's when I, I did I did younger. And I would switch or question myself, like you're saying or question this or question them. And I think, you know, getting the data and the information and studying that and now analyzing that and just kind of sitting back and, and I think it's because you know, you get older and you kind of go, Okay, there's not a whole lot of time, you know, time is you don't get that back. So I think now I just when it comes to decisions, when in doubt, I don't. And I either wait for the, the decision to be made or, or to come to me, or I reach out and ask questions. But I think that's the biggest thing and keeping things simple. I think in our mind as creative entrepreneurs, we can we're all how many businesses have I created in my mind? You know, I'm, I'm like, Oh, my gosh, let's do this. Right? And I have to be careful to not say everything out loud. It's in my head because my staff goes, Okay, does she want me to do that? Did she want me to do that?
44:10
That must be I'll, it's interesting. I'll ask more entrepreneurs that question because I, I have a feeling that that's the entrepreneurs mindset. It's like, I exercise a lot. But when I'm running in my mind is free flowing is up. Usually when I call my PMS or, you know, I'll call random people that I you know, network with and be like, Hey, what'd you think of this idea? What do you do? Like, are you running right now? Like, yeah, as I'm breathing, and I'm like, okay, and they'll, you know, they, you know, luckily, I have very patient friends, because I know, it's unusual, I'm sure for people to do that. And so, but I'm constantly thinking of ideas, and, you know, ultimately you rein it in, and I think that enthusiasm, you know, keeps on essentially breeding new ideas and new life into your current business. I mean, we all know that if you if your business stayed stagnant, it could not survive, right? We need to evolve you know, whether it's, you know, media presence or whatever. It's kind of latest and greatest. It doesn't always have to, you don't have to be on the cutting edge of it. But you have to evolve if you don't evolve. I mean, history is full of businesses that failed apps because they didn't evolve, I think of right. You know, I think like Blackberry or palm pilot, I think they had like 90% of the world's market. And then within just like a couple of years, they went out of business. And so I often think about that, like, what do we need to do, as you know, builder and interior designers to evolve to make sure that a we're meeting the needs of the clients, but we still want to be here for the next 510 1520 years, however long we want our careers to last and however long the public wants us to last?
45:31
Well, I think it's, it's interesting, because my father, you know, first of all, I want to my husband, and my father, being my backbone at my rocks to help me and guide me. And my father's experiences is just couldn't be what I am today without listening to him. So I'm really open to that. But one of the things I think we have to be careful of too, because I definitely know the innovativeness, and always creative and making changes, and but one thing that I've that is really pressed lately, in the last couple years, especially after COVID, is just doing what you do every day, great, and focusing on what you're doing. Because sometimes with a creative mind, you're always on to the next. And you're you're not realizing that the success is in the little things that we do in the day to day tasks that we do all the time. And as entrepreneurs and as creative visionaries, it's really hard to get excited about the same thing over and over again. But that's what makes that success. So it's constantly balancing that too. And having that staff that doesn't mind doing that you can have your whole staff being the creative leaders, right. You What are they got the plotters, you know, I
46:53
mean, blocking and tackling and football. Exactly.
46:56
I mean, they're just, they're there, they like that process. It's like, the different country. Yes, and it's a difference between, you know, a plumber, and then you know, an artist, I mean, it's just, it's, it's a different art, it's, but they have to have that methodical process, and you have to have them. So there's this whole holistic thing that has to happen to keep something successful. So I think for, for me staying that groundedness. And appreciating that every moment, even if it's the little things like walking a client off the edge again, talking, you know, because I repeat myself constantly, we have to remember, the clients don't know this stuff. And, and, you know, so we have to, it's good
47:38
to remember, I mean, just like anything, you get used to it, and you don't want to be patronizing. So you don't want to just so a lot of it is your tone of delivery, how you explain it to people, Hey, this is how we do it. This is why and realizing that, you know, I think anytime we've had an issue where you've made an assumption, you know, the client would say, Well, I didn't know that. And you're like, Okay, I need to realize that this is not common knowledge, even though you feel like it's common knowledge to you and then explain it. One last thing here in closing, you just mentioned that the last couple of years, your faith has helped you remove fear. That reminds me of a verse that comes to mind. I can't remember if it's in Proverbs or Psalms, but just says perfect love casts out fear. Tell me a little bit about that of how, like, how did fear maybe shape you and how has it you know, how have you dealt with it now? Like, what does that mean? When you say your faith has grown? Like, how does that help you and your business? Gosh, okay, so that's a whole nother podcast.
48:28
Yeah, it could be. I think I would love that to talk more about that. But I think of God as my CEO. And it keeps me humble, keeps me grounded. And it, you know, it goes beyond what we see out in the world. So I think it's, it's that combination, like, we're in the world, not of the world for me. So, for me, I'm in the world and I need to, you know, stay agile and innovative and be the best but really, my strength and the faith comes from him and he you know, he creates the day so I have really I've gotten into a huge deep dive study I've been studying the Bible from and I just now got out of Genesis. I'm in a Bible study after a year and a half. So I'm really an49:20
hour and a half in Genesis. Yes. Wow. We're our studies actually happen to be in Genesis right now as well. I think we're on chapter 32 But it's one a week a year and a half. That's incredible.
49:28
Yeah. So well, it's adventure girl. So we have to dig a little deeper and I'm sure we get off topic so but yeah, I love it. I think the knowledge from and I'm gonna I'm gonna plug this gentleman His name is Les Feld, ik and he's actually his recordings are from 1991 and he's a rancher from Oklahoma. He's not a you know, didn't go to seminary he's just a an he just reminds me a pot but anyway, I just love because he I know more. It's an it's like Oh, you know, it's not just having great relationships or going to church or praying. But it's also learning it you have it's a three fold, just like in anything in life, you know, you can't just be isolated from it. So I'm constantly open. But I think it's that vulnerability, I think, look, you know, it was it was pretty scary to start a business here and not know if I was going to be successful. And then the pandemic came, right, right now, all of us,
50:27
everyone, for everyone, those couple of months. It's funny now to look back, right? And think of like, Wow, I can't believe I did that. Or I remember going to the grocery store and seeing people run down the aisles. You're like, well, what is happening here? Now, it seems laughable, but at the time, you're like, Wow, this is very erratic behavior. Yeah,
50:41
it is. So I think that that from from that, and I hope a lot of people I think a lot of people from something like I always say adversity can come an advantage. But you have to take care of it. You have to you have to look for that advantage. Well, I
50:55
can't believe it's already been an hour. I would love to have you on again. And we certainly will. Thank you very much for coming on. Where can our guests find you?
51:04
Well, you can find us at terreus designs.com. Oh, gosh, let me spell that for you. CHIRIGO s designs.com or design bar m n.com. We're in Deephaven. And or find us through Marc Williams. No. Well, Tim, how
51:23
that's great. Well, I'll have all will have all your links in our in our show notes as well. So you can certainly click below there. And yeah, thank you very much for your time and for coming on. You've been a great person and a great, a great guest. So thank you.
51:33
Thank you. Thank you so much, and congratulations on this podcast. Oh, thank you very much.
