Meet Danielle Eldridge

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Eldridge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My husband and I had bought a few houses, fixed them up and sold them while starting our family. Our current home is our most recent renovation and really gave me the push to starting my own small design business. I felt like after learning the ins and outs of several trades, making my own design decisions and being asked by friends and family for my input on their own projects, I was ready to make something of it! We had just had our fourth child and I was not in any position to go work for someone else with a set schedule. All I could really do was work on and off during the day and make for some early mornings and late nights. I wanted to be at home with my kids so taking on only what I could as far as projects was a luxury I gave myself, and still do to this day. I strive to be an example to my children and show them that hard work and persistence pays off. I want to leave somewhat of a legacy for my family to be inspired to work as a trade someday or even work as an employee of Eldridge Design Company and continue to make it bigger and better. I love creating spaces that people love and more importantly, I love being able to guide those who want that but can’t quite bring it to fruition.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I went to school and graduated with a degree in Social Work/Human Development which surprisingly has translated to a career in design! Working with families who are investing in you as a designer to create their dream space can feel like a lot at times and the stress that comes along with that is unavoidable. Helping people understand the design process and the expectations for construction is essential to a successful project. It’s not like what you see on TV! Yes, there are fun design decisions but there is also a timeline and budget which are parts of the puzzle that are hard to manage unless you are prepared. I have come to find that people are coming to work with me because they trust that I am going to lead them where they want to be and give them the tools they need to be satisfied with the result. This requires open communication and understanding from the very beginning, which can feel a little like therapy if I’m being honest! I love working with people and seeing them get excited about the work I do for them. I always keep in contact with my clients long after their projects are over and have built those relationships on trust. I want to design beautiful spaces but also make it a great experience along the way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in the small, but growing, town of Monument, Colorado which is situated right between Colorado Springs and Castle Rock. There are a few gems within Monument including a delicious breakfast & lunch at Black Forrest Foods located right in downtown Monument and several hikes including Mount Herman and trails up in Palmer Lake. A local coffee shop favorite is Serrano’s where you can get a delicious latte and homemade baked goods. Colorado Springs offers the famous Garden of the Gods which is a beautiful place to walk around and take in the views. Close to that part of town is the Broadmoor Hotel which is a stunning place to stay, go to the spa, play a round of golf and enjoy the many restaurants on site. We always enjoy going down there during the holidays to see the lights and enjoy s’mores over the fire which has become a family tradition. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a sight to see and is a spectacular zoo to visit. No other zoo is quite like it! Colorado Springs being the Olympic City has the Olympic museum which is really fun and educational for anyone whether you are a sports fan or not. Located in downtown Springs is The Rabbit Hole, Four by Brother Luck, Prime 25 and a little further North is Ambli and 314 Pi Bar for some delicious food and drinks. If you are a soccer fan, the local semi-pro team, Switchbacks, are league champions and have a nice stadium to go and enjoy a game! Colorado Springs recently opened Ford Amphitheater bringing more music and entertainment to our city rather than having to go to Denver which is really nice! Overall, the views of the city are unmatched and it does not lack in things to do if you like getting outside!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my entire family because they have always been the ones reminding me how talented I am at designing and bringing things together in any project. But my biggest fan has been my husband, Bryson. I met Bryson when I was 15 and have been with him ever since. Throughout our time together we have always worked together to make the best of every situation we have been in whether it be career changes, starting our small family, building our businesses or just deciding what projects to do on the house that year. We are a team! He has always seen the best in me and pushed me to be better and strive for more. There are a lot of ups and downs in starting a business, a lot of self-doubt and imposter syndrome, but Bryson was always there to tell me to keep going. He is my best friend and biggest fan and I would never have been able to start without his love and support.

Website: https://eldridgedesigncompany.com

Instagram: eldridgedesignco

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Image Credits
Dillon Eldridge, @eldridge.photo