It's so crazy to think of how far NAFASI has come since the very beginning, with my very first client. Now, 70 clients later, I'm moving away from the city that allowed me to thrive for the past 3 and a half years.
It's bittersweet. Throughout my time in D.C. I was able to meet so many people and build my career at a pace that seemed unimaginable when I started! My clients have been kind, creative, and bold with their homes, letting me decorate their personalities on every wall in new colors and fun designs. I credit all of my work so far to these collaborations, working hand in hand with my clients and inspiring each other throughout the process.
It's funny, now that I've just posted the process of building our home together with Patrick, we're leaving it! Patrick got an amazing new job, and we are so excited to get the chance to move to Rubengera, Rwanda, where he will work closely with Rwandan farmers. I'll still be working on NAFASI, both with E-Design, and putting more attention to blogging to keep anyone who's interested involved in our move. I can only imagine the adventure, stress, beauty, mischief, and surprise that is to come!
It does feel like everything is coming full circle a bit. When this blog started, I was only 23, and just off to Tanzania to start my 2 year Peace Corps service. Check these 2008 posts! Actually, don't read too deeply though, I'm sure there's embarrassing stuff in there. :) I came to D.C. in 2012, decided on my new career path, and eventually started my first business. But instead of starting a brand new blog for NAFASI, I chose to use my Peace Corps blog and just transition it. NAFASI actually means space in Swahili and while interior design is far from the work I was doing in the Peace Corps, I've always wanted to keep both passions close. Now in 2017, I'll be doing just that.
Love,
Teri
It's bittersweet. Throughout my time in D.C. I was able to meet so many people and build my career at a pace that seemed unimaginable when I started! My clients have been kind, creative, and bold with their homes, letting me decorate their personalities on every wall in new colors and fun designs. I credit all of my work so far to these collaborations, working hand in hand with my clients and inspiring each other throughout the process.
It's funny, now that I've just posted the process of building our home together with Patrick, we're leaving it! Patrick got an amazing new job, and we are so excited to get the chance to move to Rubengera, Rwanda, where he will work closely with Rwandan farmers. I'll still be working on NAFASI, both with E-Design, and putting more attention to blogging to keep anyone who's interested involved in our move. I can only imagine the adventure, stress, beauty, mischief, and surprise that is to come!
It does feel like everything is coming full circle a bit. When this blog started, I was only 23, and just off to Tanzania to start my 2 year Peace Corps service. Check these 2008 posts! Actually, don't read too deeply though, I'm sure there's embarrassing stuff in there. :) I came to D.C. in 2012, decided on my new career path, and eventually started my first business. But instead of starting a brand new blog for NAFASI, I chose to use my Peace Corps blog and just transition it. NAFASI actually means space in Swahili and while interior design is far from the work I was doing in the Peace Corps, I've always wanted to keep both passions close. Now in 2017, I'll be doing just that.
Love,
Teri
