Kevin Doyle
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Speaker: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Working Moms of San Antonio podcast. We're your hosts, Erica Radis and Marie Lifshultz, a realtor and lender here in San Antonio, but most importantly, we're working moms just like you.
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We love connecting with local moms in business, hearing about their journeys, and how they're balancing it all. Because let's be honest, it's not always easy, but it's so worth it.
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Whether you're looking for a supportive community of moms in business or need a beautiful space to work and grow, we've got just what you need here at Working Moms of San Antonio. You can visit the link in our show notes or workingmomsofsanantonio.com/membership for more info.
Speaker: Now, on to today's [00:01:00] episode.
Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let's get started
Speaker 2: Welcome to this week's episode of The Working Moms of San Antonio podcast. Today we have a guest. His name is Kevin. Um, full disclosure, Kevin, you are our first- Yes ... solo male- Oh, really? Yes. ... guest.
Speaker 3: Oh, wow.
Speaker 2: Yes. We're super excited. We have had, like- That's great ... a couple of people come in- Mm ... um, but never just a guy by himself.
So welcome, Kevin. I am honored to be the first guy. We're excited to hear what you've got to say. Yeah. So I'm gonna turn it over to you- That's great. That's great ... and, and that way you can share with our audience what you've got going on.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah. Thanks so much for having me, first of all. I love that you guys do this in San Antonio.
I think that, um, you know, my wife, uh, has, has been a stay-at-home mom, has been a working mom. Yeah. She's done both, and, uh, I know what a, a thankless [00:02:00] job that that can be, uh, so often, so I really appreciate you guys giving it the attention that it deserves, and having this podcast. So thanks for having me on.
We love it.
Speaker 2: Of course.
Speaker 3: We love
Speaker 2: it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3: Um, I am a, uh, I'm a business owner, small business owner. Uh, I'm a dad of four kids, a husband, uh, 23 years. Um, and I'm an interior designer, and we own, uh, Humble Abode Mercantile. And so, uh, kind of the vision behind Humble Abode was really to, uh, bring style, uh, and, uh, and, and, and something that felt very fashion-forward to, you know, uh, regular people, I think.
Yeah. Yeah, I like that. And, and just for it to be accessible. I think that so much of the time, you know, when people hear interior designer, uh, they get really intimidated by the idea of having an interior designer even come in. That's me- Yeah ... 'cause I have
Speaker: no creativity.
Speaker 3: Yeah. And it's, it's... You also think about the, the money associated.
Yeah. People think you have to be super wealthy to, to have an interior [00:03:00] designer come in- Mm-hmm ... and, uh, and help. And I think that, you know, I was telling someone today at the store, there's plenty of things that I am not good at, and not everybody can be good at everything, you know? Yeah. And so this is just something that I have a knack for, and have some training in, and have done for a long time.
And so, you know, it comes really- pretty easily to me, pretty naturally to me. Um, design, like every other art form, is subjective. I mean, people- Totally. Yeah, yeah ... it's something that not everybody likes everything. And, you know- Right ... there's different stuff for everybody. So, um, you know, I try to, uh, in our, in our process when we, when someone comes in and wants a design consultation and wants us to come into their home, um, we try to understand who they are and what they want, and kinda what, what speaks to them.
But we were talking a moment ago, Erica, about your environment and how- Right ... that f- how it affects the way you work, and that's really, really true for me. I've found, you know, since I was a little kid- Mm ... I think you were, Marie, talking about how tidiness and, like, you know-
Speaker: Yes, I have to have things tidy and neat, and I- Mm-hmm
just [00:04:00] my personality. And-
Speaker 3: Yep ...
Speaker: when you have kids, uh, and a husband-
Speaker 3: Yep ...
Speaker: sometimes that doesn't happen. Yeah. I live with a house full of boys.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Speaker: And my space is very boy.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: And I'm like, "I'd rather be here at work," and mom's working or- Sure ... you know, doing stuff like that 'cause I, it- Yeah ... it calms me- Yep
because it feels pretty- Yeah ... and it's nice and it's open and-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker: yes.
Speaker 3: I agree, and I personally think that everyone is affected by their surroundings. Yeah. I think there are some who realize it- Mm-hmm ... and some who don't. And there will be people who will say, "Uh, it doesn't really matter to me." I think it does.
I think it- Yeah ... matters to everybody. I think things like light, uh, things like, you know, comfort, an uncomfortable chair or a comfortable chair, you know, something that functions well for what you're doing. All of those things, uh, you know, they really, they really matter. They do, yeah. And so I think that people are affected.
And that's one of the fun things about, you know, we opened the store just in March of this year.
Speaker: Oh, so
Speaker 3: very new. Yeah. And it's very new. Yeah. And, uh, it's our first retail space- And it's really interesting to watch people walk through the door over and over and over again, because everyone kind of has, uh, [00:05:00] I think a similar reaction.
Mm-hmm. And it's a huge compliment. They kind of take a deep breath, and they feel like they've walked into like a, a space that is cozy and warm and something that feels like a home, but also like a store, and- Yeah ... you know, it's something in between. And so I think that, yeah, people are really affected by their surroundings.
Since I was a kid, um, I, you know, having things orderly was important to me. Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Um, as I got older, I became a little bit more comfortable with, uh, things being a little more eclectic and having- Yeah ... some personality, and now, you know, that's really what I love, but cohesion is- Yeah ... important in all of those things, so.
Speaker: Well, I think in what we do, since we're both in real estate- Yeah ... it kinda, it makes it, it, it's a big deal in our life. Like I- Yeah ... I need things to function.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: Like I can't just have a piece of furniture or something that doesn't do anything.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: It drives me nuts.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: But it has to, it has to have a purpose, but I also want- Yeah
I like comfortable. Yeah. It has to be comfortable, but I also want it to look nice.
Speaker 3: Yep, yep.
Speaker: And yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah. I think that's what everybody feels. They want those [00:06:00] things exactly. I am not a big fan of something, an item, an object that doesn't do anything.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: You know? It's just an object. I mean, maybe there's an a ti- a time and a place for that at some point, but even if it's a, it's a bouquet of flowers- Yeah
it provides beauty in a space- Sure ... that, and that is its own function. It's a piece of artwork. So yeah, I, I love, uh, finding, discovering... I have these things right now in the store that are, they look sculptural. They look like an antique sculptural wood horse.
Speaker: Oh.
Speaker 3: That's what it looks like.
Speaker: Uh-huh.
Speaker 3: You get it, and the top, I know it's, this is h- tough to visualize, but there's a little, like, plunger.
You pull it out. It was an antique Mexican juicer. They would put their oranges and limes- Oh my gosh. How
Speaker: cool ...
