"I believe that everyone deserves to have their version of luxury in the home. The Dictionary defines luxury as "The State of Great Comfort and Extravagant Living". That might be true, but the luxury that I bring to each project is "Conscious Living; It's Experiential; It's Comfort; It's Privacy; It's Convenience; It's............Whatever Makes Your Heart Sing". You get to define what luxury is to you."
VERONICA'S STORY
INTERIOR DESIGNER + DESIGN BUSINESS MENTOR
I believe that everyone deserves to have their version of luxury in their home.
The Dictionary defines luxury as - The State of Great Comfort and Extravagant Living.
That might be true, but the luxury that I bring to each project is Conscious Living; It's Experiential; It's Comfort; It's Privacy; It's Convenience; It's Whatever Makes Your Heart Sing. You get to define what luxury is to you.
Veronica Solomon
It's hard to believe that back in 2007 despite the obvious downturn in the economy, I decided to hang out my shingle and Start Casa Vilora Interiors, after being laid off from a lucrative career with one of Houston's top homebuilders.
The first few years meant working part-time for other companies and side-hustling my design business, but I felt the progress was slow, and something was definitely missing.
I made the decision to quit my day job, and focus on running my design business full-time, and what a risk that was! One that would ultimately pay off, but not without a lot of prayers, hard work and sacrifice, and the confidence and loyalty of my amazing clients.
The early years of struggles would only strengthen my resolve to eventually get to where I am today - the CEO and Creative Director of the only design firm in the West Houston and Katy area to provide our clients with flexible design services to work with every budget level.
Being a design school drop-out after losing my husband to cancer back in 2004, and having to raise two young kids alone, did not change the strong desire and passion that I had to be a successful interior designer. In fact, my new circumstances made me work harder to achieve this goal. So I engrossed myself in self-studies, books and online courses, eventually completing an interior design course and diploma in 2008.
This was the beginning of my passion for always learning and growing as an interior designer and business woman. Traveling to design market events and conferences nationwide, taking multiple CEU's, workshops and courses are just a few of the things I did for personal and professional development. This passion for learning has grown to now mentoring other designers about the business of interior design, and it is one of the most fulfilling things about my career.
Growing up in Jamaica in very humble beginnings, I am sure, helped prepare me for my chosen vocation as an interior designer. I was never one of those kids who would rearrange their bedroom (maybe because it was shared with 7 of my 10 siblings), but I can certainly see the many influences of the vibrant colors and natural textures of my native island show up in some of the interiors that I now create. My later jobs in banking and customer service have also helped to shape my career. Efficiently managing budgets and providing superior customer service is at the core of what we do for our clients.
Humble upbringing is really an understatement, but I am thankful to God for the foundation of a strong family structure, and hard-working parents. It is amazing how 10 people living in a 2 bedroom house, no running water till the age of 15, and no such thing as air-conditioning can help shape your future and desire to excel in life and business.
Over the past 17 years, I have garnered some major professional accomplishments as the leader of the Casa Vilora Team
Some of our accomplishments include but not limited to:
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Past Associate Member of ASID
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Past Associate Member and President of IDS Houston Chapter
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Interior Design Society (IDS) Designer of the Year Award for 2016
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American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Ruby Award 2016
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American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Ruby Award 2015
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Black Interior Designers Network (BIDN) Emerging Designer To Watch 2016
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Past Black Artists and Designers Guild Member
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Show House Chair ASID TGCC 2017
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Published in several regional, national and online magazines - Architectural Digest, Rue Magazine, House Beautiful, Better Homes And Gardens, Elle Decor, HGTV Magazine, Business Of Home (Cover), Kitchen And Bath Business (Cover), Modern Luxury, Island Origins, Designers Today, Katy Magazine, Houston House and Home Magazine, ASID Angle (Cover Feature), Bliss Victoria, WF-Vision Magazine, Houston Design Resources, NBC Today, Humble Beginning Entrepreneurs, Houston Voyage Magazine, Katy Community Impact Newspaper
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Featured in national blogs - Apartment Therapy, Houzz Room Of The Day
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Chosen by Better Homes and Gardens as a featured designer for The One Room Challenge Spring 2019 edition
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Houzz Regular Contributor
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Best of Houzz 2012, 2015 and 2016
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HGTV Faces of Design Award Nominee - 2018
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Founded The Solomon Project Pregnancy Ministry 2016. Learn more here
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Involvement in various other charities including The Houston Furniture Bank DIVAS
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Our blog - The Naked Decorator.com (Now Lux Living Weekly) Subscribe here
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Hundreds of satisfied clients nationwide. See testimonials here
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A vibrant and engaging online community and social media
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Founder of a mentorship group for young designers, sharing experience about the business side of design - Featured on Business Of Home (Formerly Editor At Large) and ADPro
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Interviewed on several podcasts like A Well Designed Business, Business of Design, Design and Style and Living Well
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Design Influencer for High Point Market Fall 2018 Design Bloggers Tour
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Brand collaborations
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Real Estate Investing
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Collaborated with a Houston Real Estate Investor on over 30 flip homes - most breaking neighborhood records in sales
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Design Expert Presenter - Access Design with Diane Cowen of Houston Chronicle and Houston Design Center
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Design Influencer For Modenus Designhound For KBIS 2019 - Las Vegas
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HFN and Designers Today Women Of Influence Honoree 2020
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KBB Person Of The Year 2020
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Judge For HGTV Designer Of The Year Awards 2020
Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
The Holy Bible NKJV
Proverbs 24: 3-4