Meet Brooke Ewing & Danielle Lambert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Ewing & Danielle Lambert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brooke Ewing & Danielle Lambert, do you have a budget? How do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
Our company budget is largely based on fluctuating revenue and fixed expenses. We book a mixture of projects each month based on scale of work and anticipated profitability. This helps us make sure our overhead needs are met, that we have contingency funds and that we are getting a consistent paycheck.
Reviewing personal income is tricky with a small business but we track our income quarterly against prior years and our paid wait list aka “booked work” for the rest of the year to determine if we are on track to meet our year end goals. Like most people we adjust spending based on meeting our goals and saving for unexpected expenses.

Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

We don’t believe that you can be creative without stepping out of your comfort zone, pushing the envelope and taking risks. Some of our most memorable designs were the outcome of taking risks and gave us satisfaction that we were providing our client with a design that was uniquely their own.

Without taking risks to start our own business or within our designs we wouldn’t be where we are today. There are the obvious risks we considered prior to starting our own business and knew from watching our parents in leadership / entrepreneurial roles that it also leads to a full life worth living. We believe that proper planning and monitoring risks help minimize the impact and make the celebrations that much sweeter.

Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

We both started out in industries where there was a large time commitment to start those careers. While we value the hard work ethic we gained from those experiences, we are very grateful to have our own company where we can take the time to prioritize our families and ourselves so we can enjoy a more balanced life. We are mindful of work life balance as it helps us reset, avoid burnout and increases productivity during working hours. We set operating hours that we stick to unless there are specific project demands and time-off requirements to make sure we are maintaining a healthy balance. We also reevaluate what balance is needed different times of the year and through seasons of life as this will forever be changing.

What should our readers know about your business?
As friends first, we started this business with a shared passion for interior design and a dream to help transform houses into “home”. This business was in the making for four years prior to us opening Teak and Amber Interiors in September of 2021. We both transitioned out of successful careers in other industries into residential design with a clear path, outlined plan and desire to help elevate homes. Our business is driven by our passion to bring our client’s dreams to life not only aesthetically but also ensuring it will enhance their wellbeing.

We knew that if we started our own business, it would give us creative freedom in our designs and the ability to provide an elevated service to our clients. Part of our path to opening our own company included working for a local builder together. While working there we noticed how valuable our past careers in Real Estate, Finance and Project Management would be within this industry which only reiterated the reason we needed to go out on our own. We value tried and true processes, communication and love building long lasting relationships with our clients. There is nothing better than having a client reach out well past the project completion to tell you the impact you have had on their overall wellbeing and happiness within their home.

What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

Having tried and true processes in place that create a successful client experience so we can focus on the creative process. Starting at initial inquiry and going through client off boarding we take away the guesswork and provide clear communication, deliverables, and expectations for each step. What’s the end goal?

What value or principle matters most to you? Why?

Collaboration is the most important core value to our company. Creating a relationship that is balanced between us and our clients and built on good communication always leads to a successful project outcome.

Where do you want to be professionally by the end of your career?

At the end of our career, we strive to have a recognizable design aesthetic, lifelong relationships with our wonderful clients and within the industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Denver has so much to offer and one of the best things about the city is how each neighborhood has a unique vibe. When we entertain out of town guests in Denver, we like to show them the entire city so they can experience everything the city has to offer. We are writing this in the summer so there are going to be a lot of outdoor activities mixed in and we know we aren’t hitting all areas but want to highlight some of our favorite spots.

Day 1
– Start the day off at Novo for coffee and pastries.
– Make sure to walk around Highlands square for some shopping at Strut and the other boutiques off of 32nd.
-After that we would walk over to Sloans lake and take a loop around the path.
– On our way back towards Highland Square we would stop over at Hogshead Brewery for a beer and a little rest. If you are hungry Leroy’s bagels is next door and their bacon and veggie sandwich is one of our favorites.
-Then head over Tennyson Park to let the kids play. If you didn’t eat at Leroy’s and there are a ton of great spots on Tennyson including some of our favorite pizza places Hops and Pie and Atomic Cowboy.
– We would then shop at a few boutiques on Tennyson our favorites in this area are Inspyre and Feral. Maybe stopping in for refreshments along the way there are a lot of great patios on this street such as Berkley untapped which also has a view of the park.
– Since this was a relaxing day, we freshen up and get ready for a nice dinner out at Rioja on Larimer square and after dinner entertainment at Comedy Works around the corner. If you haven’t been to Rioja, we highly recommend the picnic, artichoke tortellini and grilled octopus.

Day 2
– Ride bikes along the Clear Creek River Trail to Golden.
– Have lunch at the Bridgewater Grill in the Golden Hotel overlooking the river. We highly recommend their Salmon BLTA. Check out the other local shops and there is usually live music playing somewhere along Washington Avenue so we would stop to check that out.
– Bike back into Denver and then head over Rino Art District. Check out to see what events are going on in the area. This neighborhood is very lively so there will surely be something entertaining going on. A few of our favorite local art galleries are in this area and we would for sure have to stop in at Redline.
– For dinner we would head over to Uchi for sushi and then over to Death and Co for after dinner drinks.

