Today we’d like to introduce you to Viki Chupik.
Hi Viki, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have immense pride in being a fourth-generation Texan and a second-generation Austinite. My parents were original Austin hippies who met in art school. My mom tells the story of seeing my dad laying on the floor in art class sketching in his sketchbook and falling in love at first sight. He had just come back from Vietnam and looked like a rebel with a cause. They both had such a profound influence on who I am today. They taught me the value of hard work, being creative, taking risks, and the freedom to be my authentic self. Believe it or not, I have a little bit of that original Austin hippie in my soul. It keeps me real and checks my ego when I’m not paying attention.
My connection to interior design began with a need for order and calmness in my life. Growing up, life was messy and chaotic — my dad struggled with alcoholism, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. Mom did the best she could to keep order in the house but often fell short. I found peace and calm in the storm by cleaning and rearranging my environment. I didn’t know it then, but looking back, design was always there. I was forever changing up my bedroom, rearranging the furniture in my house, creating little spaces to read or do homework and creating cozy vignettes so that I could escape into my own little world. My environment has always affected me. If the room is off, I feel off. It can be both a blessing and a curse. I would like to think it is a gift that helps me to understand my clients’ needs — I am always evaluating and readjusting in my mind how to make a space feel better.
My grandmother was also a big influence in my life. She was a powerful force and had great style. Not only did she help take care of me and give me respite from my chaotic home life, but she also showed me what a beautiful life could look like. She loved beautiful things and surrounded herself with beauty. When I was in high school, I watched as her interior designer friend worked his magic on her average suburban home and turned it into something quite amazing and lovely. After watching and helping with my Grandmother’s design project, I decided interior design was the path for me. Upon graduating from high school that year, I attended The University of Texas at Austin and graduated with an interior design degree with a focus on architecture.
My interior design degree opened the door to so many opportunities. Like so many who graduated in 1989, I had to put my dreams on hold while the economy recovered. During that time, I went to work for my grandfather’s highway construction business. This was not in my perfect little life plan. The gift I didn’t expect from this experience was that I learned so much about running a small business, working in a male-dominated profession, and how to treat employees like family. I also got to watch my mother struggle in her CEO role, fail, get back up again, and gain the confidence to exit the family business on her own terms. At the time, I am not sure that I fully understood what she was going through, but now as I navigate my own business, I see the grit she modeled for me. For that, I am truly grateful.
After selling the family business, I decided it was time to start my own business with my husband, Randy. He grew up in the home building industry and had a passion for architecture and real estate. I had an unmet desire to create beautiful homes and use my interior design degree. Chupik Properties and Design was born in 2000 as we both took a leap of faith and started our own real estate development company. We were the perfect dream team! He would take the design lead on the outside and I would take the design lead on the inside. Together, we created a company whose mission was to change the face of Austin, one house at a time. As I look back at the projects we completed over 20 years, I am proud to say that we did change the face of Austin, making it more beautiful with timeless structures that have stood the test of time. Randy continues to create beautiful and timeless developments with Chupik Properties and Design.
In early 2020, I decided it was time for me to scratch the itch and create something on my own. The entrepreneur in me was just dying to get out. I branched off / established Chupik Design to create luxury interior design experiences for high-net-worth clients. I knew I had all the skills needed to serve this market, so I gave myself the push to make it happen. At the same time, I’ve learned the interior design industry traditionally has a feast or famine business cycle. To combat this unpredictable cycle, I also took my boldest entrepreneurial leap yet: founding PIKD Collections. I wanted to create a business that was scalable and bring quality design to countless more homes and families than I’d ever be able to work with as an interior designer serving one client at a time.
Pikd is the result of my 20 years of experience creating timeless interior specification packages for builders, developers, and remodelers. My team and I have created interior specification packages that are affordable, high quality, and ready to go. We believe that good design can be accessible and good design sells.
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?
No start-up is easy, and every day has its own challenges. I am so fortunate to get to walk this path with my son, Ford. He is an artist and decided in 2020 to chart his own entrepreneurial path. We get to experience the highs and lows together and often share our frustrations, solutions, and successes. It’s rewarding to be able to share the ride with someone who understands exactly what you are going through.
The biggest challenges so far have been finding and creating a team. COVID-19 has been such a blessing for me and has opened the possibility of working remotely with so many talented people. I am still trying to figure out how to truly connect and bond online. How do you successfully create an atmosphere of family and team online? I miss the ability to reach out and give someone a hug or really sit and listen to someone when they need the support.
I typically spend the end of the year thinking and planning the upcoming year. I don’t love New Year’s Resolutions. I prefer goal setting and reflection. During this process, I try to pick a word of the year that sets the tone and intention for my goals. This year my word is TEAM. I am working on building a sustainable team to help us reach our BIG and audacious goals for Pikd this year.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am known for creating timeless interiors that fit perfectly and comfortably into the lifestyles of my clients. I take a lot of time to listen and learn about their lives, asking questions like
The first thing they do when they wake up
How they wind down at night
How they work
How they relax
What they are most proud of and what they want people to see about their life
What kind of parents they want to be
What does joy look like in their home
What makes them laugh
What nurtures them and makes them feel safe
I am fortunate to have 20 years of this kind of data from past projects that help me to create beautiful and functional spaces for our Pikd Collections.
I am most proud when a former client calls me and tells me how much they love their house and how relevant it is today. When I look at projects that are ten years old, they still look great and feel timeless. I also love it when they tell me stories about how their families connect and love each other in their homes. Those spaces might be the intimate and sacred morning nook I create for parents, cozy and comfortable dining spaces, or family hang-out spaces outside. I try hard to create spaces that cultivate connections for couples and their families.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I do believe that luck and timing are integral to success, but I also think hard work and resilience accounts for 90% of success. My father ingrained hard work deep into my soul. I am still trying to figure out the balance of work and play. I wish I were better at doing nothing. Maybe that should be one of my goals for 2022.
Pricing:
- Pikd Collections are priced affordably at $975 – $1250 depending on size and budget.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@pikdcollections.com
- Website: https://www.pikdcollections.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikdcollections/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PikdCollections
- Other: https://www.chupikdesign.com/
Image Credits
Image 1 – Headshot – Jeff Jones Photography Image 2 – Pikd Collection – David Smith Image 3 – Materials Presentation – Brooke Taelor Photography Image 4 – Pikd Kitchen – Leonid Furmansky Photographer Image 5 – Chupik Design Powder Room – Jeff Jones Photography
