Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilary Orton
Hi Hilary, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It was the summer of 2011, that my ‘now husband’ got promoted from the title of my “childhood friend” to my ‘boyfriend’. We both shared a passion for making ordinary moments in life, memorable and full of laughter. We are WA natives, and we got married in 2015, officially embarking on our greatest journey together.
I followed the traditional path of going to college, getting a degree and began working in corporate America. I graduated with a degree in Public Relations and found myself landing an opportunity in the pharmaceutical world. Over the years, my career progressed into the dental industry, with my most recent position being in the medical device field with dental specialists.
My husband graduated high school and got straight to work exploring his career path. He’s very mechanically inclined and found his niche in the Industrial Supply industry. His most recent position was a specialty role representing a company with a variety of products, specific to the heating/cooling industry.
In 2018, we were blessed with our son who changed our world, naturally. We both had great jobs, a beautiful home and everything we ‘thought’ would make us happy. The American Dream. We continued the corporate climb but continued to question, “is this really it?”.
Covid hit the world in 2020/2021 and changed everything for us. We both say that this period in our lives, truly was the biggest blessing and ‘game changer’ for our family. In August of 2021, we welcomed our daughter and became a family of four. By this point, our hearts were guiding us to make a change and take a leap. We realized we were truly passionate about one thing- our family, and that needed to be the priority. There wasn’t any professional fulfillment that could ever come close to the passion, unwavering commitment and limitless love we feel for our sweet, growing family. While the whole world was on ‘pause’, we started to make a plan to put ourselves in the driving seat of our future. TIME was the solution, and we needed to figure out a way to get more of it.
We opened our own business, “North Sound Boilers and Radiant”, in September 2021, and currently operate a radiant heat and boiler company, servicing the Pacific Northwest. In March of 2023, I officially gave my notice to corporate America and started my most rewarding role yet – being a stay-at-home mom.
We were at a crossroad deciding whether to grow our company and expand or take another leap of faith and find a solution that would diversify ourselves while creating more passive income.
We took the leap and started exploring the real estate industry. Short term rentals interested us, due to the higher cash-flow potential, but as we dove deeper, we were fascinated by the entire process. One aspect of our relationship that we’re most proud of, is our ability to have ‘genuine curiosity’, and devote time to educating ourselves on new concepts that interest us. We also give ourselves permission to ‘change our minds’ when we’re exposed to new information. This has served us well in a variety of ways throughout our lives.
We partnered with professionals to guide us through the Short Term Rental world and thank goodness we did! With ‘Short Term Rentals’ (STR’s), the road map we were taught on how best to vet our property was an education in itself.
The city of Austin was an obvious choice. Not only is it a culinary dream, but it truly offers vacationers an opportunity to enjoy any interest they may have. The weather is exceptional, the outdoor activities are endless, entertainment is plentiful, and the city itself is vibrant with so much life. The cherry on top is just how kind and genuine the community is.
Once selected and vetted, the next step is designing a space with a target guest profile, in mind. We again, partnered with experts on the design portion and truly leaned IN to this process, as it’s the most crucial piece to ensure your property stands out above the rest.
In 6 short weeks, this beautiful Mediterranean-style family home was transformed into “La Dolce Vita Villa”, designed to immerse guests in an elevated, instagramable experience, with its indoor-outdoor living. Ideal for bachelorette parties and girls’ trips, a staycation or a couples get-away, this home has it all.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not, it’s been a bumpy road filled with unexpected challenges, curveballs, unanticipated discoveries and so many sacrifices.
This journey began almost exactly a year ago when we were well on our way into finding our first property. Our personal family home had doubled in value since we originally purchased it in 2017, and we knew it would create a significant amount of capital to get us started. In January 2024, we took another risk and listed our family home on the MLS, which sold this past May (selling our home with 2 small children is a challenge in itself lol).
Additionally, right after closing on the house in Austin, we learned it needed an entirely brand-new roof, new HVAC system and extensive work inside just to get it operational. This was all in addition to the creative design process we were already very financially invested in.
Residing in WA with our new project being in Austin, TX, also created its own challenges. Finding a trustworthy team to execute on our behalf while we weren’t local, had some ups and downs, but ultimately, we were blessed with an incredible local support team.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about La Dolce Vita Villa LLC?
It’s a running joke at just how “extra” we are in all aspects of our life. We have a pattern for taking things far beyond where most people would. What that ultimately translates to, is we have a keen eye for ‘attention to detail’. Our passion for creating memorable experiences that are ‘out of the ordinary’, is what we pride ourselves on. Specific to La Dolce Vita Villa, we couldn’t just create a beautifully decorated home. We created a ‘brand’ for this property to elevate guests experience ensuring it felt like a boutique hotel. ‘La Dolce Vita Villa’ branding is subtle but consistent, throughout the home, and can be found on a statement wall, mini golf flags, stickers on sanitary napkins and a variety of other touches. This home has a ‘resort style backyard’ with cabanas, daybeds, an outdoor bar, 85” outdoor TV etc. We got caught up one night on the couch, dreaming up a hidden door to a ‘speak easy’ space guests could karaoke the night away. Four perfectly curated ‘get ready stations’ were designed to take this home to the next level. Every space is so intentional and we’re incredibly proud of our need to be “extra” in Austin.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
“Family” is what we’re most proud of and will forever be the greatest role we’ve ever been blessed to have. We both enjoy being active and want to model a healthy lifestyle for our kids. Whether it’s cold plunges, a new workout regimen or red-light therapy, we want to feel energized for these growing peanuts. Great food and great wine are also indulgences we don’t deprive ourselves from. Whenever we travel, we love trying local flavors or unique gems. Friendships reinvigorate us, and it’s an added bonus when we’re walking through the same stages of life together. Traveling is another joy, and we have ambitions of showing our kids the world as a reward for the STR and real estate portfolio we’re building.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ladolcevitevilla.com
- Instagram: @Ladolcevitavilla.atx
- Facebook: La Dolce Vita Villa
- Other: https://www.airbnb.com/h/ladolcevitavilla-atx
Image Credits
Ashley Mae Scott Photography
Rudy Lara Photo
