Meet that Dude
Behind every great interior designer is a dude carrying boxes. Here’s how I became that dude…
I launched the Design Hubby blog to document the evolution of an interior designer’s husband.
When I met my wife 11 years ago, she was completing design school while working for a builder in Charlotte, North Carolina. We started with a long-distance relationship. On my first visit, she took me to her office to show me all her current projects and woo me with the fabric library, it was 9 am and I had just arrived on a red eye from LAX. She let me get a little rest, as that evening was our first date and we were going to visit her Designer Showhouse. As a student, she was assigned to design the entry way into the house, or as I now know the foyer.
I should have seen the warning signs: on the way to our date we had to stop for fresh flowers, an easel, and candles! I think you could say she had me at “Hold this”…
After a 2-month courtship, Melissa Morgan moved to California and we began our life together. A few years later, Melissa Morgan Design was founded and my role as design hubby commenced.
Since then, “Hold this” has evolved to include: carry, stack, order, return, build, fix, source, and any other task she has needed to complete a project. I’ve embraced it all and I’ve learned things I never expected to learn. Here’s just a taste:
What I’ve Learned
Returns are the worst
I really hate doing returns. Tell me I’m not the only one! It’s a combination of performance anxiety and guilt. I always feel the need to come up with a back story, like “crazy coinky dink, my wife bought the same pillows from your online store” or “we love the lamp but we decided to save up and buy a chair next week”. (In fact, this just might have to be the subject of its own blog post at some point. I hate returns that much!!!!)
Schulter strips are not as fun as they sound
I learned that a schluter strip is a piece of metal used to join tiles, not a really cool exotic dance performed by Heidi Klum. #alittledisappointed
Instant street cred
When vintage shopping, you’ll sound like a pro if you call an item a “period piece”. Try it with me: “I love that vase; it’s a great ‘period piece’.”
I’ve learned some lessons the hard way, that’s for sure, but I’ve also learned to embrace the design business, and everything (okay, most of the things) that comes along with being a Design Hubby.
How I’m Embracing my Position
Interior design is so much more than simply designing
Before I met Melissa, I thought interior design was just about helping people pick out colors and pillows. I had no idea interior design was so much hard work and responsibility. It turns out being an interior designer is only 10% designing and 90% managing people. I have so much appreciation for her work now, and I see how much I can contribute as a Design Hubby as well.
It’s not easy – but it’s worth it
The hardest thing for me at first was realizing (and embracing) the fact that Interior Design is not a 9 to 5 job – it’s a 24/7 career. Clients are available in the evenings and weekends and that’s when they want to send emails and texts and have phone calls. The longer hours and the flexibility required for this business are both hard but I’ve grown to love it anyway, because I love my designer wife. I always thought I had to find something I loved to do for a living. It turns out I just have to love someone who loves what they do for a living!
And the lifestyle has serious benefits
What I love now is that interior design has allowed me to travel to some pretty great destinations and meet amazing architects, builders and designers. Once you embrace the lifestyle you realize you get to kick it with creative cats and that’s pretty cool!
The Future of Design Hubby
This blog is just getting started, but I’ve got a big vision for the future:
What I’ll be blogging about
A big part of the blog will be about sharing all the great products, vendors and design ideas I stumble upon as a Design Hubby. I’ll also be sharing tips, tricks and experience on how to navigate the design world and find inspiration for your next design project. In addition, I’ll be interviewing the Design Hubbys’ of some of the most accomplished designers and learn how they approach life as a Design Hubby. I’m also thinking of introducing a category called “dude design” for those who love the latest gadgets and electronics.
Who’s this blog for?
This blog is for anyone who loves design – from interior designers and design enthusiasts to contractors and anyone who has gone through the excitement (and struggle) of a home remodel.
Most importantly, this blog is for all the other Design Hubbys’ out there – whether you’ve have had to watch hours of HGTV or you’ve tackled your own “fixer upper”, I feel you. We’re in this together.
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1 comment
Great blog Patrick very impressive.