Speaker 3: and like crush them down- Really? ... and push them through, but it looks like a horse. Oh, how cool.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: And you know, even something like that, even if it did have a function and it also provides some beauty and some- Yeah
sculptural beauty- It won't look bad on your countertop ... I think is really cool. Yeah, it looks great- It looks nice ... somewhere. Yeah. Yep, yep. So it's really, it's a [00:07:00] really cool... Those are cool things to find and, and run across. But yeah, so we, um- One of the things that we, uh, love to do, I talked a little bit about bringing interior design to, uh, ordinary people- Mm-hmm
and not making it intimidating. Um, we have a, a consultation that we, we walk in and we go into someone's home, and we walk through, and just what you were saying, Marie, we talk about function first. Yeah. We talk about how do you use this space, and how many people are usually in this room, and what, what happens in this room.
You know, do you have pets? Do you watch TV here? Do you read? Is it a, is it a formal space, like, where you're having guests? You know, what, what is it looking like? And, uh, we try to get our, our, our brains around that, and then design from that place, and that sets the tone and really determines, uh, you know, a lot of what the beauty is gonna look like in the end.
Well,
Speaker: I actually thought about that, 'cause I, I bought a home 10 years ago, and it's, it's an older home, 1970s home. Mm-hmm. And someone went in before we bought it- Mm-hmm ... many years before, and [00:08:00] tried to flip it. Yep. Changed walls, moved walls. Uh-huh. There's random walls in places. So the function of the home doesn't flow.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: So I'm like, I don't know what furniture to put where.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: I- it took me for... And I, like, I still d- I feel kinda clunky. Like, it- Yeah ... I d- and I'm like, in my head, I'm like, "Can't afford an interior designer." Yeah. Like, someone told me, "Hire someone." I'm like, "Okay." Yeah, no. But I didn't, I didn't- Right ... know people, like, come in and help me make it flow- Yep
and maybe use with what I got. Or- Yep ... can I add pieces that make sense for this area?
Speaker 3: Yeah. And that's exactly- Yeah ... that's one of the things that we do. Um, and it's such, that's actually one of the most rewarding things that we do- Yeah ... is to go in and, and help people with just that. Um, but, uh, y- I, I think, you know what's funny, and you were saying you have a background, Erica, in, in graphic design.
I do, yes. Mm-hmm. And then you both are in real estate?
Speaker 2: Yes. Okay. Yeah, she's the lender. I'm buying. I'm the agent.
Speaker 3: Awesome. I'm the money part. Awesome. That's great. I love
Speaker 2: that. So I go in and see a lot of homes, and I see a lot of- Yeah ... different design.
Speaker 3: Yes. I'm j- I know you do. Yeah. Yep, yep, you do. Good
Speaker 2: and bad.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and that's for, for someone who does it, you know, those kinds of challenges that [00:09:00] every, I think that every home, every home, without exception, has architectural challenges.
Speaker 2: Sure. Yeah.
Speaker 3: They're just, they just exist because at some point in the conception of the home and the actual build-out of the home- There was something that didn't- Yes
translate. That's right. You know?
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: And, and it just happens in every home. There's a- you can go into the nicest homes, and you're thinking like, "Why is the trash can over here?" Like, why is there- Sure. It doesn't flow.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah. There- it just always exists. And for a designer, I think after the fact, once something is built, I think to step into that space, what I've found is that those challenges provide an opportunity for creativity-
Speaker 2: Yes
Speaker 3: which produces the best results. When I'm forced into a problem and have to work my way out of the problem, I get the best results.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Like, that's what then becomes a feature rather than- Yeah ... a, a flaw, you know. And so that- it's, it's a lot of fun. Right now I'm, I'm doing a home on, um, in New Braunfels on the river.[00:10:00]
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: And, uh, it, it's just a modest, uh, kind of a ranch-style home.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker 3: Probably was built in, I'm gonna guess, the late '50s, early '60s.
Speaker 2: Those
Speaker 3: are my
Speaker 2: favorite.
Speaker 3: So, yeah, I love them. Um, but it's quirky as heck. Yeah. And it's got like... I mean, the, the owners have put in a consistent floor through most of the home, but even still I think there's three.
There's wood floors, there's Saltillo tile, and there's some other strange tile- Right. ... that, you know, who knows. But, uh, there's lots of different finishes. But in this particular space, the, uh, back porch, which looked onto the river, is the home... Or is the, it, is what they turned into the living room. They- Yeah
closed it in and put windows, but it's very narrow and long. And it's so narrow that furniture configuration becomes really tough, and you don't wanna block the view. So it's r- and we've been working on that now for a couple of weeks, and we've got some solutions, and it's amazing what [00:11:00] that kind of forced creativity will do.
Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, when I think about, um, working moms, and when I think about trying to, you know, if, if you're married or if you're single- Mm ... uh, if you have a partner or not, um, and you've got kids, uh, and you're holding down a job, like trying to live a life outside of that right there- Mm ... outside of going to work and taking care of your kids and making sure everybody's showered and fed and- Yeah
you know, doing all the things. All the things. It's a lot. And I think that, um- I think that there are some, some key... You know, one of the-- When I think about design, I think about its f- its practicality, its function in the sense that ultimately it's also about hospitality.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 3: It's, it is for yourself. It is for you and for how you feel, but it's also a space that you're bringing other people into.
And I've talked to so many people that struggle to invite people over- Oh. ... because they don't- Yeah ... feel like their home is conducive [00:12:00] for that for whatever reason. And the first thing I would just say is, um, you know, your home is your home, and it reflects you. And ultimately, I think that it's just a space that you can bring p- people in, and they don't care.
They're interested in you- Totally ... first and foremost, not, not what the decor style is like. Um, but if you wanna work on that, I think there's some, some things that can be really helpful. Um, one of the things that This is a video that you can find on my socials, but, uh, I talk about, I hold up like a cantaloupe or a, a baby watermelon.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker 3: And I, um, I think that a good rule of thumb is to not buy things smaller than a cantaloupe. I think that people struggle with clutter because they buy-
Speaker 2: I would like it- I would like for you to say that to my children, please. Yep.
Speaker 3: I, yeah, I know. I know. Yeah. But if they, if you do, if you do have things like little collectibles- Yeah
you can group them up and put them on a tray, and it reads as one thing rather than lots of little things [00:13:00] that tend to look cluttery.
Speaker: Yeah. And so- Yes, but if you have boomer parents, they love to give you stuff. Yeah. Oh, that's another thing too. That all little monitos that you have- ... in the curio cabinet.
I'm like, "What is all these little-" What
Speaker 3: did you call them? Monitos? Monitos. That's great.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Knickknacks.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Knickknacks. Yeah. Yep, yep. That's great. Like, why?
Speaker: Who? What? Why?
Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. Yep, yep, because that's what they did. They collected- Or you have children- ... they
Speaker: collected
Speaker 3: to be able to pass on
that love to
Speaker: buy you whatever random stuff-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker: from, "Oh-"
Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, I have so much of that stuff. "
Speaker: Let
Speaker 3: me take you to-"
Speaker 2: Yeah. Anything with a heart on it. "Don't
Speaker: forget me."
