Today I am thrilled to start a new series of interviews with dynamic, inspiring women who have taken chances, embraced change and have created their dreams in ways that they themselves never thought imaginable.
And what better way to start off with one of the most successful women in international interior design? It’s a pleasure to count Holly Becker of the mega design blog Decor8 among my friends, for so many reasons.
Holly is a huge talent for sure. If you are one of the 35,000 people that visit her blog every day, you know how inspiring, fresh and open her ideas are and how she presents decorating in such an approachable, non-intimidating way.
But there’s far more to Holly. She and I share the common experience of having left the United States and having moved to Germany with our German husbands. I personally know how challenging that move can be and I have literally watched Holly in awe over the past two years as she has moved her life, her possessions and her entire design career with all of its carefully honed connections into a completely new environment. She has flourished in ways that astound me. I have guests who come to my B&B here in Italy from all over Germany and know Holly and her blog and love her. It’s difficult not to love Holly. She’s kind, sweet and writes on both her main blog and its sister, Haus Maus (which focuses more on the personal side of her life in Hannover) with such honesty and positive energy that you can connect with her immediately.
And, as many of you already know, she is now an international author, with her brand new book Decorate having been published both in the United States and in Great Britain, with the German version due to come out later in the year. I received my copy of Decorate yesterday and have been completely and totally blown away by the breadth and scale of the inspiration. I knew it was going to be good. But it exceeds any expectation I could have had in an interior design book. It’s a fountain of ideas for creating your space your way. It doesn’t dictate. Rather it suggests how you might be able to work with what you have to create the environment that best suits you.
I am so excited about the release of Decorate that I will be giving away a copy of the book through Amazon to a randomly chosen commenter! If you comment on this blog post between now and April 30th, 2011 and live in the United States or Europe, you will be eligible to win. Winner will be randomly chosen and announced on May 1st 2011.
And now, here’s my interview with Holly.
Holly, could you please tell us how you moved from designer to super blogger/ author/ industry trendsetter?
Ha ha — Oh dear you are so kind! I went from working for nearly a decade in the corporate world to starting my own business, a blog and a small interior design consulting practice in 2005 and never looked back. I made the transition by going back to school only to study interior design at art school for a few years to get my feet wet. Then I started taking clients while at school just to put into practice what I was learning and what had felt like second nature since I was a young girl decorating our family home and moving around my parents’ furniture.
Between working in corporate full-time, going to school on nights and weekends, and taking on clients I was quite busy but I quickly realized that I needed to build something up before resigning from a lucrative profession. I decided that I’d give myself time to build up my business and then I’d resign – and that’s exactly what I did. Not long after I resigned, I launched a blog that I had registered in May 2005 called decor8 — and finally wrote my first post on it in January 2006. I certainly didn’t realize blogs would bewhere they are today! I started writing on decor8 so that I could share things that I loved but also have a space to record my inspirations and ideas for myself. Quickly, it took off. I also wanted to have something online that I could refer editors to because my goal was to supplement my income as a new decorator by also writing for design magazines.Sure enough, that worked out. I started writing for magazines (print + web) and newspapers within 6 months and today I still am writing freelance.
I guess in a nutshell – I realized that I couldn’t force upon myself a career that didn’t fit any longer and that I needed to take initiative in order to change it. I dug deep, made a lot of lists, and tracked everything back to my childhood where I spent so much time writing, decorating and neatly arranging things all over my room. Once I tapped in, I knew I had to start walking down paths that took me closer to my goal — my corporate job was only leading me further away.
Did you have people who shared their wisdom with you who helped you on your way?
My husband Thorsten – in fact, if I didn’t have him in my life I know I would still be sitting at my desk job staring out of the window wanting more but feeling like I couldn’t do it. I lacked courage in myself because before I met my husband, my father left when Iwas 17 and I never saw him again though he lived only 20 minutes away — without explanation — and that did a number on my self esteem. That led me to get into a relationship with someone who,though kind, was quite manipulative and hurt me over and over again and I kept taking it because my self esteem was low to begin with. I was with that man for 7 years and then met my husband,ironically on the internet from a post I wrote in a forum (this was 1998)! I finally ended the relationship once and for all and my husband supported me as a good friend and we started to date, he lived in Germany and I was in Boston at the time, and we got married in 2001 and I’ve been with him ever since.
