Today we’d like to introduce you to Lexi Nielsen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I opened my own design studio in 2009 after the birth of my daughter. Starting your own design company during a housing crisis was a challenge! But a challenge I embraced because it taught me how to be a better designer. Today, I am privileged to have clients in Chicago, the Midwest, New England, even Hawaii. I love decorating because I get to experience the joy of watching people enjoy their personal style come to life in their own space. I started practicing Feng Shui around 1990 and it has been the biggest influence on my views as a decorator today. The tenets of Feng Shui are in line with today’s design philosophies, such as building sustainable houses, using eco-friendly furnishings, designing spaces that embraces nature and minimizing one’s carbon footprint as much as possible. I try to incorporate its principles in everything that I do, from window treatments to complete room designs.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think any designer can truly be successful until s/he had faced some challenges. The wonderful part about this job is that no two days are the same. But that is also the challenge, right? We have to approach every home with a new way of thinking how to solve a particular obstacle. For example, in Oak Park where our studio is based, the homes are typically 90-100+ years old. The rooms are small, the bathrooms are small, the closets are practically nonexistent! Each home has its own quirks and set of challenges, and that is what makes this job so fun.
Please tell us about Alexis Nielsen Interiors.
I am most proud that my daughter knows that she can be and do whatever she wants, whether it is owning her own small design company, being the CFO of a multinational conglomerate (like her Nana) or raising Nigerian Dwarf goats on a farm in Maine (like her adored Aunt). I always loved design but growing up I didn’t know that you could get a degree in it, and instead I went on to concentrate in English and Economics. I spent 20 years in advertising sales before becoming a certified interior decorator. I was 40 years old when I made the switch. As George Eliot told us, it’s never too late to be what you might have been. I think that is what I am most proud of, following my dream, no matter how long it took me to realize it. As Linda Merrill has written, I too bring to my clients my unique background, my work ethic, my experience, my listening skills, my appreciation for beauty and Feng Shui. I don’t think any two designers are alike, and that’s a good thing.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I am not sure I would have done much differently, but I would have appreciated going to school with people who weren’t half my age!
Contact Info:
- Website: alexisnielseninteriors.com
- Phone: 708 752 2255
- Email: lexinielsen@gmail.com
- Instagram: Alexis Nielsen Interiors
- Facebook: Facebook.com/alexisnielseninteriors
- Twitter: alexis nielsen interiors
- Other: houzz.com/alexisnielseninteriors
Image Credit:
AJ Randazzo, r3mg creative boutique
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