A Little Catch-Up Q & A Day… Ask Me Anything!
Cannot even believe we are already a full month into 2021! Since a last minute appraisal required us to finish up some flooring at the cabin taking up two extra days last week, I am a little behind on blogging. SO, for this Monday’s personal post… how about a little Q&A? Ask me anything! And speaking of a wee bit behind… I am also forever behind on direct messages on Instagram. I can pinky promise swear to you that it is never my intention. I just get so many dang messages and I’m always so determined to answer them myself but with everything we have going on, time just slips away! So here’s your chance. I will be popping in and out all day today and tomorrow to answer hopefully all of your questions! So ask away! Oh and if your question seems a little too long for a quick answer and it’s more like a blog post request, do tell! We are always looking for blog content ideas! Looking forward to chatting!
XOXO, Brit
Kim says
Great idea! Do you have someone who helps to clean your house?
Brittany Hayes says
I do! Abigail is kind of my “help with everything” assistant so she does my laundry and helps with dishes mostly. I have a great full cleaning crew that comes once a month as well. I also get my girlies to help with straightening, putting up their clothes and other random chores. Addie takes out the trash and the girls trade off in setting the table/cleaning off the table.
Sara says
I have been wondering how Covid has impacted your retail store? Have you had to change your business to accommodate the craziness of the pandemic? I think an interesting blog post would be how you have shifted your business goals both online and retail due to the pandemic.
Brittany Hayes says
Absolutely! We closed for three months last year which was difficult of course. Our small town gave grants so that was hugely helpful in paying rent for my space. Ab and I put our heads together a few weeks in and came up with doing “gift boxes” and those were very successful and helped make up a good bit of sales. We also worked hard on our website and started to up our marketing on that side. I am thankful we are in Georgia which was the first state to open back up. I cannot even imagine having to close for longer than that as so many have had to do. Not sure I would have wanted/been able to stay open had that been the case. Since we opened up again last Summer, it definitely took until maybe October/November to get anywhere close to normal-ish sales. Still so thankful for any bit of “normalcy” in regards to that. I know that still isn’t the case for so so many small businesses. I think from it all we have definitely forever shifted focus to online sales. Oh and AW DESIGN was able to be launched way sooner than I had expected due to being slower with my blog and retail store and such. XOXO
Brianna says
You always provide inspiration whenever I check out your posts and stories! You’ve got this, girlie!
How did you get started as a designer? Did you attend college first? I’ve been dying to go back to school for interior design for years, but have never been able to afford it, and now I’m about to become a mom. Do you have any advice for someone hoping to get into that field?
Brittany Hayes says
Awwww THANK YOU!!! So sweet and means A LOT! I have loved color and pattern and such for as long as I can remember. I actually started college as a fashion design major with a minor in French but shifted to interior design my sophomore year. That ended up extending my graduation date by a year since the interior design school at the University of Georgia requires submitting a portfolio and limits the number accepted each year. I spent what should have been my junior year gearing up for entrance and then graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor’s in Residential Interior Design. My ex and I started a kitchen/bath company my fourth year in college so I went straight from college into running that business with him and doing design for our kitchen/bath clients from time to time. Although I absolutely think it was hugely helpful for me, a degree is definitely not a must to be successful in design. I think drive, motivation and a passion for anything is what makes anyone successful. I have worked my booty off since I was 14 and I would credit that more than my actual degree. I think getting started doing what you love on any scale you can and then finding it within yourself to have the confidence to market yourself is a HUGE FIRST STEP. From there, changing things along the way to “make it work” for you and your business and goals will help to further your success. Not harping on any “failures” and continuing to push on is what will matter most in the end! Good luck!!!
Kate Schnider says
Omg! Did you just buy a house in France?
Will you move there FT, or just live there each summer? Any chance you will put it on AIRBNB like the cabin?
Eeek
Brittany Hayes says
I haven’t yet! I have made a “wishlist” of places I want to look at once things open back up and I plan on hopping on the first plane I can to do so too! Literally might be a quick 3-4 day trip for John, Ab and I at some point hopefully soon. FINGERS CROSSED. My plan is to hopefully live there all Summer every Summer with my girls spending at least half of it there with me and then the rest with their Dad. I do plan to airbnb it when I am not there as well! The area I am looking in is on the French Riviera around Antibes, France. It is MY FAVE!!!
Meagen says
With so many irons in the fire, I’ve always thought “you have just as many hours in the day as Beyoncé.” What does your typical agenda daily or weekly look like to balance it all and be successful at any one of them?
YokoJune Savas says
You and Abigail and your beautiful girls and entire team inspire me EVERYDAY sweet friend! Just wanted to thank you for your uplifting, beautiful , honest and encouraging posts that you share with so many! Wishing you many blessings and a happy day!
