We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki Green Caprara and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Nikki, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
GreenCap Design started out in a very organic way. I worked in finance, but my husband and I were remodeling our first home and were doing most of the work ourselves. Fairly quickly, friends and family started reaching out and asking for advice on how to remodel their own homes. I was writing a DIY blog at the time, and I realized that there were a lot of people out there who didn’t have huge budgets, but who really wanted beautiful homes. Sometimes people just needed help remodeling a bathroom, or a living room and others wanted a full home remodel. I decided to charge hourly so individuals could choose the scale of their project and it really is amazing what can happen with a few hours and a lot of follow through. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a vision come to life.
What should our readers know about your business?
People always tell me that they can’t afford a nice home or it’s not worth having a curated space while they have young children. I truly believe that there is always something that can be done to make a space beautiful, but also more functional. A can of paint does wonders, adding built ins or moving furniture or rug placement can totally change a room.
When my husband and I remodeled our first home, I was literally shopping at thrift stores to furnish our house, and it made me realize that you don’t need to buy something new to make a space “nice”. In fact, it’s that imperfection that makes a home feel curated and cozy. It’s one of the reasons why I always love to add vintage pieces to my projects.
In the end, I hope to share my love of good design that feels welcoming and allows families to use their space to it’s full potential.
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 a Phoenix native so I love all things local. First, I would take a few days up north and explore the different climates Arizona has to offer. I grew up hiking and camping the lakes at the Mogollon Rim past Payson. It’s such an easy drive to feel 20 degrees cooler and get outside in nature. My family and I also love visiting Greer in the summer. It’s just so stunning and the hiking trails are incredible.
Of course, we would need some good food and wine. My husband and I love Hillstone for a savory dinner and Otro for breakfast. They also have the best margaritas. Tutti Santi or L’amore Italian Restaurant are our favorites for really good Italian food.
We also love to hit up the local shops like Urbana, Local Nomad and Poor Little Rich Girl. The central corridor has exploded with amazing shops and restaurants, and you don’t have to go far to find awesome local spots.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My sisters and I are so lucky to have a mom who emphasized classic and comfortable design in our home. Growing up, our house was not furnished expensively by any means, but each piece in our home had its own story and was special. I remember coming home from after a long day of classes and feeling so lucky to be in a space filled with beauty, gardens and fruit trees. It also made me realize the importance of indoor/outdoor living and how impactful that can be, especially in our mild winter climate.
Website: www.greencapdesign.com
Instagram: @greencapdesign