Thorsten has helped me to rebuild a lot of what I lost and helped me to tap into my coreand see my value and to realize that I have something to give and that I’m a good person. It feels funny to write that, but the Hollyhe married was broken hearted yet hopeful and he saw that glimmer in my eye, read into that hope, and knew he could pull it to the surface and help me to reach my potential. As a loving husband and friend he slowly helped me through his compassion and care to tie up all that had unravelled within me from years prior and I’m so grateful for his love and wisdom over the years. We have a very special relationship as a result and a permanent bond.
Who is/are your most precious influence(s)?
My husband, absolutely 100%.
I personally am amazed at how well you have adjusted to live in a foreign country and have continued to cultivate success, even when your ambient was new and took some getting used to. How have you done it?
I know my limitations. When I’m drained or in need of inspiration or a touch of “home”, I read American blogs or fly to London (it feels like home to me there, I guess it’s because everyone speaks English, there are lots of US brands around, and it’s a lot like Boston where I spent my adult life) for my fix. Funny enough, I also can take the train 4 hours to Amsterdam and get my “American fix” as well, it feels like a little NYC to me there and so many speak English, but also the vibe reminds me a lot of America. Another fix is Hamburg, though German, it really reminds me of Boston and since it’s an hour from me, I can zip up there quickly and return home same day feeling refreshed. I think as an expat you need to have a short list of activities to plug into in order to get over those feelings of being homesick. Whether it is something you cook, people you have over, a city you go to, a DVD you watch… whatever it is you have to have your plug-in points and use them as you’re starting to slip down that rabbit hole of “poor me” and you’ll snap out quickly. Funny enough, I find calling friends back home or my mother a quick way to only feel more homesick – so I only call them when I’m riding high — when I’m feeling low I make sure I don’t call home! LOL
Can you please tell us what you think is the most important component of getting what you want out of life?
The most important component of getting what you want out of life is to identify WHAT YOU WANT out of life. Seems funny to write that, but it’s true. Many complain that they aren’t happy but most don’t take the time to explore themselves and tap into what would really fulfill them. The hamster wheel existence is no life at all. It’s important to slow down and regularly evaluate where you are in life and where you want to go and keep adjusting your plan with every step. We evolve as people based on our influences, others who come and go, experiences, age, etc. so we have to regularly evaluate our goals. What we want today may not be what will make us happy later in life or it may be the best thing for us – regular self evaluation is the only way to stay on top of that. Journaling, talking it through with a caring friend or partner, even blogging — these things can definitely help you to make connections to what you want and in which direction you need to go.
How do you keep thinking big?
I’m a big picture person, I’m quite ambitious by nature as I’m a conceptual thinker so for me thinking big is a problem and I constantly have to reign myself in! I’ve actually had to learn how to think small because breaking big goals down into manageable chunks and taking them in baby steps helps me to actually reach goals or else I’d be all over the place!
“The most important component of getting what you want out of life is to identify WHAT YOU WANT out of life. Seems funny to write that, but it’s true. Many complain that they aren’t happy but most don’t take the time to explore themselves and tap into what would really fulfill them.”
This is so true. So many people only know that they don’t want what they have, but they have absolutely no idea what they want instead. If you don’t know what you want from life, how are you supposed to know which way to go?
Love love love the idea of the series, and this is a great way to start; Holly gives great advice here, especially regarding regular self-evaluation. It’s ridiculously easy to get comfortable even in unhappiness, so it’s essential that we stop now and again and reflect on small goals as well as on the bigger picture. In fact, I believe you’ve just inspired a blog post, ladies. Grazie mille
Holly, you are very inspiring. I already follow your blog, so nice of Diana to write about you here. You go girl!
Long time reader, first time commenter. Thank you so much for starting this series, Diana. Especially with this as your first post. I’m hoping to accomplish a transformation similar to Holly’s and it’s really inspirational to read her story. Thank you, thank you!
I always love hearing stories of people who overcome the pain of childhood and rise above it. Holly certainly has done that and in such a positive way.
Having a loving and supportive partner is so important. I’m so glad you found someone who saw the beauty of what you had to offer and helped draw it out, Holly.
All the best to you.
Thanks for this series Diana.
