SPRUCE Upholstery Another Addition to the Spruce Team: Introducing Alice!

Clar here, introducing you to yet another brand new member of our Spruce family! Her name is Alice Carapetyan (that’s Alice and her mom above), and she’s written a sweet blog about her (young) life’s journey and philosophy. She comes to us with some great “design cred” under her belt and has proven in her short time here to have just what we needed: a quick wit with loads of textile knowledge, and heaps of style to boot! She is as savvy as she is pretty, and we hope you’re lucky enough to work with her here in the shop. She’s got a wellspring of fresh ideas! Maybe you could go ask Alice about your next upholstery project! (Ha! I couldn’t resist.)

Alice shares her philosophy on design:

Thinking ‘outside the box’ is a metaphor that means thinking differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective.

When it comes to design (and life), it can be especially hard to get past the roadblocks that time and outside influences create. We are creatures of habit. We often don’t dare to change. Many things shape our design rationale, so why is it important to think beyond our box? The beauty of design is that it can change the way you live – and don’t we all deserve the chance to live happily ever after?

Even for those who aren’t design-obsessed, good design can be very transformative. There is true science behind the way our brains react to being comfortable and happy in our space. I have learned from life that taking chances can take you places you never imagined, and I believe taking chances in design can do the same thing. Be brave, make bold choices for your life and your design.

My journey into design has been partly fate and mostly determination. When I moved to Austin a little over three years ago, I knew that I wanted to start a career in design – not knowing what that really meant. I had to think outside of the box and just pick a starting point. I walked into the only design center in Austin and asked for a job. It just so happened that a position opened up that very morning. I moved up the ranks over the course of two years, working at the showroom; learning about furniture, textiles, accessories and lighting; and working with designers to source beautiful things for their clients. In time, I decided I was ready to go to the other side of the business and work directly with clients. Armed with experience and knowledge that I could not have received from any university, I started working as a design assistant for local designers. Now, here I am at Spruce, where I’m happy to be a part of a team that helps clients realize their dreams by transforming pieces of furniture that mean something to them. By using our fabulous library of fabrics and visualizing pieces in a way that most people don’t, we are moving clients past their roadblocks into good design that makes them happy.

Here, here, Alice! Well done! Here’s a bit more information about our new gal.

Where did you grow up? Dallas, Texas

What do you eat for breakfast? A spinach and kale smoothie (it’s much more delicious than it sounds), or oatmeal

What do you do to relax? Nap, obsess over design magazines, or a hike with my dog.

Lipstick or lipgloss? Neither; Chapstick.

Where to you go to find gifts? Anthropologie

What was the last album you purchased? The Wicked soundtrack.

Describe your style to me. My go-to uniform for life is jeans, a silk blouse and sandals in summer, or flats in winter.

How do you spend your weekends? Laundry, going out to dinner with my boyfriend, and singing on Sunday’s in the University Presbyterian Church choir.

If you could take a trip anywhere, where would it be? Italy, preferably for months and months so I could see absolutely everything.

Do you have any pets? A rescue dog named Millie, an 87-pound lab/shepherd mix.

Come on by the shop to meet our newest Sprucette, and have us help you with your transformations!