Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Carneiro.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Soooo, being an international family relocated to Houston about 5 years ago, having no family around us neither acquainted people by that time to give us that extra most appreciated help with young kids, I had to reinvent myself in order to be able to support my husband’s professional goals and my kids’ new educational environment, which were, definitely, my number one priority for a very family-oriented person.
That means, I was not able to keep up my already really well-succeed corporate career in my original country, which is Brazil. I had to pursue a new career path. I had to take a really deep inside look and rethink about my own personal targets aiming to answer my most desired answer: what could I do for living which could give me a right professional X personnel life balance in this “New Country” pretty well-known as the land of the opportunities?
To get that answer, I’ve invested hours and hours in career coaching, followed by a good number of hours on my own life assessment. I used to be inquired by my coach : “What are you really good at?” “What kind of compliments are you really used to hear from your family and most closed friends?” “What do you do that everybody immediately recognizes as your born talent?” Then, I’ve realized the answer was right there… really in front of me!
By all means, I was encouraged to overcome cultural barriers and whatsoever sense of non-belonging, sense of minority, whatever, to restart all over and switch my gears, as I use to say, to endeavor into the unknown, follow a dream, a passion, and most of all, to be happy, to achieve that so wonderful and desired sense of professional accomplishment again.
Then, I’ve came back to school to get an international Interior design degree over here in the USA, even though I already had my own interior design certificate from Brazil, which was granted still during a period of time where I used to execute my corporate duties because that used to be my “decompression valve”. Also, somehow, I had to proof to myself that I was really technically really well- prepared and in competitive basis speaking “ready to go”.
That’s the resume of how I’ve launched and founded AC Design, an interior design studio, providing interior design services in Houston and surroundings, and I hope I can inspire everyone who is out there thinking about opening their own business. I want to inspire all of you, like me, who are not Americans by birth, but all of us have made the same decision. We’ve chosen this land to call HOME, and over here we can be whoever we wan to be. It’s a matter of turning our dreams into action, facing our own fears, working really hard, being focus, determined and the success is just a matter of time, I know that. After two years working as a full-time interior designer now, being able to communicate in Portuguese, English and Spanish, I already consider myself very victorious, even though I know I still have a long journey ahead of me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not…a lot of struggles!!! In the end, it’s all about people. So, it’s hard to find the right committed people.
In order to deliver a wonderful space, I depend on painters, electricians, handyman, etc…there are a lot of people out there, but not all of them are reliable, and committed to deadline, for example, which is something sacred to me.
There are three basic principles in this business to me: price, quality and deadline. That’s what every client is looking for, and that’s what I’m committed to deliver. So, in order to deliver it, I partner with some really good people who I can trust right now, after using them in some many different jobs, and they’re there for me whenever I need them.
Please tell us about AC Design.
I provide Full Interior Design Services, Redesign, Interior e-Design Services, and Consultation Sessions.
During a full interior job, I do floor plans, create mood board, Selection of every furniture & accessories for each space (on-line and in-store), provide detailed furniture and accessories description per area, provide detailed design project budget control, In-home design consultation, Showroom visit to visualize pieces selection, Collect samples of suggested décor furnishings (whenever available), Furniture & accessories placement for better visualization (whenever possible), etc.
Additionally, I can also work with my clients to rethink and remodel a whole room, or some times a whole house, by creating architectural accents, replacing flooring, suggesting another color pallet for the whole walls background, redesigning kitchen & bathroom, etc., it’s another service provided by AC Design.
Or maybe, you’re that kind of client who like to DIY, then an Interior e-Design Services is a very short version of the full interior job described above will fit your needs. I’ll provide an electronic mood board based on a detailed description of my client’s desired design style, and basically my customer swill execute it whenever is more convenient to them. It’s one of the most innovative ways to decorate your home on your own pace.
And finally, consultation sessions are designed for those who want to manage their own projects but would like a bit of help. Half-day consultation sessions based on hourly fee is available to help you out.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was admitted in my College…I guess!
It was really very hard to be admitted there, I had to study a lot, and I had no other option to get my degree if I was not admitted to that specific one and I got it! All hard work was paid-off.
Contact Info:
- Address: 23710 Coastal Meadow
Katy Texas
Zip Code: 77.494 - Website: www.AndreaC.Design
- Phone: 7134385277
- Email: contact@andreac.design
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreacarneirodesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaCarneiroDesign
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/andrea-carneiro-design-katy
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