Today we’d like to introduce you to Aubrey Butcher.
Aubrey, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I graduated from the Art Institute of Dallas in 2006 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. Having always been inspired by the hospitality experience, it was fitting that my design career began at a local, but globally recognized firm, Leo A Daly. I worked on everything from hotels to coffee shops and even some multi-family spaces. In 2013, I pursued a smaller, more boutique firm, and worked there for a couple of years before finding out I was pregnant with our first baby. It became pretty clear to my husband and I that the demands of late night deadlines and spontaneous travel would be too much for me to balance with a new baby.
I decided to start building my own design business in early 2015 with the intention of taking on new clients after our daughter was born. By the end of 2015, I was working with a new client on a full home renovation which led to purchasing home furnishings for the entire first story and even his outdoor patio. With each year that has followed, I have expanded my portfolio – working with local general contractors in the Dallas area on everything from full kitchen remodels to surprise nursery gender reveals! All of my work has been on a referral basis, which is humbling and awesome.
I love working with people to transform their spaces on a more intimate level. While I sometimes miss the comradery of working alongside other talented designers in the hospitality design field, I find residential to be immensely more gratifying and personal. My design aesthetic leans towards mixing high end things with flea market finds because I think a ‘collected’ space feels more authentic and warm. Most importantly though, your space should speak to who you are and tell your story. I just assist in bringing it all together.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has certainly not always been a smooth road! The administration side of things has certainly always been a learning curve for me. I have always struggled to keep up with the bookkeeping, which for a designer, can get messy quickly! When I started Gilded Heights, it was easy just to focus on the fun things about owning your own business – I didn’t spend much time considering filing sales tax, invoicing, procurement, etc. While being self-employed is still totally worth it, just remember you’re also responsible for the other not-so-fun things as well.
Gilded Heights – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I refer to myself as an interior design consultant. I help clients transform their spaces – whether that is a construction remodel, like a kitchen or bath, or buying new furnishings and accessories… or both! I am most proud that I have worked within all kinds of budgets. In my opinion, it’s easy to work with an unlimited budget, but it takes a lot of creativity and resourcefulness to create a stylish room on a limited budget. So I like that challenge. I think my experience in the hospitality designer sets me apart in the residential industry. I have plenty of experience in the construction process and as a result, am better equipped to coordinate between clients and the contractor.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I was asked to do a surprise gender reveal nursery a few years ago. Basically, some clients of mine were expecting their first and wanted me to create a beautiful nursery for them while keeping the gender a secret. So, I planned for a boy scheme and a girl scheme. After we had both schemes approved, we put a lock on the door and I started ordering. I was given the envelope with the gender and kept it a secret for months! I had two big install days or hanging and getting things ready for baby. They didn’t see the final product until they came home from the hospital! It was so sweet and fun though. To date, my favorite project I have ever worked on!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gildedheights.com
- Phone: 214-315-9352
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @gildedheights
- Facebook: @gildedheights
Image Credit:
Laura Morsman Photography (Headshot)
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