Meet Chantel Edwards Brown of Wine & Design Kingwood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chantel Edwards Brown.

Chantel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a native of the Atascocita/Kingwood area and so naturally, I love the area and the community so much – I always knew it would be where I would settle down and build my life. I was hired by an amazing company when I was still in high school and chose to begin my career there. I was passionate about their vision and I knew there was so much potential for growth. On top of that, it was located in Kingwood, which allowed me to serve the community that I care so deeply about. Over the years, I accomplished many of my goals and received several promotions within the company. I was doing something I loved and something I was also very good at but I still had a strong desire to reach for more. When I got a promotion to transfer to a different location in Houston, I was so excited but also heartbroken to be leaving my community. After a couple of months, the desire for more grew stronger and stronger – I wanted to get back to my community, back to my tribe! I knew it was time to create something of my own. That’s when I began looking into businesses with franchising opportunities. When I learned about Wine & Design, I instantly knew I wanted to bring this concept to Kingwood! I knew there was a need for quality entertainment in the area and I knew I could create a place where people would love to come to get creative and socialize! I instantly began my research to learn the ins and outs of running this business. I was still working full time during the day so my nights became less about sleep and more about building my business. I was able to leave my previous job and start focusing all of my energy on Wine & Design. We are currently in the construction phase for the studio and are projecting to grand open within the next 6-8 weeks!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Considering Wine & Design Kingwood hasn’t grand opened yet, I don’t want to jinx myself by saying anything thus far has been “a struggle.” This part of the process is just very tedious, I know there will be much tougher struggles ahead making these insignificant in comparison. 🙂 In regards to my career, thus far, there have definitely been many struggles – the hardest for me, personally, has been overcoming judgment based on my age. I was 21 when I was promoted to a position that was almost always held by someone out of college. From then on, I constantly felt pressure to prove myself because of my age and credentials. It was mentally draining and definitely took a toll on me. Fortunately, I was able to move on from that and become my own boss!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Wine & Design Kingwood story. Tell us more about the business.
Wine & Design is a unique and creative venue for anyone looking to become a better artist or just looking to create fun projects with friends. We offer daily classes as well as open studio times. W&D has 5 different divisions aside from our basic classes: W & D On Wheels brings the party to you at your home, venue or business. W & D Team Building offers a fun class tailored specifically for your team that allows them to work together to create a collaborative masterpiece. W & D Paint It Forward provides a great way to raise money and bring awareness to any cause by allowing you to host a private event that donates a portion of the proceeds to local or national organizations. W & D Art Buzz Kids offers a variety of programs for children such as birthday parties, mommy & me classes, and full day holiday/summer camps. W & D Do It Yourself allows you to expand your creativity beyond the canvas and create a variety of projects from drinkware to home decor to the perfect homemade gift. I believe these divisions are what set W&D apart from the “Paint and Sip” companies you are used to. It is SO MUCH MORE than anything you’ve experienced at other studios. Oh, and we have wine on tap… and let’s be honest – what’s better than that?

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
When it comes to luck, my belief is best summarized by this quote from Thomas Jefferson – ” I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” I do not credit (or discredit) luck for things that happen. I do, however, give credit to opportunity for where I am today. I have been given amazing opportunities and with hard work and grit, I have made the best of most of them.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1660 West Lake Houston Parkway, Suite 107, Kingwood, TX 77339
• Website: wineanddesign.com/kingwoodtx
• Phone: 832-445-6700
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/wndkingwoodtx
• Facebook: facebook.com/wndkingwoodtx

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.