Episode 23 - Fearless Beginnings: Bria Hammel on Building with Humility, Gratitude & Grit

Transcript

[00:02] Wendy:

Excellent. Hello, welcome Powerhouse Smart friends and colleagues. I am so excited to invite you to our next episode of our Powerhouse Cool Collabs podcast. We have a fabulous guest today. And as you all know, I keep this really tight—20 minutes, commutable if you’re going somewhere. Although in today’s traffic, it might be that you get to listen to two episodes!

[00:25] Wendy:

Today, I have this amazing guest who was introduced through my network—and that’s really how life is. I always advise you to be open, because you get to meet amazing new people like today’s guest. I’m so excited—it’s like inviting her into my own home.

[00:40] Wendy:

So, we’re going to let Bria Hamill, this renowned interior designer—although still very young in her career—introduce herself. Bria, blessings, thank you for being here. Please share.

[00:51] Bria:

Thank you so much for having me! Sure, I’ll share a little about where I came from and how I got here.

[01:00] Bria:

I went to Kansas University for college. Originally, I thought I was going to be a fashion buyer. But like I tell most freshmen—be open-minded, because life changes. I soon realized that being in Kansas was probably not the best place to focus on fashion.

[01:15] Bria:

A friend of mine, who lived with me in a house with six other girls, said, “Every time I walk into your bedroom—you just have something special for interior design. You’re a little mini Martha Stewart. You should do this as a career.” That one comment made me rethink my path.

[01:32] Bria:

I talked to my parents, switched career paths, and pursued interior design. Luckily, there was a great residential design program nearby, which was important to me because most schools focused on commercial and architecture. My mom, though an OB-GYN, had always loved design—so subconsciously, it was my world growing up.

[01:50] Bria:

From there, I fell in love with the field, got an internship, and eventually stayed in Lawrence, Kansas for a while before moving back home to Minnesota.

[02:05] Wendy:

Wow. First of all, you’re so humble. That is awesome to share, because so many people listening may have started in furniture or retail and think, “That’s not why I went to design school—I want big penthouses and mansions.” But your story reinforces that every step counts, no matter how small or large.

[02:25] Wendy:

And let’s give you credit—you weren’t just a designer, you had a business mind too. So, you left Ethan Allen, managing 16 people, and then how did you launch into your own?

[02:35] Bria:

I had an opportunity to work with a high-end designer in Minneapolis who opened her own firm at 60. It was such a great learning experience—how to open a business, gain clients, handle the paperwork.

[02:50] Bria:

When I had my first child, I decided to start my own firm. At first, I worked part-time, with help from family, slowly building. That was 2012. Thirteen years later, I now have 18 employees and two businesses—Bria Hamill Interiors and Brook and Lou, our home décor line.

[03:10] Wendy:

Wow—fearless, humble, organic growth, and now two businesses! For people starting out, how long before you hired your first employee?

[03:20] Bria:

About a year in, I hired a part-time assistant. Then we grew steadily—sometimes too quickly—and learned to scale back and then grow again. Now, I have a rock-solid team. What I really love most is mentoring my team and helping them thrive.

[03:40] Wendy:

Beautiful. Collaboration, gratitude, giving back—you embody the three pillars of this podcast. So tell us: what led you to create Brook and Lou?

[03:50] Bria:

Social media was huge for us. We leaned into Instagram early and people kept asking about our sources. Instead of sending them away, I thought—why not create a way to serve them ourselves? Brook and Lou became that outlet: an e-commerce home décor business that’s approachable, curated, and accessible.

[04:10] Bria:

We even do fun things like “Amazon Sundays,” where we share affordable finds that anyone can enjoy.

[04:20] Wendy:

Love that. So, what’s the balance now between Bria Hamill Interiors and Brook and Lou?

[04:25] Bria:

Probably 75% BHI, 25% Brook and Lou. I still do all the curation for Brook and Lou—it’s my way of keeping it on brand and personal. Maybe it goes back to my original dream of fashion buying.

[04:40] Wendy:

I love that full circle. For those listening, Brook and Lou is such a great resource—not just for the public, but also for designers who benefit from your trade program. And I’ve heard you’re sourcing globally too?

[04:50] Bria:

Yes! We’ve traveled to India, Paris, and soon London, sourcing products that people can’t easily access here. It’s a way to expand Brook and Lou while exposing our design team to the world.

[05:05] Wendy:

That’s amazing. Before we wrap, I always ask my guests: how do you define a well-lived life?

[05:10] Bria:

For me, it’s filling your life with people you love, and traveling. Travel teaches me so much about the world and people. When you combine family, friends, and meaningful experiences—you can’t ask for more.

[05:25] Wendy:

I so agree. You’re now part of my Powerhouse family, Bria! Thank you for your authenticity and time today. We’ll see you at future events, and for everyone listening—check the links below to connect with Bria and explore both her businesses.

[05:40] Bria:

Thank you so much!