Ashley Mills shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ashley, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What battle are you avoiding?
The current situation which is my wild flower garden at the moment. Gardening can sometimes feel like a battle, but ends up being the best therapy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
The Handmade Home is a full-service rehab, construction, and design firm. Our mantra is: We don’t believe in the dream home; we believe in your home.
Our hands-on approach handles everything from fresh construction and design to remodels and additions. We cater to our clients’ individual needs, and the design comes first, so it’s never lost in the process. Our in-house team offers a one-of-a-kind, one-stop service, from architectural drawings to the final pillow on the sofa.
We pair our love for design in national advertising by partnering with brands such as Frigidaire, Kichler Lighting, Jeffrey Court tile, Yellawood, Sherwin-Williams, Lowe’s, and more. We share our daily inspiration with longtime readers at thehandmadehome.net. Here you’ll find space reveals, fun diy ideas, design advice, stained glass creations, original oil paintings and so much more! The authors of four books, we also speak at conferences, trade shows, and even guest lectures at the university level.
We believe in breaking the rules and doing what you love.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I believe that, as a child, I realized I had a creative side. Life is a process of learning to apply your strengths to certain situations, in your own unique way. And for me, that’s being creative.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
As any small business owner can attest to, OF COURSE. We’ve been doing this for well over fifteen years now. Running your own business while doing what you love is a real challenge, and part of that is learning to navigate real-life issues. It can seem daunting at times. It can be easy to get caught up in the comparison game and feel as though you’re falling behind. It’s essential to remember that you’re on your own path, and to cut out all the outside noise. I saw a tidbit on social media recently that said, “Make two people proud… the eight-year-old version of you, and eighty-year-old you.” I couldn’t agree more. If anyone out there is running a small business right now, we see you. Keep going.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say that authenticity matters the most to us, especially in our company. We work with real families, and we’re grateful to be entrusted to walk through their homes in this process. To create genuine spaces that reflect them, it’s a partnership. And the process of bringing a design to life and living through a remodel can feel a lot like therapy at times. It’s essential to us to have an authentic relationship, so we can accomplish amazing things together.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Someone once told me that the best weight I can lose is that of other people’s opinions. I’m still working on it. But if I knew I only had ten years left, this is still the number one thing I’d work on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thehandmadehome.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehandmadehome
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehandmadehome.net/
Image Credits
All taken by me – sorry if I sent too many. I can never decide.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
