Five Things We’re Prioritizing in 2025 and Two Studio Updates!

By the end of the first quarter of 2024, we had renovated our office, rebranded and relaunched our magazine, travelled to New York City, Kelowna, and Toronto twice. We were moving at Mach 10 speed and we didn’t slow down. We barely caught our breath the entire year.

We watched the yearly recap video Brianna created with disbelief. Even when we asked her to slow it down so we could really take in the past year, month by month, we were shocked at what the year consisted of.

After a blur of a year I’ve finally had a moment to gather my thoughts, evaluate 2024 and consider the year ahead based on new priorities and intentional changes. Simply put, my goal is to reduce the speed in which we’re moving through the days. This will take some time however it was important for me to identify key areas of improvement in order for us to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves, so in turn, we can bring our best to our clients.

Transparency and accountability is key. Putting my thoughts on a platform such as this holds me accountable and reminds me of the things I’m carrying with utmost importance into 2025.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

As an entrepreneur, getting caught in a feast or famine mentality can create many rollercoasters. We either have an abundance of work, or not enough, and rarely just the right amount. We spend a significant amount of time planning, so much so we’ve coined the term “calendaring” in the office as an action item in project organization and coordination. We have the lowest number of projects we’ve had in a long time, however they’re all larger scale, both in size and investment. These types of projects, and their calibre of design take time, requiring attention to detail, extensive drawing packages, regular site visits, customization and intentionality. While we don’t have a minimum project size or investment number, it does need to make sense and be the right fit, for clients, and for us.

In 2025, we’re prioritizing an alignment with projects that are one of a kind and rooted in relationships.

PRIORITIZING OUR PROCESS

As our business evolves, so do our processes. Through 2024 we have created more defined systems as we move through the design of our clients homes, regardless of a new home built from the ground up, renovation or furniture and decor. The core of each project remains true to these systems, even though each project is entirely unique and may have its own path.

We have learned many things, honed in on our new processes, and in 2025 we will honour them, benefiting our clients with what our experience has taught us through the years. It’s up to us to ensure our process is followed and respected. Sharing in that trust is paramount to moving through a project successfully.

COMMITMENT TO CREATIVITY

Over the last few years, we’ve worked on some of our most creative projects yet and our juices are flowing more than ever. We have the privilege of working with clients who are enthusiastic about our vision for their homes and are excited to see what we have in store for them. Our collaborative nature ensures the result is still a reflection of them, however thoughtful designs, attention to detail and an infusion of our own aesthetic brings a well considered home to life.

In 2025 we will continue to be committed to creativity, bringing one of a kind interiors to our trusted clients, unexpected details and design sensibilities, along with outside the box thinking.

QUALITY, TIMING & BUDGET

Based on prioritizing our process, quality and creativity, the type of projects we’re focused on take time. They are thoughtful and considered, having the utmost attention to detail based on lifestyle, aesthetics and function. We do not work in a copy/paste way, rather each home is treated as a special individual. We put care into each project, respecting the home and the people who will live there. Rushing through the design, the build, the finishing touches disrespects this process and inevitably causes undue frustration.

#1 Quality

Quality in all areas is our top priority. We are committed to maintaining our standard of work, without compromise, from concept to completion. This takes time. We’re also committed to working with quality builders, contractors and trades who are excited and challenged to explore new design ideas and creative problem solving, as well as working collaboratively in an effort to positively bring a home to life.

#2 Investment

Rather than consider the amount allocated to a project as a budget, we’re reframing it as an investment. Our clients are investing in themselves, investing in the real estate they own, investing in the lifestyle they’re endeavouring to create, as well as investing in our time and creativity.

We’re committed to respecting our clients' investment throughout a project. Sometimes clients will have a number in mind and it’s our role to discern and help our client understand the value in which we bring, as well as the realities of costs.

People often confine themselves with a specific budget number, and one that isn’t always realistic. Reframing this critical aspect of a project to an investment consideration, puts our clients in the drivers seat as to what’s important to them, how they want to feel in the home and which items on their wish list are non-negotiable. It’s our job to ensure their investment reflects this.

#3 Timing

All parties have a vested interest in the project running smoothly, and within a timely manner, so by no means is this permission to allow a project to move at a snail's pace. There are many moving parts and variables, often more than meets the eye. It’s our job to inform, update, educate and work alongside the other stakeholders to ensure the project stays on schedule.

