Meet Lydia White & Caitlin Roberts | Co-CEOs and Interior Design Collaborators

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lydia White & Caitlin Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lydia White &, what do you attribute your success to?
Caitlin: I have to admit that having a business partner is the biggest factor in our success. Everyone benefits from collaborative exchange, first and foremost, and having an external dialogue for problem solving has been the most beneficial approach to business. People choose to do so many difficult things in life with support systems and partners, like parenting or navigating getting a mortgage, but assume that entrepreneurism should be a solo venture.

Lydia: I would absolutely agree. We are collaborative by nature, especially in the creative realm, so to have a built-in brainstorming partner in every aspect of our operations is invaluable. We also have the unique ability to trade off high level administration or client interactions, which preserves our endurance and our complimentary qualities brings such balance to one another which presents well to our clients.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What we are so excited about as a deign firm is that we bring collaboration to the table, not just among ourselves, but with our clients. They get excited to see us excited, and engage in the creative process that meets them at their level while providing industry expertise and navigation into unfamiliar territory.

We have both worked in the design industry for many years, and were lucky enough to meet in the corporate design world where we instantly had a great dynamic. I’m (Lydia) from High Point, NC, which hosts the international furniture market and attracts design professionals form all over the globe, which lead me to interior design. Growing up with industry inside insight is irreplaceable, and walking into design centers feels like home to me. Caitlin has a wealth of design experience in client-facing roles that allows her to navigate relationships and put clients at ease in a way that is not easily replicated, with a knowledge of style and design that compliments her skillset to an amazing degree of success. We met in the corporate design world and quickly realized that the tools we could utilize as a team could serve the clients we had in a unique way, and as we branched out on our own in the frenzy of COVID home improvement, we have learned and grown and leaned on one another throughout the building of a wonderful venture.

Of course business under the best of circumstances brings challenges, and as partners and friends we navigate “colleague hats” and “friend hats.” finding balance in two separate but symbiotic relationships with one another has been a challenge, but ultimately strengthens both sides. We hear often that women working together can be a challenge, which is such a generalized and outdated sexist view; our experiences both as a partnership and separately have not been that way, and we’ve experienced our femininity and communication and empathy have provided strength and opportunity in all parts of our business.

We have learned when to say no, and when to push through even when you want to give up out of burnout, and that making adjustments doesn’t necessarily mean that choices were incorrect. It has been so important to keep the overall vision of our value as creatives central to our business operations. It is incredibly important to place a real world dollar amount to your mental energy in the creative world, because ultimately that is what clients are looking for wen they seek you out. We have had to end our contracts with clients who we learned didn’t value that, which is scary to do in the moment, but ultimately opens the door for those who truly hold your talents in high regard and are willing to invest in the intangible concept of design with us.

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?
Denver is full of great spots. Our favorites include the Brown Palace downtown, either in the lobby for tea or the Ships Tavern for a cocktail. It sounds hokey, but the Capitol is a great tour to do if you have an afternoon. The best part is that you can climb onto the dome observatory and take in the views that make Denver so popular. And on the point of views, El Five in LoHi has incredible city views to compliment an awesome menu. Other than that, what is so enjoyable about Denver is the city planning that goes into the whole metro area. Every ‘burb is designed around beautiful parks and trails, as well as public art. And there are plenty of hideaways in all the neighborhoods as well, so you don’t feel like you have to venture into the city for a night out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Lydia: As a business owner, my dad is a huge source of inspiration, since he owned his own business throughout my life and to today. Seeing the reality of business ownership and how it effects family and life balance was the reason I never wanted to be an entrepreneur! I saw what truly went into the gig, but seeing that my whole childhood gave me what I needed to be incredibly prepared from a business standpoint, even though I want to be creative in my everyday role. The perception of his experience gives me a pause in business risk-taking, and on the other end of that, my business partner and my husband, Jonathan, give me the push that I need to jump in when I’m apprehensive.

Caitlin: My friend and colleague, David Rote, who always had faith in me as a professional as a creative; even though he was my boss at the time, he always asked for my opinion and I felt immensely respected by him. He has continued to be an ally and consistent source of great connection as I’ve transitioned roles from design employee to business owner, and his friendship and professional courtesy has been a great motivator to me personally. Another boss of mine in a corporate environment Cheryl Polanchyck, was an insightful leader in regards to internal motivation, the expectations that we place on ourselves, and what we feel as though we deserve and how to work towards that, as well as setting boundaries to make sure you are successful in the way that you want to be.

x

Website: ashbywhite.com

Instagram: @ashbywhite_co

Facebook: The Ashby White Co

Image Credits
Nicole Willis