Holly is so dead on with her advice about knowing what you want.
I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in the crazy day-to-day stresses of life, we don’t take time to sit down and really think about what we want out life.
Decor8 is one of my go to blogs. Holly has a great eye and I enjoy her writing. I cannot wait to read her book. How exciting. Congrats Holly!
What a fantastic idea for a series. I can’t wait to read about more nice girls who think big.
I love the serendipity of one connection leading to another, a meshing of kindred souls. Diana I found your blog accidently through another path like bread crumbs back to home base! Your adventures running an Italian B&B are facinating as you follow your dreams, the unexpected twists and turns that bring richness to hard work providing a getaway for other to renew and refresh. As a solo online entrepreneur stateside I too know how much hard work is involved in leaving corporate life reaching into uncharted waters that call my name. This series will be a delight, peeking into the lives of other inspiring, creative women whose hearts beat to a different drum also. Thank you all for sharing your trials, tribulations, and wins that sparkle..isn’t that what life is all about? Holly radiates authentic passion as she navigates a new life in Germany. Her divine design talents unfold revealing growing confidence having someone dear watching her back! A clear testament to reaping benefits by intuitively trusting that the risk and reward of new opportunities yield spectacular results!
“I think as an expat you need to have a short list of activities to plug into in order to get over those feelings of being homesick… whatever it is you have to have your plug-in points and use them as you’re starting to slip down that rabbit hole of “poor me” and you’ll snap out quickly.”
I’m another expat – a Scot who became an American. I wish I’d had Holly’s advice on this years ago, when I was a new expat. Homesickness is hard. It strikes at unexpected moments, even years after you think you’ve got over it. Still, I do think challenges make us stronger and help us to get to the core of who we are.
Congratulations to Holly on her success and thanks for the interview Diana.
Thanks for the great interview – I feel ridiculous admitting this but I’ve never considered the homesickness aspect of moving abroad. I’m a longtime reader of Decor8 so I love reading more about the lady behind the blog.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful interview with Holly. I have been following her blog for awhile now, so getting to know her more is a sweet gift.
Holly is an inspiration and a role model, someone who I admire and exactly where I want to be. I am currently working full time, studying my degree after finishing my diploma last year and starting my business to get clients and build a portfolio knowing I cannot leave my day job until I am established. I am thinking big and Holly proves it is all possible.
I really enjoyed reading this.. Holly seems like a very sweet open person … and I love to here she feels a bit home in my city
Great interview…intimate and inspiring. I am just setting out to pastures new and reading about how the people I admire have built their careers is a fabulous inspiration! Thank you Diana and Holly.
Hi Diana, great idea to start this new interview series! And it was very interesting to read about Holly and her personal story. I´m waiting for more interesting interviews.
Greetings, Wibke
Truly enjoyed reading this and felt as if back in Germany as I lived outside Frankfurt for 2 years many years ago. What courage and warmth Holly has exhibited. I am eager to now check out both her book and blog.
Kudos for your new series that many of us may take a lesson from!
Hi Holly,
I sent a link to your blog to my friend in Michigan who is also a designer. She absolutely loves it. I also loved your advice for expats . I’m just a transplant from Michigan to Arizona and I do the same things. Great insight and advice. I’m sending my friend this link as well!
A great interview and a wonderful series to tap for raising the bar in all of our lives. I too am stepping away from the corporate world – or amusement park, or hampster wheel as Holly described, into the real world where you make it or it breaks you, but on your own terms. The word sincerely comes from the Greek, when a vendor would sell his pottery the buyer would hold it up to the light to be assured there was no wax to hide a flaw or crack. Your website and new series Diana help us all become more sincere by shining a light on us and encouraging us even with our flaws and cracks to — become.
Pick me, pick me I live in Europe really
Love Holly’s work , enjoyed the interview (Thxs Diana), now I’d like the book please.
it feels like such a small world when you see two people you have loved to read about getting together. i stumbled onto diana’s blog while doing research for an italy trip and have been hooked ever since. decor8 has been a staple in my blog list for years so i was surprised to see the two of you together. so nice!
what an inspired beginning! I am looking forward to this series!
I am a huge fan of decorate8 and have been very excited to see the new book. we will be on a new space next week after 7 months of dislocation, so this is just the inspiration I need for a new start.
