Meet Dani Haas | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dani Haas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I always imagined working for myself one day, specifically as an interior designer. I was fortunate to have nearly a decade of incredible training in New York City, where I worked for the renowned firm, Cullman & Kravis Associates. It took dozens of projects, triumphs, and mistakes to get to a point where I felt comfortable spreading my own wings without the safety net of a big firm behind me.

When my husband and I decided to move back to Denver, my hometown, at the end of 2020, I knew I would need to make a big change professionally. I wasn’t able to find a firm out west that checked all of the boxes and quite frankly, I noticed a gap in the market for a classically trained designer with a passion for antiques, craftsmanship and bespoke details. While no one is ever fully prepared to take the leap, I had the benefit of working remotely for a few months for my NYC firm while simultaneously getting my proverbial ducks in a row. This allowed me to figure out the nitty gritty of starting a business while still working full time.

By the time I wrapped up my old job, I was ready to dive in head first. I had several contacts who became lifelines while I navigated the industry in a new city. These connections lead to clients, vendors, and other fellow designers, all of which have bolstered my first year in business. As the months pass, word-of-mouth referrals bring in new business and I continue to strengthen relationships, both client and vendor alike, which keep me moving forward

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I think the biggest thing that sets me apart from others in my background and experience. It all started in middle school when I would watch Trading Spaces on TLC, in awe of the transformations these clever designers would make for a client in need. While some of the results were more shocking (or shockingly hideous) than successful, I knew that I wanted to do something like that.

Always interested in visual arts, I took as many classes as I could in high school to flex those creative muscles, knowing that I wanted to pursue interior design in college. I ended up attending Indiana University which provided a well-rounded college experience and an accredited design program, where I learned the foundations of design. After graduation, I headed to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics to work for NBC Sports at the International Broadcast Center. While working as a tape librarian, I met a woman whose next door neighbor’s daughter (go figure) worked for a big design firm in NYC. This seemingly random introduction led me to Cullman & Kravis, where I started as an unpaid intern the following January.

Fast-forward over 8 years and I worked my way from intern to administrative assistant, onto assistant project manager and later senior designer. These years were filled with unbelievable projects throughout Manhattan, the Hamptons, Connecticut, New Jersey, Miami, Colorado and beyond. Days were spent shopping for antiques, meeting with artisans and craftsman to design anything from furniture to custom embroidery, and learning the back-end of the business, which is the not-so-glamorous part. The paperwork, order tracking, project management and minutia that went into these multi-million dollar projects gave me the foundation to eventually start my own company one day.

While it all sounds lovely on paper, those projects were not easy and the clients were often even more challenging. I learned how to problem solve and think on my feet when things inevitably went awry during a much anticipated installation. I am still learning how to best communicate with clients and vendors and contractors and most importantly, how to determine my own worth and value.

As a creative, it’s easy to succumb to the self-doubt and imposter syndrome that often clouds our brains. One day you feel inspired and motivated and creatively stimulated and then next you’re sitting in your little home office thinking, “what am I even doing? Am I even good at this anymore?” Luckily, I have the support from some talented colleagues, friends and mentors, who are constantly reminding me of the value that I bring to my clients. It’s so important to have your cheerleaders to build you up and remind you of why you’re doing this in the first place (special shoutout to my #1, my husband Patrick).

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is to trust your gut. Working in a client-facing industry, you have to know when something feels off or isn’t the right fit for your professionally. In the first year of business, it’s been difficult to say “no” to things because you’re worried about when you’ll get your next project. But for my brand and my portfolio, I have to be able to walk away when it isn’t right – whether that means the project isn’t worth my time or the client’s vision doesn’t align with mine. It’s better to nip it in the bud rather than dive in and pay the price later.

Reflecting on the past decade and looking ahead to the next one has me excited, albeit a little terrified, but overall genuinely happy. As a business owner and mom-to-be (I’m expecting my first child in October), I hope to one day find the balance where I can where both hats – running a successful design firm AND raising children. I want to inspire other designers, mothers, and creatives that they too can make it happen. My ultimate goal is to have the luxury of selecting fewer, more quality projects so I can keep my operation small and still make a living to support my family.

While there have been a lot of changes in the last 18 months, both personally and professionally, I’m eager to see what’s in store in the weeks, months and years to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My husband and I recently moved back to Denver after nearly a decade in New York. While I am a Denver native, the city has changed so drastically over the years, so it all feels new again. We just settled into our new home in the West Highlands neighborhood which is filled with great restaurants, bars and shops, many of which are walkable from our 1920s bungalow.

A week long trip would revolve around eating (when does it not?) and checking out some of Colorado’s beautiful scenery. An early morning stop at The Noshery for a killer breakfast sammie and coffee or stand in line (it’s worth it!) at Bakery Four for a warm cardamom bun or a pain au chocolat. A favorite mid-morning hike is up Mt. Falcon, which is conveniently located near Red Rocks amphitheater – a beautiful site even without the live music. Lunch at Edgewater Public Market is always a crowd pleaser, given the endless options of cuisines, and sitting outside on a bluebird day makes it even better. A post-lunch stroll around the neighboring Sloan’s Lake provides 180 degree views of the Front Range , from Pike’s Peak up to the Flatirons. Dinner at Ash’Kara or Safta, two of the very best Mediterranean/Israeli restaurants in town, is always delicious, especially with a group so you can try out all the dips and dishes. Other favorites include Spuntino for Italian, Senor Bear for a latin-inspired feast, or Sushi Den on S. Pearl Street. Denver is also known for some awesome craft breweries where you can get a cold beer and a quick snack from one of the many food trucks that park nearby. A few favorites are New Terrain Brewing in Golden, Denver Beer Co on S. Broadway and Our Mutual Friend in RiNo.

For a little culture, I love the Denver Art Museum, which was brilliantly designed by Polish architect, Daniel Libeskind. Most known for the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Libeskind’s work often features jarring angles and thought-provoking spaces. The DAM is a city landmark with its striking titanium facade that juts out with sharp corners and extreme forms.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I whole-heartedly owe everything I learned about design to Ellie Cullman and the amazing women of Cullman & Kravis Associates. I spent 8.5 years alongside this talented team while they taught me everything from project management and exemplary client services to historical furniture styles and the delicate balance of modern and traditional. My appreciation for quality, scale, symmetry, color and pattern all stems from the incredible work that was produced during those formative years in New York. I am truly grateful!

Website: www.danihaasdesign.com

Instagram: @danihaasdesign

Image Credits
Jackie Cooper Photography