Day 3
– Start the day off with coffee at Aviano off of North Detroit in Cherry Creek.
– Head over to Whole Foods in Cherry Creek or if you are up for a little drive to Spinelli’s to pack up a picnic.
– Bring a volleyball net or other fun yard games over to Wash Park. Enjoy walking on the path and a day out at the park.
– Later in the afternoon head back to Cherry Creek for some shopping. They have wonderful furnishing and clothing stores in the area. And enjoy dinner at the Cherry Creek Grill, you can’t go wrong with their menu, but we love their macho salad.

Day 4
– At this point in the trip you might need a relaxing morning at the spa. The four seasons hotel has one of our favorite spa’s that you can relax at for most of the morning and after a few days out on bikes and walking a lot one of their hot stone massages would be great for your muscles.
– In the afternoon head over to Baker neighborhood for some afternoon shopping and to Punch Bowl Social for lunch and games.
– Depending on how much time you have there is also the Mayan Theatre across the street. We love the renovated Art Deco Mayan Revival aesthetic, and they usually have some fun independent films that aren’t in the mainstream theatres.
– Head to Red Rocks in the afternoon, you can either go to dinner at the Morison Inn depending on the time of day or pack a picnic to tailgate. If there is a show at Red Rocks you should defiantly check that out and if not there are beautiful trails you can enjoy hiking around.

Day 5
– Start the day out with Coffee at Pablo’s Coffee on 6th Avenue.
– Spend the morning at the Denver Art Museum.
– Lunch at City O City – they have wonderful local art on their walls and a vegetarian / vegan menu that is to die for. Their spiced squash soup and all-day breakfast sandwich are a few of our favorites. Also, next door is the Make Believe Bakery if you need a sweet treat after.
– After that head over to the botanical gardens in the afternoon and enjoy this beautiful outdoor space and the Governers Park neighborhood.
– When you are ready for dinner go to Ace Eat Serve where you can also play some ping pong.
– If you are up for after dinner drinks, The Thin Man is a nice walk from there so you can see the Uptown neighborhood.

We could probably spend days writing about all of our favorite places to check out in Denver but hopefully this helps you find a few new places to explore.

Can you tell us a little bit more about your background and if there is anyone who deserves a shout out for your success and where you are today?
Brooke –

Most of my life I have lived in Colorado, so I consider this to be home even though my family moved here when I was two years old. I grew up in a small-town, Niwot, Colorado, with very encouraging parents, a sister who is my best friend, a place where I met my husband and where I became childhood friends with Danielle’s husband.

My entire life I have been drawn to design and I have many early core memories creating spaces, shopping for unique pieces, refinishing furniture, and sewing custom soft furnishings with my wonderful tribe of women that helped shape my passion for all things home. From my mom, her best friend, my grandma and aunts this was ingrained in me from a young age. After high school, I received a degree in Economics and a minor in Business at Colorado State University. Then went on to work for a financial firm in Denver for fourteen years before going back to school and switching into a career driven by passion.

I attribute the encouragement of my husband and the new outlook on life my children gave me as the main reason for taking the steps to be where I am now in my career. The moment I decided to make a career transition into design was when I was holding my newborn daughter. As I was holding her one day, I stared into her eyes wondering who she will become and how incredible it will be to see her grow and help foster her dreams. It was one of those moments that made me reflect on how many times I and recently felt unsettled, burnt out and questioned why I wasn’t following my own. Leaving behind a successful career in the financial industry, a company and friends that I had grown up with for over fourteen years was hard but the reward of working in a field where I feel fulfilled each day was worth all of the sacrifices along the way.

Danielle –

I was born in California but moved to Colorado with my dad when I was 5 years old and have lived here since. Creativity and art were at the core of my childhood. My passion for design began when I was a little girl living with my dad; he allowed me to help make decisions on how our home was decorated. My love for making a house feel like home grew from there.

I studied interior design at Colorado State University. After completing my degree, I began dipping my toes in renovations, starting with our first home, then my in-laws rental properties and eventually our own rental properties after gaining my real estate license. I knew in my heart that I wanted to do this on a bigger scale so that I could continue to help others find wellbeing and happiness in their homes. My husband’s support and encouragement allowed me to follow that dream and make the idea of owning a design firm a reality. I feel so much gratitude to be able to wake up every single day and do what I love.

Tell us about a book you’ve read and why you like it / what impact it had on you.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, this book inspired and encouraged us to step out of our comfort zones, follow our hearts and lean into our dream of starting a design company.

Website: https://teakandamberinteriors.com/

Instagram: @teak.and.amber

Facebook: @teak.and.amber

Image Credits
Our personal photo is by Sarah Hill Photography. All other photos were taken by our team.