Today we’d like to introduce you to Vesna Divita
Hi Vesna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey started with a degree in Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising, which led me to my first big adventure: working at a luxury consignment startup. I was one of the early team members, and the owner, a true trailblazer, had transformed the way people bought and sold luxury fashion online. It was thrilling to be immersed in the world of high-end brands, attending events, and witnessing firsthand the hustle of a startup. That first job straight out of college was not just exciting—it was a real education in what it means to build something from scratch.
But as much as I loved that chapter, buying was always calling to me. Retail had become more than a job; it was my life. I took the leap into product development and buying, with a special focus on jewelry. Claire’s was a pivotal step, sparking my love for international travel and teaching me the art of collaborating with partners across Asia and the UK. Those design kick-offs were electrifying, and Pantones felt like a language I was fluent in. I learned everything from building products from mood boards to sourcing suppliers, perfecting samples, and seeing product through to merchandising and markdowns. One of my most memorable experiences was my first business trip abroad—it opened my eyes to the incredible work happening behind the scenes and the people who made it all happen.
When we relocated from Chicago to Seattle in 2014, it was for an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. We took a leap of faith with the safety net of knowing we could always return home if things didn’t work out. I briefly worked on a contract at Amazon in the Home category, where I discovered a passion for interiors that I hadn’t anticipated. But it was my time at Nordstrom HQ that really pushed me to grow. It was fast-paced. The elevators felt like a red carpet fashion show. And it another adventure in jewelry, but also this time, I got introduced to Handbags, Accessories and expanded on Home Goods. I spent my early 30s traveling the world on the weekends and for the first time in my life, maxed out my PTO but even as I thrived professionally, I felt the pull to start a family. The idea of balancing work and motherhood seemed impossible at the time; it was a narrative not widely shared and felt out of reach given how demanding my job was. I kept postponing that chapter because I couldn’t imagine stepping away from the career I loved so much. I didn’t know at the time you could do both. And thrive.
In 2019, we decided it was time to plant roots and moved to Austin, where we built our first home. With costs rising, we took on more of the interior design and DIY ourselves. I loved the idea of transforming a blank canvas into something unique, and for a while, I planned to document that journey in a blog. But when Covid hit, everything shifted. I found myself in our rental, unable to shop or plan as we had during the build, and shortly after we moved into our new house in 2020, we discovered we were expecting our daughter. The timing was a whirlwind—scrambling to settle into a new home just as we prepared for our new addition.
The housing market in Austin was booming, and by the time my daughter was eight months old, we sold our house and began building again. And then, we found out we were expecting our son, who arrived just a month before our new home was finished. With two under two and no family nearby, I felt like my hands were always full. The early days of motherhood were a blur of diapers, bottles, and finding time to take a shower. It wasn’t until my son turned one, and I found myself adjusting to his nap schedule, that I felt the urge to tap back into my creative side. It started with painting, decorating, and woodworking, and soon I was connecting with other moms who were craving more than just the daily grind of parenting. That was when I decided to go all-in on content creation, sharing my experiences and passions. It was a shift that let me reclaim my creativity in a way that felt true to me, and it has been an incredibly fulfilling journey ever since.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hill Country Haus started as my DIY project, a creative outlet that reflected my passion for interior design and home improvement. But when I found myself with two little ones under three, I quickly realized that tackling big projects every day just wasn’t practical. So, I pivoted. I began sharing more relatable content, like what I was wearing to chase my son around, and focused on connecting with other moms navigating the same challenges.
As I began sharing these everyday moments, I noticed that my audience—mostly women—grew. That was my intention all along: to build a community where moms could relate, share, and inspire one another. Over time, I’ve made so many amazing friendships through this platform, and I truly hope that my content is not only a source of inspiration but also a reminder that we’re all in this together.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With a background in product development, I bring a unique perspective to my work on Hill Country Haus and LTK. Having worked closely with suppliers overseas and spent years auditing products for quality, I’ve developed a keen eye for choosing home decor and furniture that’s not only aesthetic driven but built to last. I love sharing practical toddler friendly design tips, DIY projects, and product recommendations that reflect my experience in the industry. I’ve learned firsthand how to spot quality pieces, and I’m always looking for ways to share practical pieces that are budget conscious.
In addition to home inspiration, I’m also passionate about sharing our journey of incorporating travel back into our lives—this time with toddlers in tow. After years of focusing on parenting and work, we’re rediscovering the joys of travel, and I love offering practical tips for traveling with little ones. From packing essentials to family-friendly destinations, I hope my experiences help other parents find the perfect balance between adventure and creating a cozy, welcoming home. The perfect balance to being home and away does exist.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was born and raised in Chicago, but my roots stretch back to Croatia, and to Bosnia, where I spent summer living with my grandparents. It was there that my love for tradition and culture took root. One of my earliest memories is of my grandparents dressing me in a frilly dress and Mary Jane’s and trying to capture my photo on the balcony. . I didn’t appreciate the vintage look then, but in the past year, have realized that semblance of tradition and vintage is what my home is inspired by.
Another vivid memory comes from sharing a room growing up. I didn’t have much space of my own in our Chicago home, so I spent hours organizing and reorganizing a single drawer. It may seem like a small thing, but it was a reflection of my need to curate, to make order and beauty out of my world. That same year, I got a Melanie’s Mall playset for Christmas – a gift that would ignite my passion for retail. It was a mall set where each boutique was “sold separately.” I spent countless hours merchandising and styling the boutique, creating little stories with the miniature items.
The following year, I received one of those rectangular point-and-shoot cameras with the film you had to develop, and my love for photography blossomed. I would capture images of the stuffed animals and books I received, carefully modeling each styling shot. From a young age, I was drawn to both the art of visual storytelling and the world of retail. Those early experiences shaped the passions that still drive me today. I’ve spent my life creating content and didn’t know it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hill_country_haus
- Other: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/hill_country_haus
Image Credits
Shannon Worley Photography (main photo)
