How Best Friends Turned Their Passion Into Their Business
What happens when two childhood friends with impeccable taste team up to share their love of interior design?Salt Box Collective - the interior design business with a focus on simple, classic design with a modern edge! Emily Brannelly and Olivia Reynolds work together to blend their individual decor styles which help set them apart in the design world. We got to chat with the design duo and get some expert tips...and we are most definitely taking notes!
Tell us a little about Salt Box Collective and how you turned your passion for interiors into a business?
We started Salt Box Collective over two years ago. We both were constantly being asked by friends and family to help them decorate their homes, and we had chatted about wanting to do start some type of business together for a while. We were stay at home moms just looking for some type of creative outlet, and when the opportunity came up for us to fully design and style a home for the Utah Parade of Homes from a family member, we decided to jump on and just figure it out as we went. We were both excited and nervous to take on our first full design project. It was a dream job but also a little overwhelming! We split everything up but the project was truly a collaboration between the two of us, and helped us learn how to work together and combine our style into one collaborative design.
What are a few tips for people looking to do the same?
Our advice for people looking to start a design business it to start documenting projects on social media so other people can see what you have to offer. We’re lucky to live in a time where it’s really so easy to showcase our own work and see how other people react to it. Post either what you’ve been working on personally, or what you’re feeling inspired by from other people. Also, say yes to people asking for your design help! Our first year or so we were just helping friends and family every chance we got, usually for little or no charge. We wanted to build our portfolio and gain a clientele. Then once we had a steady flow of people who wanted to hire us, we felt more comfortable charging for our services. It can be scary at first but if you’re confident in your style people will find you who love what you’re creating and want to work with you!
What is it like building a business with a friend?
Building a business with a friend has actually been so great! We were both a bit worried in the beginning about how starting a business together might affect our friendship, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised with how seamless everything has gone so far. We both have very similar tastes and we both respect each others opinions a lot, so working together really has been a dream. We have different strengths and different weaknesses so we balance each other out well, and for us it has actually been easier working together than if we were doing it separately. It’s nice to have a partner in it with you. It makes everything seem a little bit less overwhelming when you’re not doing it on your own.
Also, since we’ve been good friends for almost 15 years, we definitely tend to think the same way! It’s funny, we’ll text each other inspiration pictures or furniture pieces that we like, and the other person will already have the same idea saved. We never have to try too hard to talk the other into a certain idea—we’re usually on the same page.
What’s a typical work day like?
Both of us are moms to young children, so a typical work day for us is really just trying to find a balance between mom life and work life! We usually like to have 2-3 days a week where we schedule appointments, meet with clients, and have site visits. Other than that we are fitting in work during nap times, school time, or when everyone finally goes to bed at night. It’s a little bit hectic but we both decided before we started our company that our families need to come first, and I think we’ve gotten into a good groove of what works for us. As our business grows we’ll have to find a new normal, but right now we’re just taking it day by day.
Do you have an all-time favorite project?
Olivia: I think we both have different favorites! While we both work on all of our projects together, we like to split up who heads each project so we’re not both trying to manage everything. I would say my favorite project so far has been our “Views” home. My style is a little bit more on the traditional side and I loved being able to utilize that in this house while still keeping our signature clean and modern feel. It turned out bright but warm, glam but still comfortable. That house definitely has been my baby so far.
Emily: We have a lot of projects coming up that may work their way into being my all time favorite… but for now I would have to say our first project, the St. George Parade. I learned a lot, and we had an amazing response to it from other people and designers. The home was featured by my favorite lighting brand Hudson Valley, which was an absolute dream for me.
Best moment of your career so far?
Olivia: When the project is finally finished and photographed and we get to show it to everyone! So many hours go into designing homes and the projects span for months, sometimes even years, so it’s SO fun when you’re all done and you finally get to show it off! Emily: Every time a project comes together at the end I’m reminded why I love doing what I do. It’s the reward for the long days and late nights finally paying off that really are the very best moments.
Do you have a favorite room in your respective homes? Olivia: Honestly at this point I spend so much time working on other people’s homes that sometimes I forget to focus on my own! But if I had to choose I would say my kitchen. It’s where we spend the most time and I love how open and bright it is.
Emily: I’m with Olivia... I hardly have the energy to work on my own home! I’m hoping that can change in the near future. We were able to style and shoot my master bedroom last year and it is still my favorite room.
Three things every home should have?
Living plants, beautiful and meaningful artwork, and something vintage.
What are a few design staples to invest in?
We both agree that statement lighting should be one of people’s main investment in their home! It’s what makes your home feel high end and custom, as well as personalized and unique. We like to call it the “jewelry” of your home because it finished off every space perfectly and adds so much to every room. Good lighting never goes unnoticed!
We also think larger items like sofas and dining tables are worth investing in. The smaller items like pillows and accessories can be changed out regularly when you grow tired of them. The larger pieces in your home should be something you’ll love for a long time, so it’s worth spending your money there.
What are your favorite places to shop for pieces?
This is a hard question because we literally shop all over! But we definitely prefer smaller, boutique-type shops to large big box stores. We like finding pieces that not everyone always has.
What’s on your home ‘wish list’ right now?
We both want big, beautiful olive trees for our living rooms! Those are definitely top of the wish list right now.
Your favorite Instagrammer?
I’m sure we would both say Amber Lewis (@amberinteriors) of Amber Interiors Design Studio. We’re obsessed with every single one of her projects and feel so inspired by her work. Plus, she seems really fun and we want to be best friends with her.
Photography: Becky Kimball | Photography: Alicia Wade | Interior Design: Saltbox Collective