Brittany Hayes says
Awwww WOW THANK YOU!! I try really hard so hearing that means the world. Blessings to YOU!!! And thank you sooooo much for following along! XOXO
Tricia Emdy says
When painting the wood/logs in your cabins – do you use a primer first? I have a log home in Florida that you have inspired me to paint the interior a creamy white. Just wanted to make sure I was doing it correctly as there is no going back 🙂 My logs have been previously stained not sure if thats going to matter or not. Would love any advice. Thank you!
Brittany Hayes says
Hi! So fun!!! Gosh it makes such a huge difference! I use a painting crew and I am pretty sure they prime first. I know it soaks in a LOT so it takes a ton of paint. You’ll want to do ample coats because it’ll look “yellow-y” if not. Hope that helps! XOXO
Tricia says
Thank you so much for the info! Love seeing all of your posts on fashion, design and being a mom! Wishing you lots of love and happiness on this exciting new chapter of yours!
Jessica Stepowany says
Do you still have extra laundry room tile you will be selling?
Brittany Hayes says
I do! We just finished the project so now I know exactly how much I have left. I need to look back through my DM’s! Had you messaged me? XOXO
Jessica D Stepowany says
Yes, I did when you did an IG story about finishing up the laundry room tile. 🙂
Joni says
Do you have a source for wallpaper remnants? Trying to find a small amount of wallpaper for my laundry room reno.
Brittany Hayes says
I don’t I’m sorry! Maybe an outlet store? XOXO
Amanda Greene says
Hi! I wave been searching for the scrapbook paper you used in your frames with the postcards one of them is from NICE. Can you please share where you found it?
Brittany Hayes says
Hi! Omg too funny! That is so specific! LOL. I got that paper in Europe as well. It was just a small little card/print shop we passed. I’m sorry I don’t have more info! XOXO
Meg says
I absolutely LOVE following you!!! I just have to know….how do you do it?? How do you juggle being a mom, girlfriend, designer, blogger, owning a store, remodeling houses, etc?? You do so well balancing it all and making time for everyone!
Brittany Hayes says
Awww THANK YOU!!! Sweetest compliment! Gosh well I’d just say… ABIGAIL. Lol. No, but really though. She helps me fill in all the gaps of doing things and remembering things and picking up the pieces where I fall short. Aside from that, I try really hard to dedicate time to work and then family and try to completely walk away from the day once I am done. It has taken me YEARS to be able to do that. It’s also why I fall short on answering DM’s and every blog question and such but my family comes first and I can only do what I can do. I will also say that I have always been a really hard worker and am not afraid to get my hands dirty and do things myself so that helps a lot. Plus, I have a GREAT team at my retail store so I honestly don’t really have a hand in the day to day there. I think passion goes really far in anything and I am so passionate about everything I do that working long and hard just seems fun to me. Ab and I have nailed down a pretty good schedule with dedicated days to do each category of things we do so that has helped a TON! Thank you!!!!!! SO SWEET! XOXO
Jennifer says
Love love how you use wallpaper to make a wall pop!! Gorgeous colors and patterns!! You are my all time FAVE interior designer!!
I just love all the fun color and whimsical details!! Where do you find your wallpaper?
Brittany Hayes says
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! Gosh honestly I feel like most of mine are “trade only” papers so that’s why I started carrying so many on AW! You can click SHOP and then WALLPAPERS. I also love Hygge and West and Anthro too!
Jamie says
Hi!
First I want to say you are so amazingly talented and bring so much joy to so many! I get on Instagram once a day just to get inspired by you! Can you please share the design site you and AB were using on one of your stories? I believe you could buy furniture on the site as well as use their design tools? Thanks so much and grateful for your daily inspo!
Brittany Hayes says
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I don’t have any furniture site ones but we use Lightroom and PicMonkey for our design boards and I use the “Layout” app on my phone to quickly visualize things. Hope that helps! XOXO
Jamie says
Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to reply! So grateful!❤️
Rose says
Trying to keep track now… what are your various businesses or revenue streams? I’m a wantrepreneur! Cheering you on every step.
Michelle Long says
You are one of the few influencers I allow my daughter to watch. She has big dreams of designing and building homes. While she is only 6, she has overcome so much already I. Her little life. One day we hope to surprise her with a trip to Georgia to visit your shop. It is one her top 10 list. She currently is creating a board for her dream bedroom. Thank you for being an inspiration to my little girl.
Jenna says
What program do you use for your design boards?
Caroline says
There is a picture of a bedroom with a white bench and botanical duvet on a branch bed. I’m looking to find the duvet or something similar; do you have a link for it?
Jennifer says
I’m dealing with dark stained birch cabinets in my kitchen that are too nice to paint. I already changed out the counter tops/backsplash to a creamy quartz and light fixtures changed to gold. Would you suggest a pop of color on the walls (basically over the cabinets and 1 wall) or stick with a neutral? Most of my house is decorated in blacks/creams. But i do love color just worried about what goes with dark wood.! Thanks for any suggestions! I love your decorating style!
Carol McFarland says
What is your master bed pillow that you love?