We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalie Papier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalie below.
Hi Natalie, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Most certainly my dad. He has modeled the importance of communication, perseverance, patience, kindness and the ability to shift and pivot when necessary. All of those skills combined can make you more resourceful and more successful.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My career path into interior design started rather organically, really! My background was always in art, and when we purchased our home in Oak Park, IL, the home became my newest canvas.
Experimenting with paint, art, and thrifting transformed our home into what would become an evolution of my interior style. It started getting the attention of friends who would ask for my help with their own homes, and then a friend of a friend asked if I would consider helping her. It snowballed and became a full blown business before I even had a clue on how to run one…
It was through Instagram, though, that I really found the larger design community and so many other creatives. So many incredible opportunities have come from putting my work out there and connecting with talented people and companies.
Last year, I was able to watch our second season of Artfully Designed air and launch my first book. It was both exciting and exhausting but I am forever grateful and proud of those opportunities. This year I am focusing on expanding into more brand partnerships and commercial design on top of the residential design services I offer.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For myself, my background in art was the foundation for my interior design career and the focus on my design aesthetic. I also think the jobs I had prior to this path were a huge lesson in life skills regarding the importance of good communication and customer service. Thirdly, authenticity is very important to me; being yourself, doing things on your own terms, creating your own path.
Just like everything in life, you have to practice what you preach. Determine what is most important to you in the beginning and do not stray from that path and try not to compare yourself to anyone else, hard as that may be.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
2024 was an overwhelming year for me. My anxiety got the best of me sometimes and that’s when I just felt like shutting down. I had to develop some healthy coping skills that I am still practicing in my day to day. When I wake up, in order for me not to feel completely bogged out with the tasks I need to complete, I take a moment to have a quiet moment first with a cup of coffee without the distractions of my phone or computer. Then I list out my things to do in order of importance. After I get through the first two on my list, I already feel so much better crossing them off my list. At the end of the list is usually household stuff like getting ingredients for dinner. And if I don’t get that far, I don’t berate myself for not being able to do all the things. That’s what pizza is for… 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.homeecop.com
- Instagram: @home_ec_op
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homeecop/
Image Credits
Megan Easterday – Easterday Creative
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