Speaker 2: Anything that, yeah. It's like, oh my gosh, and then you can't not put it out because they're like, "Where's that thing?" And I'm like, "Oh, I don't know where it is."
Speaker 3: That's really great. You know, I just was working with a military couple who both retired, and they bought a house in Castroville. And, uh, they're some, some clients. And she, because they were in the military, they didn't keep a lot of stuff. Totally. Yeah. And they just kinda got rid of furniture as they moved.
And now that they're in their forever home, they're sort of wanting to buy. And when I went to their house, you know, it was pretty vacant. And, but I said, "Do you have anything that you've sort of collected over the years?" And she was like, "I [00:14:00] do have something." She said, "I've got a collection of magnets."
Speaker 2: Oh.
Speaker 3: And she had magnets from, like, every s- city and state, you know, that they went. And again, a challenge, right? I looked at this thing and I was like, "Oh, my goodness. How do we take this box of magnets and-" Please don't put that on your fridge. It'll drive you nuts. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. It drives me nuts too. But we found, we got a water jet cutter and cut out a really cool sort of organic shaped piece of steel-
Speaker: Yeah
Speaker 3: and mounted it on the wall with standoffs over, like this, um, over the bench in their hallway where they put their shoes on.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Very cool. So it's kinda like the right place. It's not in the living room. Right. It's in, like, the hallway. It's, but it's there, you know? It's there. Yeah. And she's got her magnets out, and it really, because of giving it a place, giving it, like, a central place- Oh, I love that
it looks like a picture sort of- And it makes sense ... you know? It makes sense for what they- It makes sense ... what they, you know? Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. And it's special to them. Yeah. It's something that they have memories attached to. So yeah. That's something that people, I think, struggle with a lot is hand-me-downs, like things or things you've [00:15:00] inherited.
Speaker: You, you feel guilty.
Speaker 3: You feel guilty. You feel guilty to get rid
Speaker: of
Speaker 3: it. You feel bad. But
Speaker: I'm like, "I don't like any of this stuff."
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: I'm, "What am I gonna do with all these things?" Yeah. Like, I don't know. Yeah. But I think it's okay to, like, accept it- Mm-hmm
Speaker 2: and then just be appreciative that it was given-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker 2: and then give it away. I mean, I think that's okay. Yeah. Find- You know?
Speaker 3: I think so too. Yeah. I think it's okay to give things away.
Speaker 2: Yeah. We- To someone who will- I mean, we grew up moving around all the time. We were talking about that yesterday. Yeah. And because of that, I don't feel- very, very attached to a lot of physical things I am the same way You know?
Yeah. It's like, okay, I could take it or leave it. Yeah. Um-
Speaker: How's Frank with it?
Speaker 2: Oh, he doesn't care. Yeah, my- Oh ... my husband is, is former military. Yeah. His parents and then him, himself, and so, no, he doesn't care.
Speaker: You are blessed. Yeah. My husband, my husband loves things. He loves... He, uh, he grew up with his grandparents, so everything his grandfather passed down- Yeah
is meaningful. I'm like, "Why do we need five hammers?"
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: You only could just need one. We could just have one. We could pick
Speaker 2: one
Speaker: hammer. Yeah. Yeah. So he has, he, he does, he, he chair- Like, obviously we have military family, and we have a lot of that kind of stuff- Yeah ... which I get. Yeah. And there's ways to use it, but yes, clutter.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: Functionality makes a lot of sense in [00:16:00] my world. But if it- Yeah ... uh, if I have to choose anything with color or that kind of stuff, I'm like- Yeah ... I'm numbers. I don't play with... Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2: How, how do you feel, and I'm curious about this because I see the way that, like, the media affects what happens in real estate- Yeah
specifically. Mm. Mm. How do you feel like social media and all of these, like, aesthetic videos and, like- Mm ... people looking so perfect have affected the design world and, like- Oh ... what you see in people's, like, real life?
Speaker 3: Totally has.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Totally. I mean, it's definitely affected it, and I think that, um, I, I think, like everything else, there's some pros and some cons, you know?
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I think the cons that I see is that, uh, people feel overwhelmed by it being, uh, by seeming unachievable or unattainable. Yes. Totally. I think they see this, like, thing that looks picture perfect, and just like a body or like a clothes or whatever, anything else that's materialistic in that way, it can just seem totally out of reach.
And I, you know, that is, I, I think that one of the things that I experience pretty often is that, [00:17:00] um, I go into a home and a client, th- this r- river, lake house- Yeah ... is a great example. They have a bathroom, and all of the tile is kind of the original tile from the '60s or s- Is it pink? It's red- Oh, red. ... with, with, like, lavender- Yeah
accents. Very strange color combination, but it's in pristine condition.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: And I walked in, and I said, "We're leaving this." Oh my
Speaker 2: gosh.
Speaker 3: Like- I
Speaker 2: would've said the same
Speaker 3: thing ... "We're leaving this." Yeah. "We're not touching it, and what we're gonna do is enhance it. We're gonna lean into it. We're gonna add wallpaper that's funky and looks like it belongs, and it will make this place the star."
Nice. Yeah. Yes. "Like, it'll make it great." And so I think that people have things. There is, of course, you know, I've had the, the bathroom that's just the, it, there's nothing nice about it. Yeah. It's just an- Yeah ... '80s bathroom, and it looks like it belongs, you know, in a prison camp somewhere.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Dingy. And I've had it, and you just gotta, you gotta at some point replace- Yeah
it and whatever. But I think that the idea that things have to be brand [00:18:00] new- Is wrong. I think that the- Yes. Yeah, I love that. And
Speaker 2: do you feel like that
idea's
Speaker 2: on the way out?
Speaker: The resale stuff is coming back.
Speaker 3: I think people are- I think it's coming in. Yeah. Nice. I think that the idea that things can be old and things can be mixed is, is really coming alive.
Like people- Yeah ... are starting to appreciate it. That's certainly what I'm hearing from other designers, and it's what I love, and I have the disease- That's what I'm attracted to. Yeah, yeah. That's what I tend to like. Yep. Yeah. And that's what we do, is we... So at our shop Um, our, our fabric stuff is brand new from the manu- manufacturer because, you know- Fabrics
secondhand fabric- Yeah ... it's fabric, so yeah. But leather, all of our leather is reclaimed, so it's secondhand. And then a lot of our wood pieces are mixed. We have vintage- Mm ... we have antique, and we have some new. But even the new stuff we're getting looks old. Yeah. It's from Puebla, Mexico, and it's like, it's got this beautiful patina and age to it so it looks old.
But, um, yeah, I think it does affect it. I think mostly just feeling like it's out of reach, and, and that's, that's what, [00:19:00] as a designer-
Speaker 2: Yeah ...
