Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Drake.
Brooke, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My first trip to Europe was with my grandparents. I’ll never forget my first impressions…the architecture, the people, the culture, the food. And, the introduction to three new food groups: espresso, champagne, and French butter! Travel, treasure hunting, and the stories behind each discovery has been a passion ever since.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve been in business for seven years, sourcing and selling antiques and mid-century finds. I absolutely love what I do—the research, the discovery, the people I meet along the way–and the stories behind every find.
This year, I’m taking my business to the next level. I’ve quickly learned that ‘time’ is one of my biggest challenges. There is never enough of it. Balance is something I continually struggle with. If I let myself, this could be a 24-hour operation. The hunt is a passion and addiction for me! Even on vacation, it doesn’t matter where I am…it can be difficult for me to completely let go and just relax…I might have had a traveling companion or two get a little frustrated by me!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am an antique and mid-century sourcer and dealer, constantly on the lookout for unique and storied pieces—furniture, décor, and original art. My goal is to find obscure or hard-to-find items that speak to me for potential clients…to present a point of view mixing periods of style and color, layer on layer, that ultimately creates a rich and eclectic composition. I am definitely a ‘maximalist’! I believe that more IS more when it comes to creating a personal living space.
What were you like growing up?
My wanderlust for exploration and adventure started at a very young age. At 13, I flew solo to Europe to meet my grandparents. I had never been afraid to be on my own in uncharted territory and it was thrilling to be on my own with my SLR camera in tow.
I believe curiosity feeds the imagination and I am insanely curious. As a child, I asked ‘why’ all the time. My grandfather always remarked at the complexity of my questions. My questions made him think and, as a result, he was always very patient in responding to me.
I grew up playing lots of athletics—tennis and soccer. I had incredible coaches who knew how to leverage individual contribution into team strength. My competitive spirit is influenced by the lessons I learned from them in strategy and that putting the best player in meant a win for the entire team. To this day, I ask for constructive feedback in just about everything I do. I like different perspectives and understanding how different people perceive the same situation. It keeps me open to learning something new every day and evolving.
And, little known fact…I had a Spy Club as a child. My friends and I would hide in trees and bushes, monitoring the activity of the neighborhood. Little did the adults know that we were aware of the speeders on our block and writing them “tickets”. To this day, aptitude tests reveal Private Investigation would have been a good career choice.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 2147300494
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: BrookeDrakeDesign
- Facebook: BrookeDrakeDesign
Image Credit:
Picture with black box, mirror, and pair of Green porcelain Foo Dog statues is by Lynn Michelle photography.
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
