Cinda Salazar is co-owner of Archadeck Outdoor Living of Alpharetta. She and her husband Mark own and operate Archadeck, designing and building patios, decks, porches and fire features. As more of us move outside this month, we caught up with Cinda to find out what inspires her and what trends she's excited about this spring and summer.
Grab a cup of coffee and take this to your favorite outdoor reading nook for a moment with Cinda.
Q: We are celebrating women this month throughout the magazine. What are a few things have you learned over the years that have contributed to your success?
A: I’ve learned over time how to adapt my communication skills to the variety of customers that I am in front of. I know that as a woman, I bring a different perspective to a mostly male industry. I think that's a plus. I've also learned to trust my instincts and be confident in the decisions I make.
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self about balancing work and life?
A: When you own your own company, there are never enough hours in the day to get all the work done. You have to make sure you set time aside each day to take care of yourself and your family while setting realistic timelines with customers. I've become very good at controlling of my calendar to keep things balanced.
Q: As a designer of beautiful outdoor spaces, what are a few new trends are you excited about for projects you're working on this spring?
A: We saw a huge increase at the beginning of the pandemic for outdoor living spaces and we see that trend continuing for 2022. People are still working from home and want to create an outdoor space that allows for that, as well as more family time. We have seen an increase in screened porches, which give that indoor/outdoor space and also add great home value. We are also seeing an increase in hot tub decks with pergolas. It really is exciting to work with homeowners to design and build such fun spaces.
Find more of Cinda's ideas at Archadeck.com/Alpharetta