Speaker 3: that's what I want people to feel like is more accessible- Right ... and, and, and something that they don't have to... W- exactly what you said, Marie. People, someone coming in and rearranging your furniture and just moving it around, what you already have.
Makes sense, yeah,
Speaker: yeah.
Speaker 3: We do that a lot, and that's one of, uh, the big pieces of our business, and it's honestly the most rewarding- Yeah ... thing for me.
Speaker: Well, I'm sorry to go back to what we do, but because I work with- Yeah ... first-time home buyers- Yeah ... they have this idea of brand-new homes or whatever this, and all it has is- Everything's gray.
And has this- Everything's white ... yes, or green bathrooms- ... are not okay. But no, no, no, like you, you can buy a h- you can buy a home. You just have- Yes ... to put a little bit of elbow grease into it- Yes ... and figure out what works for you. And this- Yep ... it doesn't have to be-
Speaker 3: That's right ...
Speaker: these things.
Speaker 3: Yeah. And it's okay for it to take time.
Like, our parents didn't have insta beauty- Right ... right away. Our parents and grandparents, like it- Exactly ... takes, takes time. It's okay to buy a house and say, "Okay, we're gonna, in the next five years, we're gonna work on the kitchen, and then 10 years- Yeah ... later do the bathroom." Like-
Speaker: But knowing there's an option out there, like hey, there's people that will help you- Yes
if you can't. Like, I'm not-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker: I [00:20:00] can't- Visualize it ... I can't, I can't. Yeah. I can't. Unless you draw it, I don't know. I can't see it.
Speaker 3: Right, right.
Speaker: But if you're like, "Hey Marie, this green tile will go with this wallpaper- Yeah ... and this is what it would look like," I'm like, "Oh, uh, uh-" Sold. "... definitely. Sold. Done. I can do this."
Yeah. "I see it now." Yeah,
Speaker 3: yeah.
Speaker: So if you know that there's someone out there available- Yeah ... like hey, if you're thinking abou- about something, what, a house- Yeah ... something, or there's someone- Yeah ... to help you see the picture- Yeah, yeah ... and it's not out of reach, if that makes sense- Yeah, yeah ... then it's, it's doable.
I don't think people think- Yeah ... that way.
Speaker 2: No. I
Speaker: mean, not, not people that I've worked with.
Speaker 2: I mean, what we, what I like to say to people, and I think you say this too- Mm ... is that anything about a house can be changed except where it's at.
Speaker 3: Yes. Yeah, the location.
Speaker 2: You know? I mean-
Speaker 3: That's
Speaker 2: exactly true ... and it's just the truth.
Yeah. You know? Yeah. I mean, I guess technically there are homes that you could pick up and move, although I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. I've seen, I've seen some houses on the highway and stuff. Not around here, yeah. Um, but yeah. I mean, really- Yeah ... as long... I mean, really anything. Like, I mean even- Yeah ... our house is from 1968, and what I'm in the process of doing is trying to get it back to its, like, origi- Yeah
like I just, I'm a big- You want
Speaker: it
Speaker 2: to feel like it's... Yeah ... yes, and I'm like a big energy person. Yeah. And our previous [00:21:00] house to this, we spent a lot of time trying to love, and it just hated our guts. Like, everything that we would do to it- Yep, yep ... it was like, "But actually, you know, you need to fix the septic."
Yeah. "But actually, your roof is going to shit." Yeah, yep. "But actually, you know, whatever." Yep, yep. And so this house, I'm like, "I'm just trying to make you nice." Yeah. Like, "Be nice to me." And so far it's working. Oh,
Speaker 3: good, good, good.
Speaker 2: So far it's going okay. You found the right match. Yes. Yeah. But I mean, it's not- It was not super pretty- Yeah
you know, when you walked in. Yeah. But I knew it was right in town and it was all of- Yeah ... those things. And so I was like, "Okay, this is our house." Yeah. But we've just gotta really work- You're gonna have to work ... over time, you know? Yes. Yep. Um, and someone like you to come in and do things- Yeah ... in an attainable way.
You don't have to- Yeah ... have a bazillion dollars. Right. Right. Um, yeah, I mean, I just love that. Yep.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: Well, I think I've passed on some, like, and for my particular situation, when you walk in, there's no, like, where do you put the couch?
Speaker 3: Uh-huh.
Speaker: It's just a big open, walls are- Yeah ... missing half there, 'cause someone went in and thought, "Oh, open floor plan makes sense- Yeah
for every home." No, it doesn't.
Speaker 3: Doesn't. Yeah.
Speaker: Walls were there for a reason. Yeah. It restricts sound. Uh-huh. There's, uh-
Speaker 3: So many things, right?
Speaker: Yes, we learned this- I know ... over COVID. Yeah. Like, [00:22:00] there's a wall, there was a wall here for a reason. We, it should-
Speaker 3: Now it's not ... still be here. We
Speaker: wish it was.
Speaker 3: And the house is like, "It should still be here."
Yeah.
Speaker: It was like, "Okay, where do I put..." Yeah. Like, I don't even know where the, the dining room table should go at
Speaker 3: this moment.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. But I didn't, I didn't think to say, "Hey, maybe find someone who does this to help you- Yeah ... navigate it." Yep. And then, okay, maybe the piece of furniture I want is might, might be at a lower price- Yeah
but I can save towards and know that this is the space-
Speaker 3: Yeah ... it
Speaker: will work.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. I think that people get in their heads, and I mean, I, I hope this doesn't sound like a shameless plug, but plug, but when you, when you have a plumbing issue, I don't tackle plumbing issues- Yeah. ... in my house, you know? And I, and I think that we know that, like, there are certain things that you'd need an expert.
Yeah. And it does design... W- what people, I think, tend to think is pretty furniture. Like, that's what, that's what a designer comes in, they're gonna, they wanna come in and they wanna sell me a bunch of beautiful furniture that I either don't want to afford or can't afford.
Speaker: Yeah. Right.
Speaker 3: And that actually is so [00:23:00] secondary to what it really is about.
What, what you're doing is you're hiring someone to come in and change the way you live, the way you walk- Yes ... around a space, the way you sit in a space and have conversation, and the way that it feels when you do that. It's not about the nicest of everything.
Speaker: Gotcha.
Speaker 3: It's about the, the best function. And you know, one of the things that I tell people is that whether we're talking about a chair or a throw pillow or whatever- Do not get fixated before you buy this on the fact that you have to love it 100%.
