Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Papier.
Hi Natalie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been enamored with art since I was five years old. Since my first art class at the local YMCA, I’ve studied graphic art, visual art, photography, pottery…the list goes on. I developed a strong love for art, color and the unconventional. After getting married, having babies and moving to the suburbs of Chicago as a stay at home mom, our new home became my canvas. Being a little house-broke after buying our home, I started going to estate sales and flea markets to furnish our home. I started collecting and hosting my own vintage pop up shops with a couple of local friends. That love of eclectic vintage furnishings, combined with experimenting with different wall colors in our home, got the attention of friends and friends of friends who would ask for my help. Home Ec. my interior design/styling company, was officially born 6 years ago. It took off pretty quickly and I had to teach myself a lot about the business along the way.
I also started an Instagram account for my little company that started growing as much as my business was continuing to grow. We moved from Chicagoland to Charlotte in January 2020 and my business expanded quickly in the south and getting the interest of some publications. It’s been a very organic journey doing the things I love to do and helping others make their homes reflective of them in an art forward and eclectic style.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I think anytime you are starting something new that sparked from a passion into a business, there are always learning curves! For me, it was hard to know how to charge accordingly and set up the infrastructure for my business but I continue to do the research and ask for help when I need it. I also really learned to focus in on my style and find the right type of clients that connected with it too. It’s definitely scary to make that leap into the unknown and there will always be hiccups but pushing through with confidence and passion shines through the fear.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Home Ec. is an interior design company that focuses in on art forward design with a strong belief that homes should be a reflection of the people who live in them, full of life, color, character, and warmth. I love homes that incorporate pieces of themselves into the design through nostalgia, travel, hobbies and personalities.
Most of the spaces I design center around the character of art pieces, often collaborating with artists, designers, and makers to add life into the room. My early exposure to art has sharpened my eye for unique art and unconventional design. I built my reputation in the Chicago community for my unapologetically out-of-the-box designs. Most of my portfolio stands in defiance of all things beige and cookie-cutter. My vow against bland and boring has taken shape in many uses of colorful wallpaper, eclectic art, and funky texture. It’s not for everyone but the point is, to make your home feel like YOU.
I am proud of my organic growth and following but I am still a small business (just me!) so I make sure the projects I do take on are a really good fit for both myself and my clients. It makes my heart happy to find other lovers of art and color!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I often use Instagram as a resource to connect with artists and creators as well as gain inspiration. I don’t listen to most blogs or business books as I find myself more inspired naturally through nature, travel, galleries and face to face connections with other small businesses in my community. I learn a lot through just living in it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.homeecop.com
- Instagram: @home_ec_op
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/homeecop/
Image Credits
Megan Easterday (@easterdaycreative)
