Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Lybrand.
Hi Melanie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always loved houses. My grandfather restored an 1800’s home back in the 1970’s when I was a little girl. I should have known that this was in my blood, but it took me until my late 30’s to figure it out. I enrolled in the Interior Design Program at West Valley College and spent the next 10 years taking classes whenever I could; finally finishing the program with honors in 2016. While I was still in school I worked for Lydia Corser at greenspace and learned everything I could about eco friendly options in the building industry. Lydia was a kitchen designer so I followed in her footsteps and after graduating ended up landing a job with another Santa Cruz kitchen design studio. I love designing kitchens and bathrooms, but I wanted to do it all! I started Happy House Interiors in 2022 to fulfill that desire. I worked out of my home office on the Westside of Santa Cruz up until last year when I moved to Mendelsohn Place in Saratoga. Mendelsohn Place is a designer co-op. I am one of 5 design firms in the building. We each have our own offices, but share an extensive design library. The camaraderie is wonderful. Interior design can be a lonely job!
Alright, 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 been far from smooth. I mistakenly thought that I would leave my very busy kitchen design job and get tons of clients. That was naive. Although the industry was booming at that time, that didn’t mean anyone knew about Happy House Interiors. I managed to get enough work to keep going thanks to the relationships I had formed with several contractors during my time as a kitchen designer. I spent time and money working hard to build up my systems and processes. Each project provides an opportunity to revisit what works and what can use improvement. The hardest part of being a new business owner is that you have to wear ALL the hats whether or not they are a comfortable fit. Marketing is still a mysterious beast to me. I’ve done it all, but time has shown that the majority of my business comes from referrals. It really is true that your business is your baby. You love it, you do your best to take care of it, you worry that it won’t survive those vulnerable early years, but you will never give up on doing your best to help it grow and thrive. Each year Happy House Interiors is a little stronger than the year before. It’s growing up and I can’t wait to see where it goes!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Happy House Interiors is a boutique interior design firm. We provide full service interior design for homeowners who appreciate quality and an artistic vision. What does that mean? Well, it means that our clients are interested in a design plan and products that have longevity in both style and construction. The quality of finishes and materials used are what guarantees a return on investment and not the bland “appeal to the masses” approach. Color, pattern and texture bring visual interest and have an uplifting effect on the people who live there. We begin each project with a very important question, “How do you want to feel in your home?” Then we keep dialing down. “How do you want to feel in this room?” The programming and conceptual design phases are where all the investigation and trial and error take place so that when we are ready to move into details and the final design phase we have clear direction to an agreed upon destination. We help our clients make wise choices about where to invest and where they can value engineer without losing the design intent. We love working on a variety of projects and scopes. From new builds to furnishing and decor. We love it all. The most important thing to know about Happy House Interiors is that we are very sincere about providing excellent service with exceptional integrity. This work isn’t about feeding my ego, it is about making my clients’ homes a place they love living in. Home is so important. It is where we do our most profound and genuine living. The power of beauty and organization has a palpable effect on our experience of day to day life.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m currently reading “The Untethered Soul” by Michael Singer for the second time. It’s one of those books that you will pull off the shelf over and over again when you need a reminder that life is meant to be lived in the moment. My home library is filled with beautiful books by my favorite architects and interior designers both contemporary and legendary. I still subscribe to print magazines. I love House & Garden, Frederic, Antiques, and Luxe to name just a few. Bookshelves are a necessity at my house! For interior design I really enjoy listening to the Business of Home podcast, but my favorite podcasts are ones with people sharing their near death experiences. I’ve always been fascinated with the great mysteries of life and beyond.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://happyhouseinteriors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happy_house_999/?hl=en
