Today we’d like to introduce you to N’Ckyola Ward Green.
N’Ckyola, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I spent the 1st half of my career in IT – 18 years – and I’ll probably be a tech geek for life. But I found my true calling midway through my corporate career & my business was born in 2003 as a joint Event Planning venture. In 2006, I shifted focus to Interior & Event Design when my business partner and best friend could no longer dedicate the time to full-on event planning. Since my skill set was on the more creative & organizational side, it was natural to focus on my strengths and passions. So Xtraordinary Eventz became Xtraordinary by Design.
For years I styled events, staged homes, and did one room makeovers while still working a corporate IT job. It wasn’t until I forced myself to take a break from the corporate world that I decided to take the plunge and dedicate myself to my craft.
In 2012, I met a client with some unique requests. She explained that she had a career she loved, but that could be stressful at times and wanted to come home to her sanctuary every day. She had a limited budget, furniture she was not ready to replace, and loads of style! Less than a year later, I met another couple with a child who struggled with mental illness. They, too, wanted a sanctuary – there’s that word again – for themselves and their child, again on a budget. And with that the Room Remix, my signature offering was born!
These experiences got me to thinking.
About budgets – every budget deserves great design.
About mental health – as a person with mental health issues, I understand how important it is to have a home that makes you feel all warm & fuzzy & safe & happy.
About wastefulness & consumption – we spend a lot of money on things that we end up replacing in a few years, or that we are not in love with, or that we don’t need. We pay little to no attention to how things are made, with what materials, and how that could affect our health, environment, AND budget.
I now focus on Green Design, working to help my clients reuse and up-cycle what they love and recycle the rest. On my blog, I love to share how I do the same in my own life & home.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not! What’s the old saying. “Anything in life worth having is worth working for.” There have been the naysayers, the clients that didn’t want to pay, those who “steal” ideas. But by far, the scariest was making the decision to leave the corporate world to focus solely on my business. It’s not easy to leave financial stability & cut the family income in half to pursue your passion. But it is certainly worth it in the end!
Please tell us about your work.
I consider myself a holistic interior decorator. I started Xtraordinary by Design to help people decorate their homes & offices without the limits of trends & budgets. Over the years, I have seen a transformation in client’s lifestyles & mindset about their homes & the things they love. More than just buying “stuff” and following trends, most people want to have what they love & love what they have. My goal with every project is to bring great style home by decorating consciously & sustainably. I am known to reuse, revamp & upcycle clients’ existing furnishings. I then source unique finds to create gorgeously functional & meaningful spaces.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I LOVE the “personality” of our city. I always say it’s the biggest small town in America where you’ll never meet a stranger! Maybe if Houston were a small town, we wouldn’t have so many traffic woes.
Pricing:
- Interior design consultation starts at $200 for 1 hour. A consultation can be a fraction of the cost of traditional interior design & gives the client direction, detials, & renderings upon completion..
- The Xtraordinary Room Remix, my signature offering, starts at $825 & is intended to be a quick change (typically 1-2 days) that does not include structural changes. There are 4 Room Remix levels to fit a variety of needs & budgets.
- Xtraordinary E-Design is a 100% virtual design process to makeover your space without the limits of time & distance. I offer 3 packages starting at $400 depending on your needs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.xbydesign.biz
- Phone: 2816437398
- Email: nckyola@xbydesign.biz
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nikkig_xbydesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4thHouseOnTheRight
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/xbydesign
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/xbydesign
Image Credit:
Xtraordinary by Design | 4th House on the Right
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