We’ve learned over the years that committing to a completion date at the onset of a project is unrealistic and a recipe for disappointment. We stand by, and trust those who are working behind the scenes, however there are many circumstances and variables outside of our control. We are committed to time frames determined once firm decisions are made, further information is gathered, and we’re able to confidently set delivery and completion dates. Even then, acts of Mother Nature, and mankind, can alter these dates.

WELLNESS

Interior design is about creating homes that our clients feel good in. Whether it’s being surrounded by finishes and materials that create a sense of calm, or energizing colour and pattern, our goal is to bring each home to fruition as a reflection of our clients.

Feeling good in our homes brings wellness, comfort and intentionality as a result of the design, all of which we’re prioritizing for our clients as they invest in their homes.

In 2025 we’re also prioritizing wellness. We want to bring our best to each and every one of our projects which in turn means ensuring we take care of ourselves. Being creative requires downtime, stillness, vacations, exercise and rest in order to bring the highest level of what we have to offer to the forefront for our clients. We work hard, and love what we do, however tired eyes and a groggy brain do not perform well nor bring creativity to its height.

and now… sharing two new updates for Nyla Free Designs!

SHOP DROPS

In 2020 we launched an online shop to much success, however as the supply chain shifted we lost the ability to fuel the shop with inventory and quietly removed it from our website. Our shop was an extension of our designs, offering wares that embody our personality, bring an extra layer to our interiors, as well as a way for people to connect with us on a different level. We’ve been working on reincarnating it and it’s finally here!

Here’s what we’re sharing so far:

Our shop will be in the form of in-person drops.
Each drop will be a curated selection of home decor items chosen based on a theme, concept and seasonal influence.
There will be a mix of multiples, limited inventory, one of a kind and vintage items.
The shop is a selection of lifestyle driven accessories, whether a gift, or an update to your own home, our offerings will be unique and collected.

Our first shop drop will be early February. We’re excited to share more and welcome you to our office!

FAREWELL FREEHAND & NFDI STYLE

After six years of publishing a digital magazine, 26 issues of NFDI Style and 3 issues of Freehand, I have decided to fold the magazine. It’s been brewing for a while and something I resisted letting go of. I decided one Sunday morning in October 2024 after writing down the pros and cons of publishing this beast. The exercise inevitably unveiled the cons outweighed the pros and I knew I had to let go.

I’ve allowed myself to feel the feels and grieve this creative journey that needed to come to an end. Perhaps it will resurface. I’m still in love with what we created. It started out as a 16 page lookbook that evolved into a mecca of lifestyle content upwards of 100 pages, a magazine through and through, published quarterly. I’m not able to keep up anymore. There are other things, professionally and personally I need to prioritize in its place.

Farewell Freehand. You were what the magazine should have been from the start, but I didn’t fully realize your potential, my voice, your magnitude, until years in, when it was arguably too late. I loved you for what you brought to my creativity, the experiences we had, as well as the people we met and were inspired by.

Thank you to my team, for believing in this extension of creativity and having such patience and fervor for my crazy ideas. I’m ever so grateful.

Thank you to all of you for reading each page, each issue, cheering us on and celebrating the creative journey we set out to explore, experience and then share with you. We are humbled by your enthusiasm and grateful you took the time to turn each page in the noise of social media and the fullness of each of your days.

I will forever see things differently because of Freehand and the opportunity it, and NFDI Style, provided in creating such content.

We have open hearts and open minds as we head into 2025. It’s a new year and a fresh start, as we prioritize things we know will be impactful and important to our clients, company, brand as well as us as a team.

If we’re not learning, we’re not growing. Growing doesn’t need to mean that we’re growing in numbers, rather growing in understanding, knowledge, experience, commitment to our craft and professional practices. With all of this we learn, giving us the opportunity to shift our priorities accordingly. These are not static goals, they’ re fluid insights and intentions, and those we’re committed to including in our daily practices, improving through the ebbs and celebrating through the flows of 2025.

Hello!

Welcome. We’re so happy you’re here. Our goal is to be a leader in the interior design and lifestyle industry, known for our creativity, authenticity, professionalism and expertise, as a go to resource to learn, work with or simply be inspired. Thank you for spending time with us!