I LOVE holly’s different ways of getting an American fix…
A very lovely lady , very inspirational,with a wonderful supportive husband. He has certainly helped her in her travels to a new life.
Holly has a lovely sense of style and grace. It was a pleasure to read how after a few stumbles and false starts, she gained her self confidence & discovered her own unique & powerful inner voice. How can success not flower from that! Inspirational! Brava!
A wonderful and inspiring interview and a brilliant new series to look forward to reading and getting even more inspiration from.
And thank you, too, for having a competition that I can finally enter. I live in Ireland where there aren’t as many cooking or creativity blogs as I’d like there to be (hmmm…there’s an idea) and because of that, there are even fewer competitions that I can enter, as most of the blogs I sub to are from the UK or the US. Even if I don’t win the book, I think I’m going to start saving my pennies and euros and buy the book – it sounds wonderful.
Interesting interview and definite food for thought! Many thanks.
Great interview! I loved to know more about Holloy and the beginning of its adventure. This series will be so inspirational! I’m looking forward to read the next post!
This was my first time reading your blog and what a great interview to start with. Both you and Holly are inspirational and I look forward to more interviews.
“I guess in a nutshell – I realized that I couldn’t force upon myself a career that didn’t fit any longer and that I needed to take initiative in order to change it. I dug deep, made a lot of lists, and tracked everything back to my childhood where I spent so much time writing, decorating and neatly arranging things all over my room. Once I tapped in, I knew I had to start walking down paths that took me closer to my goal — my corporate job was only leading me further away.”
Inspiring! So glad you pursued your dream!
<3 Lora
So inspiring – another truly creative soul like you, bella Diana. I will look forward to other interviews in this series!
Thanks Diana for such a wonderful interview with Holly, truly inspirational.
Wonderful interview. So inspiring!
Thank you Diana for spotlighting inspiring women who embrace change and succeed in more than just a financial and business sense. It is their personal triumphs that win our hearts.
Holly is really an inspiration. I love her outlook and it’s just what I need a this pint in my life. Can’t wait to see who’s next!
Diane…every time I stop by I find more and more things in common with you. I love Holly and have been following her for years…especially since she made her move to Europe. Thank you for this insightful interview…I look forward to reading more inspiration!
Thanks so much for starting the series! I love the idea.
Have been following the Decor8 blog for years, so am amused to find an interview with the super-talented Holly:)
What a wonderful post – thank you! I look forward to reading more as the series develops.
I am a big fan of Holly and I have just got a copy of decorate and am loving it. It is such a brilliantly written book. Seeing is believing and there is so much inspiration on every page.
As an ex pat in a new country I really understand what she means about the whole adjustment process to your new home. It is a fantastic adventure but not without its twists and turns!
Beautiful, beautiful both of you! Love this wonderful series idea and thank you with a full heart for inspiring me on several levels here!
I feel like I just had a good cup of coffee with friends and am much better for it … oh, this is so nice!
With kindness,
Elena
Love this article,way to go.Cheers.Love the story .Most of all i like bold people who follow their dreams ,passions all the way.That quote about her husband amazing .Thanks to you i have learn something more about a great lady .
What a brave move from the corporate world to starting her own business, and a beautiful true love story. So inspiring to hear her story of taking a leap (or several leaps!) into unknown world(s).
I can identify with Holly when she says she does not ring home when she is down. I don’t either. I love living in Germany, but I do miss not having constant touch with the English language. This is also one reason why I write a Blog, am on Facebook and on Twitter.
Great post, Diana! It is important – and great fun – to celebrate courageous women. Thank you!
What an inspiring interview! Thank you Diana, and thank you Holly
Holly is a source of inspiration. Thank you for the great interview.
“It’s important to slow down and regularly evaluate where you are in life and where you want to go and keep adjusting your plan with every step.” That’s just what I needed to hear. Deep down, we all know this to be true. But sometimes we just need a little nudge. Thank you both for this much-needed dose of inspiration!
Thank you for the giveaway !
I participate
what a great interview. I appreciate they way Holly is so open and shares what her journey’s been like in order to encourage others. Just found your blog and look forward to discovering more of it!
