Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicola Hunte.
Hi Nicola, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been fascinated by creative expression and what it reveals about who we are.
The idea that emotions and experiences can be translated into the physical world has been a thread through everything I’ve done. That curiosity led me to study and work extensively in fashion, theater, dance, and television before eventually finding interior design. Looking back, I wasn’t changing direction as much as I was exploring different ways of telling stories. Interior design became the place those passions came together.
After moving from Los Angeles to Austin, I had the opportunity to learn residential design and construction while working at a boutique firm before co-founding a design company in 2017. At the end of 2022, I launched Hunte & Co, where I create homes that feel timeless, personal, and connected to the people who live in them.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In many ways, it has been a smooth road with steady work. Building a business while raising my daughter as a single mom has been the hardest challenge. Every investment requires thoughtful choices about when to prioritize my family and when to invest back in my business.
I’m incredibly grateful to the clients who trusted me early on. My business has grown almost entirely through referrals and I don’t take that trust for granted.
I genuinely love what I do, so finding balance is something I’m still learning. At the same time, I feel incredibly fortunate to get to do this everyday!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Hunte & Co?
Hunte & Co is a full service residential interior design studio specializing in renovations, new construction, and full home interiors.
What sets my work apart is that I draw inspiration from a wide range of architectural traditions, periods, and cultures rather than working within one signature style. I think that comes from growing up biracial and moving between places as different as Texas and England, where I developed an early appreciation for a wide range of histories, cultures, and ways of living. Those experiences continue to influence my work.
Helping clients discover what feels authentic to them and translating that into a home they love is the most rewarding part of my job. Every space should have its own personality. I tend to work with clients who appreciate expressive wallpaper, statement tile, vintage pieces, and homes that feel collected. Whenever possible, I specify more natural materials and look for opportunities to reuse what’s already there.
I want the design process to feel collaborative, comfortable, and personal from beginning to end.
I’m especially proud that my work primarily comes through referrals. To me, that’s the greatest compliment because it means clients trust me enough to recommend me to the people they care about most.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I’ve learned that people don’t always know how to articulate what they want. Clients often come with inspiration, but my job isn’t to recreate it. It’s to understand what they’re really responding to and translate that into a home that reflects who they are and fits the way they live.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunteandco/
