Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara German.
Cara is a native of Charleston, SC and moved to the Houston area in 2013.
Interior Design and Architecture has been her passion since she began shadowing her mentor in 2002. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design and Fine Arts from Winthrop University; she also has 8 years of professional experience in Design and Project Management. Her Houston career began with Project Management for Herman Miller Dealerships working on new construction and renovations for some the largest Houston hospitals. She worked on hospitals such as Memorial Herman, UTMB, MD Anderson and Christus.
How It Began:
In 2015, Cara decided to venture out and start SouthernComfort Interiors. Here at SouthernComfort Interiors, they focus on Residential, Small to Medium Commercial Spaces and Investment properties.
Cara is an award-winning designer and a member of Houston’s National Kitchen and Bath Chapter. She remains active and up-to-date by taking continuing education classes throughout her professional career, attending trade shows such as NeoCon and KBIS and participating in training seminars.
Moving Forward:
Though SouthernComfort Interiors as a company is in its infancy, they have years of education and experience. They pride themselves on their knowledge, attention to detail and efforts to educated their clients while working together.
Based in the Houston Suburb of Clear Lake they build relationships with their neighbors and their community. Not only here, but in League City and Friendswood as well. They are all working together as a community to work through Havey and SouthernComfort Interiors wants to continue to work with clients to help support them and advocate for them during a time when many companies are looking to take advantage.
Also as they grow as a company they want to venture into even more commercial projects. They love working with local businesses and helping them grow and establish their business as they grow theirs as well. But large-scale residential project have always been their passion and where their roots began.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As an entrepreneur, like most, I have experienced ups and downs. What motivated me to start SouthernComfort Interiors in 2015 was due to an unfortunate lay off. Because to the changes in oil and gas many companies, including where I was previously employed, laid off many people (around 30-40%). At 1st it was very devastating because this was the 1st job in my career I could honestly say I loved, the company and the job.
These circumstances pushed me to start SouthernComfort Interiors and go back to school at Houston Community College to be apart of their Kitchen and Bath Certification Program. While doing these things full time and successfully for almost a year I started to experience a slight lull and pushed myself back into Corporate America.
After working as a designer on hospitals located in the middle east and then working as a Kitchen and Bath Designer for a major home improvement store and becoming the top seller in the market I decided to step away. I was on top, but I realized my failure was going back to working for someone else, I decided I was going to refocus on what I knew I really wanted, working for myself.
I am currently working on my largest residential project yet, over 200k+ whole home renovation of a home ravaged by Harvey. And despite the tragedy I feel blessed to do this, I feel blessed and excited to work on such a great home, show my talents and work with such a great family living in League City. SouthernComfort Interiors is not only here to provide their family with a safe home once again, but one that they will be able to enjoy for the next 20 years and finishes that they love and will increase the value of their home.
I am currently focusing a lot of my energy on establishing my company, even more, working diligently on getting the next projects. Being hungry to keep your business thriving and growing is always an important characteristic of an entrepreneur and its one I definitely have.
SouthernComfort Interiors – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
SouthernComfort Interiors is #1 an Interior Design Company. For many, I have to explain when I say Interior Design I’m referring to Interior Architecture, not Interior Decorating. We focus on the bones of the home that stay. And though Interior Decorating is a service we offer, Interior Architecture is the heart of SouthernComfort. Along with this, we offer several services which include: Space Planning, Project Management, Product Selections, Product Purchasing and Staging.
I think I’m known for and what my company is known for is educating my clients as we go, which leads to what I’m most proud of as a company. We’re advocates for our clients. I consider many of my client’s friends and even family so it’s important to me that we are able to leave every job with our clients satisfied with our services and eager to work with us again and/or refer us to their friends or family. My goal is to educate my clients so they can make sound decisions when investing their time and money into something so important; their home or business.
One thing I have heard and seen a lot of is contractors taking advantage of homeowners and business owners. In the state of Texas, there is no state General Contractor license so in true there is nothing really protecting the consumer. SouthernComfort Interior works to fill that gap.
I work with my clients and the contractor to protect them, while educating them. I work to take the stress of major renovation from my clients, I work to make the contractor’s job easier (they have what they need when they need it), which in turns allows a renovation to be completed faster and save money. Something that always makes everyone happier.
Also by us being organized and putting things together from the beginning, we save our clients a lot of unforeseen expenses and change orders. SouthernComfort Interiors goal is to be your 1st call, to help your renovation process be as painless as possible and give you end results you can enjoy for years to come.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I’ll refer to Maya Angelou for this and her definition which I have up in my office, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
To me, she truly encompasses what it means. To some becoming a CEO of a multi-million dollar company is what they need in order to feel they are in fact successful, but for me loving myself is first, loving what I do and conducting my business in a way that is ethical all while be able to balance a loving and happy life with my family is truly how I gauge success and one of the main reason I wanted to venture out on my own.
With your own business some weeks, you may work 80+ hours, but the flexibility you have to conduct your business the way you want, to make sure you incorporate time for your friends and family and to know what you do day to day is a true reflection of what you love is priceless.
Pricing:
- $75 Initial Design Meeting/Consultation – Which is a overview meeting of the project our potential client is considering, review of clients design and/or budget preferences and it allows us to gather the information need to put a comprehensive quote together.
- $279 Design Consultation Special – Which includes up to 3 hours of design consultation. This service can include but not limited to a Shopping Trip with our Lead Designer, a Site Visit to answer questions pertaining to material selections and/or layout or even visiting a property your considering purchasing but need an expert to let you know if it’s a good buy.
- We offer our services at a hourly rate, if you prefer to use us as you go. Rate varies based on which service is needed, but ranges from $50 – $150 an Hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: SoCoIntr.com
- Phone: 8323041588
- Email: cara.german@socointr.com
- Facebook: Facebook.com/socointr
- Instagram: @SoCoIntr_HTX
- Other: houzz.com/socoitr
Image Credit:
Gastón Galvão, Rodric Ferguson
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