Bryce Vandergriff Design

An Unfamiliar Friend in Entrepreneurship

My upbringing was a lot about figuring out how to operate within an existing system. How to mesh, meld, and perform in a crowded space. How to operate—and excel—within the lines.

I went to high school with a couple thousand kids, college with more than fifty thousand others, and was one of a million employees at my last corporate job. To stand out, or even merely function, you had to navigate the system. Sink or swim.

And now?

Now it’s just me. One.

It’s a shock to the system. My system.

There is no management. There is no chain of command. But there is enormous choice.

Choice feels a little bit like an unearned power. Am I quite ready for this?

It creates a freedom that feels exciting, unbound, and sometimes—dangerous.

For the curious, choice in my days looks like: What services do I provide? What’s my cost structure? How do I collect payment? Where do I want to physically work? Should I niche down? What would my niche be? Where do I get health insurance? How do I diversify my revenue streams? How do I survive, let alone thrive, without a framework? Do I take a day off in this season?

After years of being told what boxes needed to be checked to hit the mark—to get into the school, get the paycheck, earn the promotion—choice arrived at my doorstep as an unfamiliar but destined friend.

The type of friend you wish upon everyone.

The type of friend who can change the course of your day—or maybe your whole life.

My unfamiliar friend in entrepreneurship—choice.

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Interior Design, Entrepreneurship, Austin, Texas, Bryce Vandergriff Design

France 2024 | Life on film

I think the key to making changes mid-remodel comes down to communication and having a team of professionals who help you make informed decisions. Sometimes, changing course is actually the right move.

A remodel requires flexibility. I’m a big believer in planning things to a T, while staying nimble and collaborative when something needs to shift. The goal isn’t rigidity, it’s thoughtful decision making.

At the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want? A team aligned around a common goal, willing to work together to find the best solution for the project at hand.

When we laid out this tile with the contractor, we focused on a few key decisions that shape how the space feels.

We chose a vertical stack to draw your eye from the floor to the ceiling. It subtly makes the room feel taller and more open.

The niche was designed to visually disappear. By aligning full tile above and below, the ledge nearly vanishes instead of interrupting the wall.

For transitions, we used a bullnose tile. It creates a softer, more intentional edge wherever tile meets another surface.

And finally, we carried the tile over the pony wall. It keeps the water where it belongs and creates a cleaner transition between the tub and the wall.

These are the types of details that you don’t notice right off the bat, but play a big role in a clean and intentional design.

Design
Builder
Photography

Who should you call first when you’re planning a remodel—the contractor, designer, or architect?

The short answer: it’s flexible.

What matters most isn’t the order—it’s building the team early. You might start with a contractor and loop in a designer a week later. Or begin with a designer and bring in the others as the scope takes shape. That’s completely fine.

The key is not getting too far down the path with any one professional before consulting the rest. Remodels have a lot of intersections, and the best decisions happen when everyone’s perspective is on the table early.

Start with the professional you’re most confident in—and build the team from there.

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BVD, Bryce Vandergriff Design, Bathroom Design, Kitchen Design, Interior Design, Home Furnishings, Austin, Texas