AD Pro September 2020
Written by Danine Alati | View Article
5 Designers on How They Knew It Was Time to Start Over
How to change gears and pivot your business, according to pros who have done it before.
Timothy Brown
The owner and president of Timothy Brown Studio had a previous career as a decorative painter.
Painting felt comforting and joyful to me. I painted in New York for five-ish years—refinishing furniture, stripping walls, glazing walls, working with Venetian plaster, and painting floors. Then in 2008, a designer that I had done a few painting projects for asked me to help him manage two interior design projects in the Hamptons. I started getting referrals for design jobs and decided to start my own business in spring of 2011. The path isn’t always straight, but I’m grateful for that.
The most challenging aspects of shifting from painting to interior design were getting clients and having the consistency of clients to support an office. Painting was a solo experience, but running a firm requires support. Nine years later, I am very thankful to have consistent work and a talented, reliable team. We strive every day to be better than the day before, to create beautiful spaces, and to provide great service.
