Meet Angela Forbes | Home Stager & Designer

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

Hi Angela, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always had an entrepreneurial type of spirit, I had a brick and mortar clothing store and a successful designer accessories online store at one point. It’s a lot of work and trial and error but what I realized is it’s also when I enjoyed what I was doing the most. After being in corporate America for 15 years and having climbed the ladder at big corporations and small startups and having been part of a mass layoff, I realized that depending on someone else for my livelihood was no longer for me. I’ve been designing clothes and homes since I was a little girl and I’d say the last 5 years or so I’ve really been on a mission to create the life I want. I’m older now, wiser now and really invested in building a solid foundation for my business so that it can thrive. I always tell my children, do what you love and you never have to work and it was time for me to start living that mantra. I was no longer going to let fear or doubt get in the way. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a little scary and definitely hard work but the fulfillment and joy you receive in doing what you’re passionate about makes all those long nights and early mornings worth it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a creative and a designer at heart. I was blessed with this talent but have also taken the time to really learn and hone my craft. It definitely wasn’t easy, I was studying day and night for months. I had to grind, network, build those relationships and partnerships. That grind has paid off tremendously because I now have a solid foundation on which to build and grow my business. It’s not just designing, there’s a whole business mindset behind the scenes that keeps all the pieces connecting smoothly.

What fulfills me is inspiring and encouraging others to live their best life and I truly believe when you enhance your home, you enhance your life. Our homes are our sanctuary and it should be reflective of that. Nothing brings me more joy than the excitement home owners get when I show them the designs for their new space or the happy tears the final reveal brings. It’s truly a blessing and a privilege to be able to do what I love every day.

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.
I’m originally from Chicago and whenever family and friends visit, I love showing them Dallas. It’s a big city with lots to do but still has the small town feel to it. It’s a gem with so many great pockets. A couple of my favorites to visit are Deep Ellum for live music and drinks and Bishop Arts for food and shopping.

Sandaga 813 and The Freeman are two of my go to’s for live music and poetry. We’d probably start out at Sandaga and depending on the vibe, end up inside for live music or outside for a chill backyard hangout. The barbecue chicken is fire. I love Erykah Badu and if you get lucky, you can be spot her from time to time at The Freeman.

Bishop Arts has a couple of cute restaurants that are a whole vibe, Casablanca and Paradiso. Those are two of my favs for brunch, which is a must and Azucar for the best ice cream. Klyde Warren Park is also a great time especially with the family. There’s a play area for the kids, food trucks and is surrounded by museums, restaurants and more. They also hold movies in the park and other family events.

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?
There’s two shoutouts I’d like to give, one is to my father. Talk about unconditional love and the way he lived his life was such an inspiration for me. He traveled the world, was very intelligent and the most supportive person in my life, he encouraged me to do all the things I love. One of his favorite sayings was “There’s no such thing as can’t, you can do anything you put your mind to.” That has carried me to this day.

I’d also like to give a shoutout to Audra Slinkey of HSR. She has been instrumental in teaching me all to the tools and tricks of the trade to start a successful business. That knowledge is what I lacked in the past. I thank her for all of the encouragement and support she has given along the way.

Website: www.fromnottohaute.com

Instagram: instagram.com/fromnottohaute/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fromnottohaute