If you can love this 70% and get it into your space with everything else, then you'll love it 100%. Yeah. Like, people are trying to marry something, you know, on its own. Yeah, yeah. And we can't get there. Yeah. And I, and I think that there's so many houses are that way, you
Speaker 2: know what
Speaker 3: I mean? Yeah, I
Speaker 2: was gonna say there are so many things- Yeah
that are that way. Yep, yep. You know? Yeah. That's really good advice. I think that's good life advice
Speaker 3: probably. It is, it is. Yeah, I think so too. Yeah. It's just helpful to think that way because, um, yeah, but, but [00:24:00] back to the point. It- it's, what, what we're trying to do, you're bringing someone in to kind of help the way you live, the way you move and function in this space.
Speaker: You think, okay, if I feel better about my space and it's comfortable and it's airy, and now I want to invite people over- Yeah ... what does that do for my life?
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: It improves it. Is it worth, it's worth the investment, right? Yeah. It is. Yeah. And I don't think people see it that way. When you hear interior design, eh, that's a luxury word.
Yes, yes. Like, it's a word together. Like, I'm like, "
Speaker 3: Mm." Yeah,
Speaker: yeah. Like, I'm, I'm, I'm not that. Yeah. I'm plain, you know. But again, if someone's come in and saying, "Hey, if you change the color in this room, if you add some wallpaper- Mm-hmm ... and you move the couch to the corner versus in the middle of the room- Yep
that makes more sense for your flow of the home."
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah. Then you might wanna have people over for coffee.
Speaker 2: That's right. That's right. That's right. Yeah. That's exactly- And I mean, Kevin even made a good point earlier about lighting. Like, there's a reason that there's, like, seasonal affective disorder, whatever.
Yes. Like, all these things. Like, if you're sitting... Like, I personally could never sit in an office and work where there was no natural light. Yeah.
Speaker 3: Uh,
Speaker 2: yeah. I'm very affected by the light. Yeah. And I think most people probably are. Yeah. And an, an a- a designer would come in and be like, "Hey, look." Women, women
Speaker: are.
Like-
Speaker 3: [00:25:00] Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean, that's why up north and stuff, they have those, like, lights that people have to shine on- Uh-huh. Sun lamps ... to like give them a better mood. Yeah. Yep, yep. Because it's important. It is. Lighting is important. It's super important. It's important to our, like, circadian rhythm and, like, all the things.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah. You're exactly right. So. It's huge. It's, it's a huge thing. And I think that there are, you know, a- a- as a father of four kids, I can look at just my kids, and they're so many different perso- Yeah. They're four very different people, different personalities. It's funny how the blend, right? Yeah. You get this blend of like, you're like, "How am I raising my sister or my s- my- Yeah.
my brother-in-law?" Or whatever, you know, you're raising your relatives. But, um, I, I think that when I think about my children, you know, I've got my second-born daughter- walks, she's, we joke that she's got all the brains in the family. She's a smart girl. Yeah. You know, she's book smart.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 3: She walks into a space and we can have a new whatever in the room for months before she notices it, and she'll be sitting in the space- "Hey, where'd that come from?"
and go, "Hey, is that new?" And we're like, "Well, it was like four months ago." You know? Yeah. Everyone kinda laughs. But here's the thing, she [00:26:00] doesn't notice, but she's affected.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 3: Okay. And I think that there's a lot of people like that. There are the design-leaning people, the artsy people, you know, in the world like me, who notice everything.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3: I notice if you part your hair in a different place, you know, than you usually do. Yeah. Don't notice that. Like, I notice everything. And, uh, and so there are those people who are just kind of keenly attuned- Yeah ... to their surroundings, and then there are those people who are passively attuned. They, they, they know it when it's off, but if everything is kinda, you know, they may not notice.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: But we do, our circadian rhythm, like all our, our sleep patterns, the way that we rest. When I talk to people about, um, you know, trouble sleeping at night, when we're talking about a bedroom- So much of it has to do with the red wall, you know? Like- Yeah ... like if you've got a bright red wall in your bedroom, it's stimulating, and there's so much of it that people don't [00:27:00] realize affects you subconsciously and-
Speaker: Mm-hmm
Speaker 3: and really has a, a, an impact- My son has an
Speaker: accent red wall in his room, Aaron.
Speaker 3: Yeah. It has an impact on how you decompress- Yeah ... from the day, and you're stimulated, and so it just works against you, you know?
Speaker: I'm very big on- How interesting ... my, my bedroom has to be my safe space. Yeah. I,
Speaker 3: we have gr- You want it calming.
Speaker: Yeah, I do. I, I mean- Mm ... I, not that the boys weren't allowed in there, but I have, like I said, I have room for, but I mean, this is my sp- this is mom's space.
Speaker 3: Yep.
Speaker: Like, I- Yeah ... we didn't, if we, if the boys were sick, we would always go to their bedroom- Yeah ... so, you know, there, but it was my space. I want it to be comfortable.
Yeah. It doesn't have to be pretty, but if-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker: I need it comfortable. Yeah. I need it special. Like, I like certain sheets. Mm-hmm. It made sense. Yeah. I wanted it
Speaker 3: to
Speaker: look comfortable and like, yeah- Yeah ... not, not over-stimulating.
Speaker 3: Yeah. And- And lighting's huge even- Mm-hmm ... uh, you know, I think there's a joke that's been around long enough that people know, but have you seen the videos about overhead, the big light?
Yes. Don't turn the big light on. No, and I
Speaker 2: never do.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It really does, I mean, we, we very, very rarely do, and they're all on dimmers. Yes. You know? Because it's, it's [00:28:00] such a, it, it's such an a- alert kind of... It feels like an office.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 3: And so I'm a big fan of, like, layered lighting, and when you can get it, I, I think everything, in design, everything is about threes, thirds.
Okay. And so I think if you can get layered, like, three different layers of lighting throughout a room, that it just changes the way you live in the room, the way you feel in a room.
Speaker 2: And does that mean, like, height?
Speaker 3: Height. Okay. Yeah, so, like, candles or a fireplace is, like, maybe level one.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3: Uh, level two is, like, lamps, and level three is, like, higher lamps- Mm
or some overhead lighting on a, on a dimmer or something like that.
Speaker 2: Ooh, that's interesting. But when you're
Speaker 3: moving- That's a good tip ... yeah, when you're mo- when i- everything, even I'm looking in this room, you did a great job.
Speaker 2: Thank
Speaker 3: you. And you've got the wainscoting on the wall a third of the way- Yes ... up the wall, and if you were to cut the wall in half and do it in half, it looks weird.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: And everybody- Mm ... kinda knows it without really knowing it. But, um, [00:29:00] everything, you know, when you're decorating a coffee table, three different levels of height on- Mm ... a coffee table and also three, either three items or three things that read, like, so a tray with two items and then two more. Two more, yeah.
Exactly. And our, it's
Speaker 2: because our brain just likes that?
Speaker 3: It likes threes. Interesting. It feels harmonious to us. Yeah. And what's strange is, you know, go home and try it, like, it's a-
Speaker 2: Oh, I'm
Speaker 3: going to. It's funny when you, when you have a table and you put two things on the table, it's like- Ugh. It just doesn't- It's
Speaker 2: weird.
