Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Ballard
Hi Yvonne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved design and fashion since I was really young. My family would tell me stories about me changing my clothes multiple times a day then as a young adult doing design as a hobby. My inspiration for decorating comes from my Mom who also has the gift for visualizing and styling.
My journey began at a young age when I became a parent as a young teenager with my husband- we are celebrating 30 years in April by the way- He and I got serious quickly and started planning a life together which has been a huge Blessing to me.
We have 3 wonderful children in their 20s now and 4 precious grandchildren.
Since starting our family so young I set out to discover who I was and how I would really make a difference and be a role model to our children. I really had a complex about the challenges I faced as a young black woman and mother so I want to shift the paradigm to be successful in everything I did.
I started my company in 2013 after graduating college years earlier I had honed in on my niche’ and it’s the combination of vision, creative ideas, selecting unique fashion and Creating a design from that platform.
I absolutely love what I do because it’s so transformative to see how people see fashion and design and how it relates to their lifestyle. Building confidence and bringing families together.
The biggest compliment is they trust me to bring a concept or need to life. This is the core to why I keep pushing through all obstacles- the fun of it all trumps everything.
In my free time I love dating my Husband on the weekends, having family time and traveling especially nature and city traveling- it ignites my imagination.
The next phase of my brand I am focused on functional decor products to furnish spaces and building my portfolio to buy land and construct community housing.
I’m so excited on my journey and love opportunities to share in the right environment.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road, early in my career I was told that my ideas were crazy or I had to tone my look down or I should just find a 9-5 to work the rest of my life.. I never felt like I fit into that mold.
I was even told that I couldn’t combine design and fashion as a company and this came from a college teacher and some “ney sayers” …
I fought hard to get in the new construction landscape or partner with corporates and so many doors were closed in my face.
I even dealt with the entrepreneurial roll-a-coaster in my mind questioning if I could really execute the dreams I saw and still see for myself and my family.
But I think it’s a huge dynamic Blessing when you are appointed with a calling so I glean from that seed. Plus I get calls from such a diverse group of people to assist with their projects and getting recommendations from people I don’t even know its mind blowing sometimes!!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So I’m an Interior Designer by trade- funny thing is I thought I would be a professional hair stylist because I did hair for many years as a hobby…
My niche is styling, my projects range from retail merchandising, fashion consulting and interior design for homes and businesses.
I’m known for having a very eclectic flair and what sets me apart from others is I’m very passionate about solutions- the phrase I hear the most on a design project is “I would have never thought of that but I love it!”
I’m most proud of being able to get the most out of any budget, designing for celebrities and most of all in my career when people tell me I motivated them to change their style or start their own business it’s a huge Blessing to me and fuels me so much.
What does success mean to you?
I define success in so many ways some examples are:
1. when I feel defeated as a Woman that I can pray and still hope.
2.Living true to myself and moral no matter what seat at the tables I’m at.
3. Most of all my children are proud of me I have such a tight bond with all of them and seeing how good of a job that my Husband and I did it makes me feel confident and accomplished.
4. I define success by my Mother saying that She lives Her dreams through me- it’s some big pressure there lol , but it’s fulfilling.
5. And opening myself to grow more is another view for success, some traits I broke for myself so that I’m not stagnant.
Pricing:
- Interior design & styling prices start at $199 per hour
- Creative consulting can start at $99 per hour
- Decor products start at $9.99 per item
Contact Info:
- Website: https://novedecor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novedecor?igsh=MXE5MGE5eHBmNDhyZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/novedecor
- Twitter: @novedecor
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@novedecorbyyvonneballarddesign?si=fRgNeVDwFmUJ1oJW
