Social distancing has reminded us of the importance of human connection and communication. Typically I find myself so busy I barely have the time to reach out to a longtime friend for a quick hello. The solitude of the past few weeks has reminded us of what is truly important; health, family, and friends. So in an effort to connect with my social media friends, here is a bit about myself and AGA Design.
I grew up in mid-nineteenth century colonial home in Hadley, Massachusetts, a rural town about two hours west of Boston. We had wide plank floor boards, beehive ovens, and an array of historic charachter. My parents purchased the home the year before I was born and slowly renovated it room by room. I remember the second floor hallway was one of the last rooms to receive attention. The walls featured an archive of old wallpapers and I loved to peel back the layers, unveiling the next era of design. There was everything from an American eagle crest to a classic rose and leaf floral pattern.
In addition to our house, we also had a series of barns. The forge at the end of the driveway was deemed my first official office or studio. I was an artist, and painted rural and seaside landscapes on old loose slates from the roofs of our barns. I remember carrying a large wicker basket filled with acrylic paints down the gravel driveway to my studio, I even made a sign with the name AGA on it. The slates were sold or given to family members. This is where I discovered my passion for entrepreneurship.
Long before my artistic days in the forge, I had a passion for interior decor and design. I enjoyed my dollhouses and created living spaces for my barbies and American Girl Dolls. I loved everything from selecting wallpaper to designing and hand sewing custom bed pillows with lace trim. You could say I was influenced by my parents and their DIY projects. Growing up we would frequently (and still to this day) walk into the kitchen to find my mum's latest fabric inspiration or paint color for a current room renovation. One of the biggest thrills was when I moved into my new bedroom in the fourth grade. I spent hours with my mum and grandmother visiting hardware stores in search of the perfect bedroom wallpaper. In the end a cheerful yellow and floral pattern was selected, which still covers the walls to this day.
When it came time to apply to college, I thought I wanted to be an architect. My parents took me to architecture schools throughout the Northeast. At the time, I was interning for a local architecture and interior design firm, after school. This was where I discovered my interest in color, lighting, and texture, hence my decision to design interiors. I landed at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY. The day my mum and I went for a tour, it was dreary and gray, but I knew it was the place for me.
After four wonderful years; filled with friendships with peers and professors, critiques in Houghton House, and a semester in Rome, Italy, the time came for graduation. I completed an internship in publishing on Boylston Street in Boston and found myself my first job with a local high-end interior designer. To this day I credit everything I know about the business of interior design to this experience. At the time I was writing my blog AGA Design Blog, a personal publication devoted to interior design, fashion, and art. I needed a change, but I wasn't sure what that meant. So I took the leap and started taking on a few of my own interior design clients. One led to the next and I guess you could say the rest is history.
There is no way to sugar coat it, starting and running your own business is not an easy task. There are days you want to quit and then there are others where everything works out perfectly, reminding you of why you worked so hard to get to this point. I wouldn't change a thing, the challenges make it so much more rewarding. For anyone considering starting a business, don't wait. Just go for it and enjoy every step of the journey!
Each passion and experience helped shape the person that I am today. AGA Design continues to grow and I can't wait to see where the future takes us. Our wonderful clientele continues to multiply and we hope to launch an online shop in the upcoming months.
If you're interested in working with AGA Design or maybe you just want to say hello, send us a message or give us a call, we would love to hear from you!
Wishing you happiness and health. Stay in touch! Alex
