Today we’d like to introduce you to Noel Bangs
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?
My journey is not a traditional one, I was interested in design from a very young age coming from a family of artists and designers. My grandmother was an artist and cultivated my interest in fashion and interior design. My parents are both in the design field, one being an architect and the other an interior designer so I was exposed to the world of design from a very early age. I originally majored in interior design in college but changed my major along the way to Political Science to pursue a career in Human Resources with a goal to go to law school, though I decided not to pursue it. I really enjoyed my career in HR working for a few Fortune 500 companies and learned so much including things I would not have learned otherwise that I believe are critical to starting and running a business. Eventually, we were faced with a job relocation for my husband, and I came to cross roads to decide if I should continue in HR or go back to my passion for Interior Design. After 15 years in HR, I went back to school for Interior Design. That was the best decision I ever made. I really love design and enjoy helping others realize their dreams for their homes. I also love owning a business so ultimately starting Noeka Home has allowed me to do what I love and utilize the skills and experience I’ve spent my lifetime building.
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?
Starting Noeka Home and securing financing has shockingly been easier than finding a location and the continued permitting and construction delays we have faced.
I had been planning to start my business for about 6 years before I ever signed a lease. It took me over 3 years to find the right location and a very unexpected amount of time was spent on lease negotiations. I had never considered it would take quite that long to secure the lease once the location was found. Once the lease was signed, it took well over a year before we could even open which I naively thought would move faster and a bit smoother. We have learned a lot and with these experiences I discovered, “you truly don’t know what you don’t know,” but it has all been worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What really sets us apart is that we are more than a store, our showroom was designed to be a destination. We took vision very seriously, we really wanted to create a place that is more than somewhere you just walk in and out of. We want our customers to stay a while, which is why we focused so much on our Parisian style wine bar. We wanted a really posh, chic space for customers to come to and enjoy. We also focused on creating a store that looks like it’s out of a magazine or something you can see on Pinterest or Instagram. We want our customers to feel inspired, be excited about design and what their home could look like.
We created our own furniture collection that is inspired by antiques, especially those in the French Gustavian style. We love spaces that feel timeless, so we really strived to create classic, quality heirloom pieces. We also really love unexpected details such as color or hardware that was not traditionally used on antique pieces. It’s the little details that make an incredible impact.
In addition to our furniture line, we created a pillow line. We really love the little details; we believe those details make a huge impact. For our pillow line, we focused on using beautiful fabrics and including piping, trim, or using two or more fabrics on the pillow. To us, these little details really make a beautiful pillow which are the details that really elevate a space and create interest.
In regard to our interior design style, we really focus on timeliness design that encompasses whimsy and color. We appreciate so many styles of design, but we just don’t want to do what everyone else is doing or what is trendy at the moment. We want our designs to last and be able to be built up over time.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I think everyone has their own definition of what success means, but success to me is being able to have the freedom to do what I enjoy both personally and professionally. That means all aspects of my life including home, family life, and business are thriving. Success is felt through my contributions to my kids and family having the privilege to pursue what they love and the creation of a self-sustainable business that has created jobs and services the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://noekahome.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noekahome/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553700291930
