Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Barczak.
Hi Erika, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Erika Barczak, the owner and principal designer of Spruce Austin, a boutique upholstery, drapery, and interior design studio based in Austin, Texas.
Spruce today has two origin stories starting around the same time in 2008/2009: when Spruce was budding as an upholstery shop in Austin, I was beginning my career as an interior designer in Houston.
In 2020, my husband Clint and I were living in our converted school bus near Lockhart; Clint was jumping out of airplanes for work, and I was commuting to my interior design projects in Houston! We both needed a change and Spruce kinda fell into our lap via one of our shared fabric reps. We have made so many major and minor decisions based on our “Why not?” motto… and we couldn’t think of a single reason why we shouldn’t purchase Spruce!
Since 2020, we have expanded our offerings, our staff, and our space. On top of our beautiful upholstery and sewing work, we now have drapery experts ready to help you with your custom window solutions. We work with so many local designers, architects and builders to make their ideas a reality. I continue to design and work with clients all over the US. There’s an entire section of our showroom devoted to wallpaper! We’ve even been featured in Architectural Digest!
With over a decade of experience in the industry, I bring an energetic, hands-on approach to creating spaces that reflect each client’s personality and lifestyle. I believe that good design should be beautiful, functional, and directly reflect the personality of my clients. I love helping people bring their ideas to life through custom upholstery and creative interiors. When I’m not working with fabric or furniture, you’ll probably find me skydiving, homesteading, or chasing my next big adventure—always finding new inspiration to bring back to the studio.
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?
For almost ten years, Clint was a skydiving instructor. Jumping into the fabric and upholstery world wasn’t exactly a natural progression but I knew I couldn’t run the business by myself and continue to be an interior designer. The deal was, I’d buy the business, and he would help me run it. I think back to what a huge gamble that was… What if he hated it!?
I’ve never seen someone absorb themselves more than Clint into fabrics and upholstery! The showroom… all his! Cut velvets… expert level knowledge! On any given day, you can find him helping customers pick the perfect fabric, helping our upholsterers in the workshop, or helping me on a drapery install!
Our constant challenge is managing growth and demand. Our custom drapery business has grown exponentially! But draperies take time, site visits/measuring, space, and extreme attention to detail. Upholstery isn’t exactly quick and easy; our lead times can be discouraging, but our quality and craftsmanship make everything worth the wait!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Spruce Austin is a boutique upholstery and interior design studio specializing in custom furniture, reupholstery, custom window treatments, and full-service interior styling. We blend craftsmanship with creativity to transform spaces, offering personalized design solutions that reflect each client’s style and needs. Whether it’s designing the perfect set of drapes, reimagining a cherished piece of furniture, or styling an entire room, we’re passionate about bringing thoughtful, high-quality design to life.
A few of Spruce’s offerings:
-Upholstery
-Bench-made upholstered furniture
-Pillows and cushions including outdoor
-Window coverings including draperies, roman shades, valences, woven woods, and more
-Wallcovering
-Furnishings including rugs, case goods, lighting, and accessories
-Fulls service interior design
What matters most to you?
Keeping the artistry of upholstery and sewing alive is the heart of Spruce. We want to keep furniture out of landfills. We want to preserve heirloom pieces and the memories that come with them. We want to help people create spaces that are entirely unique to them. We don’t want mass produced… we want beautifully handmade.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spruceaustin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spruceathome/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spruceupholstery