Speaker 3: It's weird. Yeah. And then you put the third thing, and if you've got the three different heights on, you know, then... And it, if you think about it, it's everywhere. You know, I don't know, you guys, again, real estate, so think about, um, curb appeal and landscape.
Speaker 2: Yes.
Speaker 3: If you're- Layers. Yeah. Three heights, three tiers.
You know, you want kind of a lower tier, a medium, and a high.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3: And that creates the most aesthetic beauty.
Speaker 2: Yeah. And- What do they say? Spillers- Yep ... fillers, and thrillers. Thrillers.
Speaker 3: Right? [00:30:00] That's right. Yeah. Yeah, that's right. And that, that same concept is basically carry that through-
Speaker: Yeah ...
Speaker 3: you know, a home.
And, um, and it starts just doing something to you, uh, whether it's feng shui or- Yeah ... whether it's, you know, it does something to you to make you kind of relax.
Speaker: I started thinking, like, w- I have a l- the loft area that I had my office and I moved it. Yeah. And I have a couch and a chair, like a reading area, and the boys now like to sit in there, and when they have friends come over they sit.
And I'm like, "That darn coffee table drives me nuts." And I couldn't figure out, there's nothing on it.
Speaker 3: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. It's just completely like Yep, yep. Gotta
Speaker 2: have
Speaker: something on it, yeah. And there's two, like, I'm like, "Wait,
Speaker 3: there's only a lamp." Go find three of something.
Speaker: I
Speaker 3: know. And I'm gonna tell you- I'm gonna go home and do that
go find a piece of wood out in the- ... wherever. You know, I don't know where people go to get pieces of wood around here. But go, you know, just wh- whatever that looks architectural. Yeah. Like, it does, you don't even have to... It can be natural. You can get a rock. We have- Put
Speaker: something on it.
Speaker 3: We have rocks, you know, in our house that just are beautiful, and we put kinda all over the place.
But that, that same concept, it's so, um, interesting. I, I'll tell you, this is just a personal thing, 'cause we talked about how art [00:31:00] is subjective.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 3: I am a guy who I do not- I appreciate symmetry in some areas, but there are designers who want symmetry everywhere.
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3: It tends to be a bit of a, a formal style.
Mm. So imagine, you know, there's a fireplace, and you've got, like, two of the same size somethings on either e- end of the mantel- Yeah ... or whatever. I am someone who goes the opposite direction. I love asymmetry.
Speaker: Okay.
Speaker 3: I think it's warmer. I think it's casual. So I tend to kind of, on a fireplace, uh, may- oh, you can see my hands, but, uh, kind of do this.
I kinda go short on one side and tall- Yeah ... on the other. And I think it does something, um, it is a ca- a more casual look- Yeah ... and not such a formal look, and I feel like it's approachable-
Speaker: Yeah ...
Speaker 3: and makes the whole space read as more relaxed, so.
Speaker: Well, it's kind of like you, like, kinda what you, like, in a blazer.
You can walk around- Yeah ... in, in a suit- Mm-hmm ... and that's more straight and- Yep ... you know, versus being casual-
Speaker 3: Yep ... you
Speaker: know,
Speaker 3: in, in- Yep ... comfy clothes. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. It just gives off a different- Vibe ... [00:32:00] different feeling, different vibe, and-
Speaker 2: Yeah ...
Speaker 3: so.
Speaker 2: No way is right or wrong. That's right. But it's just- That's right
you know, a different- Yep, preference ... and I mean, I would, I would say I probably lean more towards what you're saying. Mm-hmm. And I think because it's just visually more interesting to me. Yeah. I'm constantly looking for things that are just a little bit more interesting.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Um, and little tweaks, I have found, you know, can, that can help do that, whereas the other would look, I think, at, as a quick span, like, yeah, that looks great- Yeah
'cause it's like your eyes are like, "Hey, this is nice." It looks-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker 2: you know, similar, but-
Speaker 3: Absolutely.
Speaker 2: But yeah. That's interesting. Yeah. I mean, there's obviously all different kinds of design- Yep ... styles.
Speaker 3: Yep.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Um, but I like a more casual style.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I do too. I like something that can feel, like, old and have depth and also be casual.
Yeah. Like, my, you know, probably my, if you imagine, like, an English library somewhere- Yes ... with a fireplace burning and plaid wallpaper, and, like, that's kind of my-
Speaker 2: I love
Speaker 3: that ... favorite kind of thing. Yeah. You know, an old leather chair that's had, like, a lot of wear. Yeah. You know? Like, that's what I love.
And that's- Yeah ... where I lean [00:33:00] personally, but I do all kinds of stuff.
Speaker: I like stuff that's q- quality. Like I'd rather have- Yeah ... a, a piece of really, like- Yeah ... a for instance, furniture-wise, quality chair that's comfortable-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker: oversized, that kind of thing versus-
Speaker 2: Yeah. You know? Love it. I mean, that's, even just that has, and I'm sure other women that are listening to this podcast- Mm
sometimes have this experience. But that's been like, not a point of contention, but like a point of conversation, like even in our marriage. Mm-hmm. Where it's like, hey, like sometimes the cheapest way... Like, I'm not gonna buy the same thing five or six different times. Yeah. Let me buy it once. Yeah. Let me spend a little bit more money- Mm-hmm
and then we're just gonna buy it one time. Yep. That's true. Um, and I, I'm sure that furniture and things like that- Yeah ... you know, you might have to have those type of conversations- Yeah ... with your clients where it's like, "Hey, but we found this cheaper." It's like, yeah- Yeah ... but, you know, this is gonna last two years.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2: I, I expect to
Speaker 3: do. And that's something that, that's, that- Mm ... that sentiment, I think the feeling of buy a little bit more expensive and keep it and buy it once, that's something I think that comes with age, don't you? Totally. Yes. Isn't it interesting how- It's experience. It's experience, yeah ... it is.
You get a little bit older and you're like... And, and the other thing that I think that does, I think that age [00:34:00] does, is that you appreciate antiques. Right. You appreciate things that were well-made. Like I have this, I have this dresser that I brought into my store that's an antique piece. Mm. And I got it inside and it looked like it was falling apart, and I, after being moved.
And I was like, "Oh no, it's falling apart." I get down and I start to put this thing, kind of fix it, and I realized it is not put together with a single nail.
Speaker: Oh,
Speaker 3: no. The, the- There's not a nail or screw. It's all just the, the- Yeah, like dovetail joints. Yes, exactly. Yeah. And so it was very easy to fix. I wasn't really fixing anything, I was just kind of putting it back where it belonged.
And I realized that it was made to like, you can move it and it gives. And it's a dresser, you know? Yeah. It doesn't seem... But really remarkable stuff. And I think that what happens is as you get a little bit older- You appreciate those things more- Mm-hmm ... and they start finding place in your home. And really, the, I know everybody says this, this isn't new, but you [00:35:00] should ha- you should buy what you love.
