Today we’d like to introduce you to DeChelle Harris.
Hi DeChelle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My design journey started in undergrad when during the course of my senior year, I realized I no longer wanted to attend medical school. I stopped the process of applying to the additional schools that were on my list, and on graduation day informed my parents I was coming home to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. And I did just that, I spent 3 years working in the Biotech industry and figuring out what I wanted to do. I wrote down all of the things I enjoyed doing (it was a very unserious list!) and then from that list, I made another list of the careers that would allow me to do some of those things. Interior Design was one of the careers and I remembered it was something I’d expressed interest in as a child (my parents wanted me to become a doctor so they weren’t too keen to encourage my creativity outside of the things I did at home). But once the interest in interior design was reignited within me, I started researching schools with master’s degree programs in Interior Design for those with undergraduate degrees in non-related disciplines. I found 3 schools, applied to one, Marymount University, and got in. I moved to Arlington, VA and while in school started working at Home Depot designing kitchens and bathrooms. While working at Home Depot, I was wooed away by a Design-Build firm on Capitol Hill and went to work designing and project managing. I learned so much working for that company; meeting with all of the trades, being on site to see how a project comes together, it was a real world education and probably, one of the most influential times in my career. It’s one thing to have a vision, but to know how to implement your vision is what elevates you above the crowd.
Two years later, I struck out on my own and started my first interior design company, Posh, LLC. Posh took me far. I learned A LOT. I learned how to run and manage an interior design project from A to Z. I had some great clients and then some not-so great ones. It’s amazing the things people will try but I used each experience as a lesson. I tightened up my contract, closed a few loopholes, and then I rebranded and restarted my company named after my own moniker, Chelle Albert.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road! My company has weathered the housing downturn, Covid, and a myriad of other challenges from working in a service industry and managing multiple projects and personality types. Interior design can be a very exasperating business…the road is paved with challenges, everything from shipping delays and vendor mistakes to finding out there is only one side table in stock when you need two. My most recent challenge of note was importing a custom desk from Portugal…not only was there a language barrier but I also had to navigate the import-export customs process! <font face=”Times New Roman, sans-serif”>However, I would not change a thing. The joy I get from doing what I love, creating beautiful spaces, makes all the challenges seem minute in comparison. I absolutely love what I do and I love that I am actually good at it! I am happy that I have a career that is meaningful and purposeful, so when I encounter challenges, I look at them as opportunities to grow and recalibrate whatever isn’t working. </font>
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an interior designer. I specialize in designing residential spaces, but I also occasionally dabble in the commercial realm. I am known for interior design and being stylish and having a positive outlook. I am most proud of my tenacity and that I have not allowed the challenges to deter me. I love color and unique pieces and I love to design using unexpected color and furniture. I am very inventive; if I can’t find something, I will design it and find someone to build it. What sets me apart from others is that I listen to my clients and design with responsibility, creating something that is meaningful to them and not based on trends or on a signature style that I repeat with every client. My designs are timeless and based off fresh ideas. I love to incorporate what I know of and about my clients into their projects so that their space is a reflection of who they are. The best compliment is when a client tells me someone commented on their home, “Your house is so you!”
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was quiet and shy. I read a lot and was very curious about the world around me. I was a good student and was respected by my teachers and my peers. I’ve always loved color and crafting. Our basement was my crafting space and where I would crochet and make paper dolls and friendship bracelets and stained glass art. I loved sewing stuffed pillows and painting and doing anything creative! Looking back, I remember being very particular about how my bedroom was arranged and the linens and sheets on my bed and the posters on my wall. I would always take great care in picking out my comforter and even my sleeping bag! At 12 years old, most of my friends had these bright, colorful sleeping bags adorned with their favorite cartoon characters, meanwhile, I had a chic black and white satin sleeping bag that my parents still have today!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ChelleAlbert.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelle.albert/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChelleAlbertInteriors/
