Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Heiman.
Hi Stephen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I got into the Design + Build Industry when I was attending Texas A&M University. I started to work for a Custom Home Builder in the Bryan/College Station area selling homes and then quickly became interested in building the homes. Before long, I was building, selling, and learning as much as I could about residential design + construction. This experience led me to work for a more high-end outfit in the downtown Houston area, where I was exposed to high-end design elements and high-dollar construction. This fueled my enthusiasm for creativity and construction. I have always been interested in anything that was creative. From Painting, Art, Creating Music to Design, I have excelled in the creative process, and this has fueled me to stay in the industry. During the downturn of 2008, I began working for a Production Builder and seeing how this side of the industry worked. I soon realized that getting back to my creative endeavors was where my passion laid. I then started Steven Allen Designs, LLC in 2012-2013 so I could pursue design and have a hands-on approach with every aspect of the business (interactions with clients, sells, quality control, selections/design to the final product). At this point, I took whatever came my way from small exterior and interior projects and then moving up to Large Scale Additions/Remodels and New Construction. From experience and passion for creativity, I began learning and offering design services, from Plans to Interior Design. I found as I was building/remodeling, I was playing a large role in the Design Process. This has led me to a niche in the Residential Design World and pushing myself, our clients, and the industry for better design and attractive projects. During the pandemic, I also pivoted to incorporate Short Term Rental Projects in the Galveston Area. Under the Business Name “Nouveau Lifestyles,” my wife and I are on our 6th – 7th Nouveau Lifestyle Project where we offer Artistic Vacation Rentals in the Galveston Area. We love to travel, the beach life, and the historic town of Galveston, where we can incorporate a more artistic Designed Themed Home for our vacationers to experience an artistic form of living and enjoyment of space. We look to further develop this idea and to always expand. The goal is to keep creating bolder and more exciting environments. The Final Vision is to own a private island with our artistic creations spread throughout. I want people to live in our ART.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It certainly has not been a smooth road. As any Entrepreneur can testify, it is a daily struggle. From managing projects, clients, unforeseen external events and situations, to family balance and a constant weight of responsibility you have to endure to keep the doors open, family fed, employees’ futures afloat, pushing to expand the business, do more expansive projects, learn new skills, and get up when you fall.
I have lost money on jobs many times, ended up doing work for free, I have made money on jobs, I have been threatened with lawsuits, called names, lied to, cheated on, stolen from. Even when I received the biggest job I had to date in 2017, my 1st wife was diagnosed with brain cancer and died 3-4 months later. I had to hold the business, family, and life together and stay in the game to keep the business alive. Clients depended on me. Employees depended on me. The business kept my mind busy but, at the same time, didn’t let up. The only person that you can depend on is you when you are an entrepreneur. I fortunately found my current wife, and we were blessed with 2 kids, but again, we push the business in the midst. All these experiences fuel the creativity that inspires these homes/designs.
Each project presents a new problem we have not experienced before. It is constant education, self-reflection, growth, and discipline to excel and push forward. There are NO breaks, NO vacations (where you can shut it off), NO time off.
Even in times of reflection, “days off,” I am thinking about the next project, how to make our current projects better, finding creativity in my daily life, looking for new ways in innovate, etc., etc.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Steven Allen Designs, LLC / Nouveau Lifestyles?
Steven Allen Designs, LLC is a Design + Build Firm in the Greater Houston Area. We have done jobs in Houston, Katy, Sugarland, Downtown, Neartown, Galveston, Round Top, and more. We are known for the hands-on Design aspect as it applies to General Contracting. As the Builder + Designer, I am able to move the design and flow with the project so that it becomes a reflection of the client/homeowner. I want my style fused with theirs. I am also here to Communicate + Educate each client on how and why things work the way the do in this industry, in these geographic locations. I also enjoying pushing myself come up with new designs and hopefully make our jobs themselves Works of Art. We have received much attention from our Nouveau Bungalow Series, which were 800-1,100 sqft 1-2 Bedroom Homes located in the outskirts of Garden Oaks. With sleek design + build concepts usually only applied to million-dollar projects and architectural digest and applied to medium home price ranges. Edgy and Artistic.
Nouveau Lifestyles – are a set of 7 (3 are being built) Short Term Rental Artistic Houses in the Galveston Area that aim to bring awareness to the life, art, and lifestyle Galveston has to offer. With such a rich history, great art scene, and coastal activities available it was a magnet for me. We cannot wait for people to see the new designs that are coming for this series. www.nouveaulifestyles.com. We plan to offer more services on this branch in the 2023-2024 seasons, including Mind + Wellness Retreats and a host of other activities.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I had a great childhood and did typical childhood things such as sports and so forth. I was huge into basketball up until high school. I was always interested in anything that had to do with creativity. Looking back, I was always designing and building. I remember my uncle referencing Architecture as a Kid, but I never grabbed onto it until later in life, which is strange. I guess I should have listened better. I was always drawing, from comic books to realistic images. It came easy to me. In college, I got the guitar bug, which I still participate in. Art came easy to me. Philosophy came easy to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stevenallendesigns.com/ www.nouveaulifestyles.com
- Instagram: @stevenallendesigns
- Facebook: @stevenallendesigns
- Linkedin: @stevenallendesigns
Image Credits
Sonya Bertolino