Speaker: Yeah. And
Speaker 3: it will all work together, you
Speaker: know?
Speaker 3: Well,
Speaker: I'm getting fa- I've been, I guess because of social media, I'm fascinated with these old, tiny, um, stoves-
Speaker 3: Yes ...
Speaker: that funct- like, they had, they had reasons they did 'em. Uh-huh. I'm like, "Why don't we have s- " And they last still. They're from the 1950s- Yep ... or '40s, but they have functionality to 'em.
Yes. I'm
Speaker 3: like, "
Speaker: I have to ha- I'm gonna put this in when... I'm gonna get one." So
Speaker 3: cool.
Speaker: I think I really want a blue one. Yeah. But I want it in my kitchen.
Speaker 3: Yep. Yeah, yeah. It, like, the kind that will crisp the bacon on
Speaker: both sides- Yes, and it, and it has- ... at the same time ... and it, but they're, it's all, it's all, I know they're heavy, they're all metal.
Yeah, yeah. And it, it, it makes sense, versus buying- Yeah ... these stove tops that break and whatever. Yeah. I mean, I have, I have a, uh, gas in, in the house. But I like pieces that make sense and function. Yeah. And you look at things the way they were built-
Speaker 3: Mm-hmm ...
Speaker: back when, and they still last today. They still work.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah.
Speaker: Um, like, I like older homes because they were- Uh-huh ... built- Yeah
Speaker 2: Yeah ...
Speaker 3: better- Yeah ...
Speaker: than versus new homes today. Yeah. I agree. Like, you, I, you cannot pay me enough money to buy a new home today. No,
Speaker 2: same. Yeah. But
Speaker: I think you
Speaker 2: and I see too much.
Speaker: Yeah, we see too much. We see, we
Speaker 2: see too much and we know too much.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: [00:36:00] But I've learned- Yeah ... as I've gotten older- But it's good advice ... investing in good quality things, it might be- Mm-hmm ... if it's a new, it could be possibly new, but- Yeah ... even an older, looking for an older- Yep ... antique-type item is worth the co- the- Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Do you feel like your love of these antiques is what pushed you over to, like, the mercantile side of things?
Yeah, that's a great question. I wanna talk, before we run out of time- It is Yeah ... I wanna talk more about your store- Yeah ... and how you went from the design business to also including, 'cause this is my first, like, physical location. Mm, mm-hmm. And, and having a location at all, I- Yeah ... I mean, business owners that are listening to this, you know, it's a whole different ball of wax.
Yeah.
Speaker 3: Yep, it is.
Speaker 2: And so I'm so curious about what pushed you over the edge to take on that-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker 2: and how it's going.
Speaker 3: Yeah. Thanks. That's such a great question. Um, I mean, yes to all of that. So I, I've done, I've done many things in my career, in life. Interior design has been one of them, and it's been a, definitely a love, definitely a passion.
Um, and- I think that what I ended up, uh, where I ended up arriving [00:37:00] is wanting to sort of cross over... It's exactly what you said, Erica. It's wanting to cross over and show people how to use these things in their space, not just, uh, it being theoretical. Because I can sit down and have a conversation and even show people pictures and say, "This is how you can work antiques in," but there, it's just different.
If you touch something, if you can open a drawer and, like, feel it- Yeah ... it's a different experience. And so I really wanted people to have that experience, because you're right. When you take on, uh, you know, the, the, the lease, and when you take on employees and you're paying bills and-
Speaker: Mm-hmm ...
Speaker 3: internet and electricity and insurance- What have I done?
and yeah, all that stuff, you're like, "Is this gonna be worth it?" You know? Um, for sure had all of those thoughts. Uh, and I think that, you know, it's going really well. Yeah. I'm really grateful. We're in a, we're in a great area. We're just down the road from your- Yeah ... location. A great area. Uh, I, I think our...
We have plans to open [00:38:00] four more locations- Oh, my goodness ... in the next five years. So next- That's a lot ... year we'll open our second. And we don't want it any bigger. The, right now we're in 2,200 square feet.
Speaker 2: Okay.
Speaker 3: And that's the size we want. We want 22- Mm ... 2,200 to 2,800 square feet is about our sweet spot, I think.
Um, because number one, we're not a furniture company per se.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 3: We're a, we're a design company that sells furniture, and the reason I tacked on mercantile to the name is because I want people to kind of have a clue as to what... Everything in our- Yeah ... Humble Abode Mercantile, I mean, it's all kind of hopefully communicating that this is warmth, this is accessible, this is relatable, and it's still beautiful and it's timeless, I think, so.
Yeah. Yeah, we definitely wanted to, to put... And, and that has been what we've seen. Um, what we've seen is people coming in and identifying [00:39:00] With objects, my favorite thing to hear is when someone touches a piece of furniture and they say, "My grandparents had one of these." Oh. Yeah. You know?
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 3: It's one of my favorite things to hear, and I know immediately that it's connected to them somehow, and that th- there's been a variety of things.
Like, um, I had a, a little Tic-Tac-Toe game that was a brass Tic-Tac-Toe game, and someone bought it recently, and it was because they said, "My... I grew up, my dad bought me one of these when I was young." And- Oh, how fun ... you know, so there are these connections to memories. That's what it is for me. Mm. Even though I don't get attached to furniture-
Speaker 2: Sure
Speaker 3: there are types of furnishings and things that remind me of people that I love or whatever. And I think that people just... I, I, I think that sometimes they get hung up on if I have old things in my home, my home feels old.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: And I, I don't think it has to. I think it's about having a little bit of coaching and direction on what to choose that's old and what- [00:40:00] Yeah
to keep that's a little newer or whatever, or new. Um-
Speaker: Well, like just going to Goodwill and buying stuff doesn't- Yeah ... that's not the way. I'm not saying that's the way to- Yeah. I'm a
Speaker 3: big Goodwill fan.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 3: So,
Speaker: yeah. But I'm just saying go and find- Yeah ... quality pieces. Yes, yeah. You know, like just buying a piece that's old doesn't mean it's-
Speaker 3: That's right
Speaker: means anything.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I, I mean, I love, first of all, I love all things marketing.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Um, and I love what your name is communicating. Mm. I feel like it is doing that. I feel like when I would see that, I would know, like, hey, we're not necessarily the people that are looking for like a Living Spaces- Right
or like, you know, that kind of thing. Right, yeah. We're looking for something a little bit more, you know, boutique- Yeah ... and it's gonna be a little bit more like this. Um, and I think the marketing, just the name itself does that. Yeah. Um, and I haven't visited the space, but I'm going to. Yes. Yeah, please
Speaker 3: do.
