Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Cozart.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Diane. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in a stable, two kid, predictable-lifestyle home in the L Streets of Lake Highlands, living in the same house until graduating from Lake Highlands High School in the early 1970s. Predictable, meaning my dad came home at exactly the same time each day from work, followed by dinner, always at 5:30 pm. I always knew what to expect. My sister and I were raised to be cautious, frugal and responsible, and to do our best, supported by parents who also tried their best. We had what we needed in a financial sense but never the sense that there was extra available for splurges, and never NOT enough.
I studied fashion design in college at Texas Tech until I met and married my husband, Cyrus Cozart. We immediately moved to Denver, Colorado for an internship, then to Pasadena, California, six months later for a position he was offered there. This was a huge disruption to my earlier “predictable” lifestyle – nothing would ever be predictable again about my life beginning with our marriage on Jan 1, 1974! New experiences, far-away-from-home locations. With Cyrus working 60 hrs most weeks, I was often lonely and left feeling isolated and as a result, I enrolled at CSU-Los Angeles to continue my fashion design degree. This was a great experience, learning from my design professors, especially the hands-on classes. Our first child was not expected, and I made the hard but rewarding decision to become a mom at home rather than stressful juggling of schoolwork, mothering, and family responsibilities.
Eventually, we moved back from California to my Lake Highlands neighborhood in Dallas, my husband started a small remodeling business, and three years after the birth of child #3 in 1984, my husband encouraged me to stretch myself and become involved in his construction business by offering design consultation to our clients. Memories of those days seem crazy ridiculous, when I’d leave the older two with my mom, pack up a backpack of activities for the youngest, and take off for the Dallas Design District – flipping through fabrics and wallpaper for a particular client while keeping this three year old busy and quiet. I wondered if showroom managers ever rolled their eyes when they saw me coming, child in tow with his headphones on, listening to “Adventures in Odysee” or some other kid-tape.
Somehow it worked, though not flawlessly, in addition to homeschooling the kids as they came along. By this time, I was teaching sewing, nutrition and home skills classes at the large home school co-op we attended on Tuesdays each week. I began offering custom window treatments, following the lead of Charlene, the decorator at a large custom home builder who was generous with her helpful advice.
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?
When child #6 was five yrs old, I was surprised and shocked to learn that I had breast cancer! A friend quickly offered to add my daughter to her own home “school”, another one organized seven weeks of meals while I recovered from 3-4 surgeries. As a result of the kindness and generosity of my friends and family, I got to enjoy the most wonderful downtime I’d ever experienced! Quiet times on a cushy cushion bench in the yard, naps, wonderful food prepared by someone else! It doesn’t get much better than this! Those 8-9 months are probably the highlight of my life, allowing me to rest and be rejuvenated because of cancer and learning to let people help us! The hardest thing was the BEST thing!
Please tell us about Delightful Designs.
I thrive on the opportunities to meet new clients and guide my neighbors through the window and patio treatment options like manual and motorized roller shades, woven wood Roman shades, plantation shutters, and exterior motorized solar/porch screens.
Window treatments play such a large part of turning your house into a home and it’s hard to know where to start regarding window coverings needed for privacy or a certain updated look. Many absolutely LOVE the motorization option, especially when paired with a wifi bridge and ability to program from the phone or tell Alexa to raise and lower the shades. My commitment to my clients and quality has resulted in so many wonderful experiences!
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Don’t forget to ask for help when you need it. Embrace your friends and family and never forget what wonderful networkers women are and just how strong you are!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.delightfuldesigns.net
- Email: info@delightfuldesigns.com
Image Credit:
Kirsten Cozart 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.
