Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Contreras-Morfin.
Krystal, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Seventh Reign Designs & Co. started in a complete spur of the moment and let’s see how it goes kinda thing, lol.
My son was turning 1 at the time and we were limited on money. I went through a lot of depression and sat in a dark room most of the time. It got really bad, 😞 my dad is a stroke patient and only can use half his body. When he would have to get up and cook for himself. That was BAD!
I would look on Pinterest and saw this boxwood backdrop I wanted for Ezra’s wild one birthday. But, knew I couldn’t pay a lot of money for it 😬. Especially since no one had it here locally. I would have to pay for it a couple of hours and for a lot of money. 🤦🏽♀️
I decide not to keep that stuck in my head knowing it was impossible for me to get.
One day, I’m at the 99 cent store just looking and guess what?
I saw squares of grass that were boxwood grass I wanted 😍 I bought what was there and went all over Houston looking for it at the 99 cents stores 🤦🏽♀️ embarrassing I know, lol.
I had enough to make a small backdrop for his pictures. 😍❤️ I remember when I created it. It made me soooo happy. Like life was brought back to the darkness I had.
I love the way it felt.
Every day after class was done, I would go home and try to figure out what else I can make with it or what kind of decorations I can do for Ezra’s bday.
My husband (boyfriend at the time) wanted the house we were at presentable.
So, every day after work, he would work on the yard or the back porch. I start to paint the house and draft out how I want the porch and how the kitchen of the back porch should look. At the end of the month. I notice slowing but surely, I got out of this dark depression that had a tight grip on me…
After Ezra’s birthday, it came back and full force… 😑😩
I remember sitting there watching my husband clean the whole house after he works so hard in the sun for hours. And, I sat there watching him and did nothing.
The look on his face was all I needed.
It was something I will never forget…
I decide to get help. I got on medication and it took a couple of months to adjust but I wouldn’t sleep.
I prayed so much to just release me of this. To take it away. I HAD EVERYTHING I EVER NEEDED. And, this depression was going to take it all away…
Chris sat down and told me something was to give… he helped me remember what it was to decorate and to be happy about and told me to offer to decorate someone party to see if that would help me.
Sure enough, I did. I offer a friend of the family to throw their baby shower at my house and I will host it.
I did it and it wasn’t so bad… I just forgot how hot it is in the summer even though we had a lot of shade.
But, that gave me the confidence I needed to go ahead and post a business page and offer my services to people. My husband said you will never know the turn out if you don’t try. & so I did it. I thought of the name. Seventh is Chris and I and all the kids together (7) & then my son’s name is Ezra REIGN.
He was the main reason I got my spark back. So, SEVENTH REIGN started. Eventually, it leads to seventh reigns designs & company because I wanted to not just have decorations but eventually I wanted a photographer, a baker, and hairstylist with me so I can have the one-stop-shop. I haven’t found a place nor an idea of how I want things. But, back to the story…
My husband built my first backdrop and from there we have taken off…
He’s been my biggest supporter in all of this. And, I will never be the same. When I was little, I used to watch my mom be creative and decorate every holiday.
There was a moment I would just put stuff together and it looked decent. And, I completely lost all of that dealing with so many hardships on the road. Chris brought it back for me. He’s taught me so much I owe him so much in my life.
I’m not the best at things and I know there are people out there a lot better than me. But, I love to learn and grow.
Picture below 👇🏼 is the boxwood frame I did for his birthday pictures 😍 (the picture is in the images with the little boy & the boxwood backdrop).
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, this road has been full of lessons…
You learn as you go! Within the weeks/months/years you find out what you want out of your business. The do’s/don’ts…
You learn how to say No.
Because not everyone is grateful for your services and not everyone is pleased with your work. And, I’m genuinely ok with it. I have a lot of vendors and resources to give them if I can’t make them happy.
I usually tell my clients the truth when they show me what they want…
I like to be upfront and honest because I don’t want to waste your time nor mine.
I used to be a people pleaser but, now my health, mental health, and my family is my priority.
The saying goes “the customer is always right “ is BS.
My husband & I work hard for what we build & design. It’s a lot of work on our part to what we do especially me cause I handle all scheduling, vendors, invoices & preparations and marketing for a customer to turn around and put a price on our work! It’s absurd!
We don’t work for free and our goal is to ultimately love what we do.
So, don’t be afraid to say No!
Money can always come around
But time doesn’t, nor your family……..
What should we know about Seventh Reign designs & Co.? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are known for Our BACKDROPS!!!
They are 8 foot tall & 10 foot long.
We came up with this measurement because we hated to see events with backdrops that are too short or to narrow for all the family to join in the picture!
Coming from a Mexican family, we have a huge family & we love to have everyone in it. So, we figure it out and decide that 8×10 would be the perfect size for all events!
We do have some 9×9 and 8×12 backdrops but all backdrops we customized anything and everything you want!
That’s our prize possession!
Our unique ways of displaying realistic themes is what sets us apart!
Anyone can print out a cartoon character and stick it on foam and display it for a party.
But, have you seen an underwood 1909 typewriter displayed for a wedding or a singer sewing machine made into a cake table?
We love old vintage but also modern… so we do a mixture of them together.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I feel that our biggest barriers today in the female industry is… you see a lot of judging instead of uplifting and a lot of competing instead of collaborating and networking.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 281-616-1524
- Email: 7threigndesigns@gmail.com
- Instagram: Https://www.instagram.com/seventhreign?igshid=tvluq103z3l4
- Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/seventhreigndesigns/
Image Credit:
Kelly topping photography, Even after time photography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
