Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Carpenter.
Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My background is in video production. I studied documentary film, and the first 6 years of my career were documentary storytelling for a disaster relief organization. I traveled around the world covering responses to earthquakes, fires and hurricanes. People and their stories were always at the very center of my work. I loved meeting people, listening to their stories, and finding ways to tell them back to people across the ocean who would otherwise never meet them. Video in itself is a very visual field, and I’ve always had an eye for design as well. When my husband and I started dating, I started helping him with his renovation projects. He worked in the entrepreneurship center at the university in our town (Appalachian State), but on the side he renovated old houses. Once we got married, I craved a steady routine instead of constant travel. We moved to Charleston and I left my job, and I’ve transitioned full time into our projects. I love designing spaces, particularly community-centered ones, and documenting our journey along the way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think one of the biggest struggles I’ve had to overcome in my work is imposter syndrome. In 2022, my husband and I bought a laundromat, and threw ourselves into renovating it. I knew that I absolutely love design and renovation, but so many times I’ve convinced myself I have no idea what I’m doing, and that I should stop. It’s hard to see the bigger picture when you’re in the middle of a messy project. It was scary to leave my job that I was familiar with, and the support of a bigger team. Sometimes it felt scary, like I was venturing out all on my own. But as we kept working and building together, so many amazing people have come alongside us and have supported us in what we’re doing. I absolutely love creating physical spaces we can return to. When we finished the laundromat, it was so fun and exciting to see the community that grew out of it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love designing and renovating old, overlooked places with my husband. I love the concept of biophilic design, bringing the peace and beauty of nature into the design of spaces. I love natural elements like wood, rattan, leather, and colors inspired by nature’s color palates. I applied some of this concept in the design of the laundromat, painting the washing machines green, and incorporating natural elements. Especially for community spaces, these natural elements can have a calming effect on the environment.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I wish I’d known that it’s not going to be perfect right away, and it’s okay to make mistakes. I hold myself to a very high standard, and at the beginning when I was still learning and finding resources, I felt like I let myself down and that frustrated me a lot. Give yourself time, because in a year or two, you’ll have more skills, knowledge, resources, and connections that will make your work even better.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: erinv_carpenter