Thanks for having this fab giveaway. I would so love to have a copy of Holly’s book, I wish I could have made it to Liberty to see her, I just have to settle for avidly reading her blog instead!
I’ve been reading Decor8 for what seems like forever, and I would love to have Holly’s new book. This was a great interview!
Hi
How great to get to know Holly through your interview!
And what an inspiring person she is
Just found your blog and I must say I LIKE IT ALOT
Have a great day!
Malin
Oh it is so nice to hear a little more in depth about a writer’s background, scars and all! Hats off Holly for your courage! I know as an expat living in Ireland for the last year it hasn’t been easy but it has been a life changing experience for me!
all the best,
Meagan
Always good to learn a little more about Holly- I couldn’t imagine a nicer girl thinking bigger! It’s a pleasure to have found your blog and this series.
Great interview, very interesting! Thanks!
LOVE Decor8 blog!!!!
Holly is AWESOME!
The interview is a great read and should serve as an inspiration for designers (and bloggers!) everywhere
Brandon
A lovely interview . . . and a great idea for a blog series.
Fondly,
Glenda
This interview really sums up the wealth of inspiration Holly Becker is. It’s more about personality than about design and interiors, but they reflect and show personal style.
I became interested in Holly’s doings in late college and chose a design and decorating theme for my PR Capstone class. I immediately fell in love with her blog and everything design related. She sparked something in me that I didn’t even know existed.
Thanks for this wonderful interview and for the oportunity to win a copy if her book!!
xoxox
Love Holly and her blog! Her book looks so interesting. Thanks for the interview!
Is there anything Holly can do that doesn’t inspire me? That woman us GOOD.
Thanks for the interview. It’s always nice to see even more about the artists I so admire.
I completely agree about the need to periodically re-evaluate your life. What I want now is very different from what I wanted 10 years ago. I’m different because of my stage in life. I’ve also changed because of my experiences and the people and things I’ve been exposed to in that time. Even technology has influenced my interests and capabilities.
Holly’s was the first home interiors blog I read religiously and it helped me find and fall in love with etsy and so many other blogs and resources and spots for inspiration! I’ve lived in Germany for a couple of months at a time twice and absolutely love it, but it’s difficult. At times, I was just so exhausted from straining my brain to understand and be understood that by tea time, I really needed the respite of some alone time to recharge. But, my German (and comfort level speaking it) got immeasurably better). If I don’t win, I think I’ll order it for my birthday at the end of may! Congrats Holly on all you’ve accomplished!
I’ve been following her book journey on her blog and absolutely love Decor8. This book would be such a happy addition to my bookshelf.
I have been following decor8 for a long time and participated in Holly’s blog workshop in the past. Much success on the book.
Diana, glad to find your site here as well, a new read for me.
Holly is such an inspiration! I love how open and honest she is about everything. I already have a copy of her book, but my mom is “borrowing” it and I’m not sure she will give it back
Thanks for the giveaway!
Holly is so inspirational. What a great interview.
Great interview! Thanks for the giveaway!
Holly really is an inspiration for us all, this post was really intriguing, thank you.
Great interview, Holly was so helpful when i took her blogging class!
Can’t wait to read her book.
Very interesting interview. I love Holly’s ideas about achieving what you want out of life. I find it very inspiring. I believe her blog is one of the best design blogs there is. Congrats on her new book. Thanks for this interview.
Rocio R.
http://myfashiondolly.blogspot.com
So very cool! I have been following Haus Maus since I first started blogging. I would love to see the book!
I am absolutely one of those 35,000 people!! Haha, I really love her blog, she is so inspirational ^^
Thanks so much for sharing your story and for inspiring me to look into myself and find out what i want. I also was abandoned by my dad for sometime and that had a huge impact on me. Right now I feel kinda lost so reading this interview gives me hope. I want to buy your book to help me get ideas to decorate my home
So cool to read about women who have made such a huge leap of faith, moving to a totally different country and starting over!
Thank you so much for this amazing interview with the awesome Holly and the chance to win a copy. She is so lovely and openhearted and does inspire me everytime I read one of her posts – not only with her ideas, it’s more her personal way of writing about the things of our daily life. I’m so happy for her.
And not to forget, I’m so glad to found your blog via Holly – meanwhile it belongs to my daily inspirations, too. Thank you, Diana!