Speaker 2: And I, and I, um- I think our community will love you. Yes, and I imagine that the inside probably communicates the same. Uh-huh. So. Yeah,
Speaker 3: we sure hope so. And we do, we really try, and I, I'll tell you, um, we try to keep our prices really, really good. Yeah. And I think that- Um, oh, can I say it? Uh, our furniture is [00:41:00] better quality by far than a lot of other stores, without naming any particular name.
Sure. Kind of a big box store. Yeah. The, the quality's so much better, and the prices are the same or lower.
Speaker 2: Oh,
Speaker 3: wow. And so it's a real... And, and I, I have had people walk in and kind of have a reaction, say, "I don't think I can afford anything in here." And, and I'm like, "No, no, no. Come on in." Back in. Yeah. Like, it's, it's not what you think it is, you know?
And so they really start looking, and they realize, like, it's really accessible, so. And one of the reasons we carry used leather is for that very reason. Sure. Because the price of brand-new leather, because if you think about the way that costs have gone up on everything- Yeah ... when you're thinking about a cow- That's what I'm gonna go with, beef
and you're thinking about processing it. Yeah. All of that stuff, it gets pricey. But we can give really wonderful, beautiful quality leather at really affordable prices. Because I'm
Speaker: telling you- So- ... the, the market has changed. Uh, the, what I see in ta- in talking with people just in j- the, I wanna say resell, but- Yeah
not wasting stuff.
Speaker 3: Yes.
Speaker: Why, why throw something away that works- That's [00:42:00] right ... and it's good?
Speaker 3: That's
Speaker: right. We can make it new again.
Speaker 3: Yep,
Speaker: yep. You know? So I, I think that's wonderful.
Speaker 3: And it can be so beautiful- Yeah ... reinvented in a space. And I, I see, you know, I'm looking around here in the studio, and you've got bright colors.
And I'm a moody, dark, like I have darker, moody colors. Yeah. And I'm known- I am like that at home. Yeah, I was gonna say, uh, it's probably because of your office space. Yeah. And then mine would be the same way. But, uh, a- and I, I work in all of those. Like, I just got done doing, uh, right here in Castle Hills, a, a Balinese home.
Oh. It was all, like, um, uh, bamboo ceilings and big rafters, and we did all white, you know, everything everywhere, and, uh, really beautiful. So I go and do a lot of different styles. But I, I think that n- being able to see that something can be beautiful and, like you said, n- like, getting rid of some of the waste.
Is that an oxymoron? Yeah. Like, eliminating some waste I think is so important because there are beautiful things. Like, you know- Don't go to IKEA. Like Yeah. It's just kind of bright, yeah ... there's, there's too much that [00:43:00] you can get for the same price that's out there that's beautiful, and if you're willing to drive maybe a little distance and, and look or come to a place like ours- Yeah
or whatever, you can get something comparable, comparably priced for so much better quality. So- But
Speaker: I think, I, like someone like me, I'd walk in and be kind of intimidated 'cause I don't, I d- I'm not a- Sure ... design-type person. Yeah. I'm like, I just like this color, but I can tell you, "Hey-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker: I need this room to do this."
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: And then you can guide me, like, "These pieces will work or not work-" Yeah. "... or this might work for you- Yeah ... and this is how- Yeah ... how you can make it work for you."
Speaker 3: Yeah. And I, I know we're running out of time. Mm. The, the last thing I'll say about that is the, about the design portion is the other skill that you hone as a designer, and you know this from doing real estate- Mm
and mortgage, you learn how to ask the right questions to get things out- Yes ... of people that they don't even know that are in there. They're sharing, yeah. You know? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so you hone that skill because it becomes really important. If you don't hone that skill, you pay for it later. Mm-hmm. You know?
Right. So you have to really know, how do I get out of this person, how do I... And, [00:44:00] and I think, you know, we, we all know the design shows where someone says, "Oh my gosh, it's like you got in my head and you gave me what was in my mind that I couldn't do." That's what, that's what you do as a designer, is you ask these questions and kind of figure out, you're playing detective at first to understand what are you gonna respond to.
My job is not to go into a space and do what I like. Yeah. My job is to bring my skills- To a space to get what you like- Yeah ... out, you know? So- But
Speaker: I think as working moms, that's something that I don't, sometimes we don't realize we need.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker: I think it's something that we just, "Eh, we'll get to it another..."
Yeah. But if you get your space, you get your home to where you want it-
Speaker 3: Yeah ...
Speaker: and need it, like-
Speaker 2: I would argue that it's a version of self-care.
Speaker: Yes. It is. Yeah, I was just gonna say that.
Speaker 2: Yes. Absolutely. I mean, totally.
Speaker 3: And maybe one of the most important because you're spending so much time, you know? Right.
And you're spending your rest time-
Speaker: Yeah ...
Speaker 3: or you should be-
Speaker 2: Yeah ...
Speaker 3: in your home.
Speaker 2: Absolutely.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, this has been the best conversation. I could literally talk for like- I know, she- ... 45 more minutes I
Speaker: told her I was gonna be here, I'm like, "I don't know what I'm gonna talk about."
Speaker 2: No, [00:45:00] this has been great.
But I just wanna give you the opportunity now to, um, share with everybody how they can get a hold of you. Yeah. Maybe the address for the shop- Yep ... and, and that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3: Yep. Yeah. We're, our shop is Humble Abode Mercantile. We're at 12730 Northwest Military Highway, Suite 109. We're in between, uh, The Lost Bar and Jersey Mike's.
We love our neighbors. They're great. Uh, so we're right there. It's on the, on the intersection of Wurzbach and Northwest Military. Um, you can also contact me, [email protected]. You can email me there, and then we're on all the socials. Uh, so you can find us, Humble Abode Mercantile on Instagram, Facebook, et cetera.
Speaker 2: Perfect. I like it a lot. Yeah. Okay. Yes. Yeah, we will put it in the show notes, so it makes it easy to find you guys. Awesome. And just thank you so much for being on. Yeah. You've been the best guide. This has been so good. I
Speaker 3: know. Oh, thanks so much for having me. This has been great. I'm really excited about your audience, and I think that, uh, I think, I hope we can help them.
It's a
Speaker: great community. Yes. So I hopefully
Speaker 3: we can
Speaker 2: take a field trip.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah.
Speaker 3: We could take a field trip. I've got gifts for you both. Oh, [00:46:00] yeah. So come on. Can't wait to share.
Speaker 2: Amazing. Yeah. Okay. And then just really quickly, I will thank our audience for tuning into this week's episode, and we'll catch you guys next time.
Speaker: See you guys next time.
Speaker 2: Thanks so much for tuning in to this episode of the Working Moms of San Antonio podcast. We hope you loved today's chat and found a little inspiration to take with you into your week. If you have a podcast topic suggestion, or a question you'd love for us to cover, definitely send us an email at [email protected].
We'd love to hear from you. And until next time, see you in the community
