How long have you been working in Interior Design? How did you get your start?
2006, I was hired by an interior designer here in The Woodlands and began as her assistant and salesperson for her store which was located in Market Street. I learned so much from her in this position and I was also introduced to many people with whom I still do business today. From that point, my role changed within the industry working for an art gallery, a design showroom, and an architecture/design/build firm. I have really come full circle as I am now co-owner of the boutique Luxe Custom Collective also in Market Street with my own Design Business.
How would you describe your personal style and what influences it?
My own style is very eclectic. I am not a designer with a “signature look” and strongly believe the selections in your home are personal and should reflect each individual’s taste as well as meet the needs of their lifestyle. My personal home choices today are based a lot on functionality. Pretty and durable…. with 4 pets and 3 young children, a lot of my selections reflect this stage of our life. I am a big believer that you should love all the items in your home and sometimes that means collecting things over time rather than filling shelves with items of no significance.
What design services do you offer?
Primarily I help clients with designing new homes and remodels. I usually get involved early in the process beginning with the architecture, reviewing the plans, developing spaces, and designing a floorplan that meets the needs of each family. From there I help with all the finishes some more glamorous than others, from toilets to chandeliers. All our services and design packages are on our website AliciaNicholasDesign.com.
What kinds of clients do you enjoy working with?
I love the opportunity to build relationships with each of my clients. It is this rapport that helps me provide each homeowner with recommendations and products that make sense for their home. The process of a designer home is very fluid. There are a lot of decisions that must be made, and one choice always affects another. My job is to guide each client towards the right decisions for them without the process becoming overwhelming.
How do you work with a client to define their needs? What questions do you ask to determine the final look and feel of a space?
For many of my clients, this is a once in a lifetime project to create their dream home. I try to make it as enjoyable as possible. How I differentiate myself from other designers is the truly custom experience through the design process. Rarely are selections repeated from one house to another. Each family is unique and deserves its own design. I have designed homes for young families, for families upsizing, for families “right-sizing” (our positive spin on downsizing) for growing families, as well as empty nesters and retirees. Each stage of life has its own obstacles, and the functionality of the house is usually where the bulk of the change lies. When there is more than one decision-maker, I like to ask each of them to write down separately what they each want for their home. From specific requests to an overall feeling of the home. I also ask for what they know they don’t want or like. Many people don’t always know what they want, but they can easily tell you what they don’t. Overall a home is usually a person’s largest financial investment. Therefore, we want them to be happy and while also providing an asset. I closely monitor the real estate market and work closely with multiple realtors. I always try to keep my clients informed on what we forecast for the years ahead. I am proud to say that many of the homes I have worked on have gone to market and set new records for the resale price.
Where do you find everyday inspiration?
I find everyday inspiration in art, fashion, and landscape. Sometimes a piece of art can set the colors or feel for a room, fabrics for interiors are usually just behind what has been on the runway, and landscape can change how a house is spatially planned. Is there a view, a pond, a specific tree, does the front of the lot face a certain direction, etc.
How do you present your concepts and ideas?
Shopping showrooms, pulling samples, architectural plans, and power points. There are many programs to generate renderings, all these things with passion and a lot of trust.
What is the project you have completed and are most proud of?
There is knowledge gained, and wonderful relations made from each project I’ve taken on. There is one project in particular that I worked on closely with a client and their architect. We were able to design and build a beautiful library and home office. The concept started from the homeowner’s collection of original Charles Darwin books he had collected over the years. The library was designed to replicate Darwin’s own library. It turned out fabulously, was built and designed with purpose and most importantly the homeowner loved their space.