Today we’d like to introduce you to N’Ckyola Green.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my 1st career while I was a Computer Science student in college. I spent the first 20 years of my career working in the private and public sector as a Systems Analyst & Project Manager, both roles which would later help me in my design career as well.
With a background in psychology, I have always wanted to do more. I wanted to help people in ways that others maybe had not considered life-changing. From a very young age, I was always creative as well as an empath, and I knew I wanted to use those gifts too. So, in 2003, while still working my corporate job, I started an event planning business with a friend.
I mainly focused on decorating, planning, & budgeting. As a creative introvert, I always preferred working one-on-one or in a very small group setting. In 2006, when my partner had to bow out, it was natural for me to pivot into interior design.
I finally 100% committed to my business, Xtraordinary by Design, in 2014 after complete burnout working in corporate settings. I give full credit to my husband for pushing me to make the move. We have not looked back since.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a business owner & entrepreneur is not easy. It requires far more drive than “normal”. In the early days, it was a struggle just to get a steady stream of clients. I was lucky to have family & friends that referred me to any & everyone – that’s not always a good thing when many of those referrals wanted discounted or free work.
The ones that didn’t were pure gold because their referrals are what kept business going. There was no social media for marketing back then, just word of mouth. So great work & happy clients was the best way to build a client base.
Social media itself presents an entirely different issue in that it has helped to oversaturate the industry. It seems everyone is a designer (or wants to be). In addition to that, this is not an industry that has always been particularly inclusive to the BIPOC community.
All these things add up. There have been many times in the past when I wanted to “give up.”
It was the clients with special circumstances that have kept me moving forward – budget constraints, special needs, mental health issues, etc. People deserve to have peace at home, a sanctuary that’s made uniquely for them.
Being able to provide that is what makes any struggles worthwhile.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Xtraordinary by Design started as a full-service interior design business offering full remodels, our signature Room Remix, and eDesign.
The Room Remix has always been my signature offering, catering to homeowners & renters with limited budgets. Offered as both a traditional design session and eDesign, it’s the most flexible option for completely upgrading a home one room at a time. And because I specialize in space planning, clients are always amazed at what I can do with what they already have.
What I am most proud of is the shift I made into Holistic Interior Design & my focus on sustainability. I help my clients reuse and up-cycle what they love and recycle the rest, all with a focus on helping to create a home sanctuary. Having worked with families with special needs and as a person who deals with mental health issues myself, I understand how important it is to have that.
Most of my adult life, I have been keenly aware of how things around us affect our health, so I was always careful about the products I used. When I got married & gave birth to my youngest son, I knew that I had to make a bigger shift in our own home when he had skin & possible respiratory issues. As a result, I began to pay more attention to how & where things are made, with what materials, and how that could affect our health, (interior & exterior) environment, AND budget. This led me down the road of looking for ways to live & help provide a simpler, richer life by making selections that are eco-friendly and timeless.
We have since added 2 lines of business – kitchen garden consulting, wherein we consult with people on how to start gardens to grow their own food, and community investments, providing affordable luxury housing in underserved communities.
XbD LLC is now a family-owned business, and our youngest is learning first-hand what it means to be an entrepreneur. I am also very delighted to share that my family & I have started a scholarship fund, with our first official recipient being selected for Fall 2024.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I love the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur Podcast. There is so much inspiration for Christian business owners and entrepreneurs from like-minded individuals who are actually going through it themselves.
This is one podcast that focuses on the WHOLE journey – the good, the bad, and the blessings that can come out of it all.
The podcast interviews entrepreneurs from all walks of life, discussing all sorts of things, including stories of loss and how being a business owner can impact families (both positively & negatively).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.xbydesign.biz/starthere/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/4thHouse_OnTheRight
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/4thHouseOnTheRight
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/4thHouseontheRight
- Other: https://blog.xbydesign.biz/
