Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Van Houten.
Hi Allison, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Interior design and the art of homemaking have always been passions of mine. As a child, I used to google different floor plans and home elevations and beg my parents to take me to model homes on the weekends. My childhood idols were Rachel Ashwell and Martha Stewart, and I loved spending hours at antique stores with my mother and grandma. The idea of curating not only a beautiful space but one that served every member of the family was so inspiring to me.
As I got older, my interests shifted to other things, and eventually, I ended up graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Communication Studies. I worked in Human Resources for a few years until eventually, my husband and I decided to start our family. Our journey was not as simple as we thought it would be, and we were eventually blessed to have our twins in 2016 with the help of IVF. Motherhood hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt so lost and lacked any confidence that I had what it took to create the type of home I had always dreamed of.
I worked really hard to figure out my new role as a stay-at-home mom of twins, and after some time had passed, I finally felt like I was getting the hang of it. I learned how to structure my days in a way that anticipated the needs of everyone as opposed to reacting to everything as it was happening. We welcomed our third child in 2019 and realized we had outgrown our tiny one-story home. We found a fixer-upper that would better accommodate our family and through the process of renovating, I rediscovered my old passions. While we were in the midst of our renovation, Covid had just begun. Quarantine was a transformative experience for me because it was a time to reset and reevaluate who I wanted to be as a woman and mother.
I chose to start Thread of Gold Home after receiving so much positive feedback from friends and family about the renovation of our new home and realizing that I had gathered so many tips and skills from my time as a stay-at-home mom. The concept for Thread of Gold Home was inspired by a Laura Ingalls Wilder quote where she said, “And just as a little thread of gold, running through a fabric, brightens the whole garment, so women’s work at home, while only the doing of little things, like the golden gleam of sunlight, runs through and brightens all the fabric of civilization.” This resonated so deeply for me because I believe that the work at home is critical to ensuring a life of peace and productivity for a family, regardless of whether you are a stay-at-home mom or work outside of your home. My goal is to help women create a beautiful, functional space that meets their family’s needs and gives them the freedom to spend time on the things they care about most.
I do this by combining interior design and organization because I firmly believe the two go hand in hand. There is no point in having a magazine-worthy home if it does not function well for everyone that lives inside of it. I have had so many amazing experiences already since I began in late 2020, and nothing brings me greater joy than sharing what I have learned with women that are struggling to make their homes a place of peace.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
What surprised me the most about starting my business was the internal battle of self-confidence that I have had to work hard to overcome. I spent so much of my life seeking to be comfortable, and now that I am intentionally putting myself out there, I have had to push through the fear of judgment and failure. I have learned to get used to fear and become comfortable with it because everything worth doing in life is on the other side of it. I want my children to see both of their parents working in careers that fulfill them, so learning how to believe in myself has been an incredible, though challenging, journey.
We’ve been impressed with Thread of Gold Home, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Your home is the most important investment you will ever make, and now more than ever, it is critical that you love where you live. My goal is to revolutionize the way my clients live in their homes by combining beauty and function in a way that promotes peace and productivity for the whole family.
I offer everything from full-service interior design to professional organizing services. I try to make my services affordable because I believe that everyone has a right to a beautiful living space. My clients always tell me that I am down to earth and that it sets me apart from other providers in my industry. It is possible to find beauty at all budgets and in every design style, so I make sure to design around my clients’ preferences and priorities. The interior design and professional organizing industries are historically placed in the “luxury” category, and while my services are absolutely luxurious, I never make my clients feel intimidated or judged, and that is something that I am very proud of!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The best ways to keep in touch are through my Instagram page (Instagram.com/threadofgoldhome) and my website (threadofgoldhome.com). I love interacting with my followers and building relationships with local businesses so that we can support each other!
Pricing:
- Virtual Design Package – $100
- Professional Organizing – Starts at $200
Contact Info:
- Email: allison@threadofgoldhome.com
- Website: threadofgoldhome.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/threadofgoldhome
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threadofgoldhome
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/thread-of-gold-home-spring?osq=thread+of+gold+home
Image Credits:
Ashley Beatrice Photography
