Meet Prudence Bailey
I am the founder and lead designer of Prudence Home + Design which I started in 2015. I started the firm with no formal background in interior design, just a huge passion and vision for what I wanted to accomplish. I never imagined what it is today, and I can’t believe how far we’ve come in such a short time! Like so many people interested in starting a company my first challenge was simply settling on a name. Fortunately, I met Jonathan Adler in 2006 and I’ll always remember him telling me that if I ever started my own company he would “buy anything from a woman named Prudence” so I did! What fun!
“Trust is a key ingredient to any successful relationship including interior design.”
Before Prudence Home + Design, I spent almost 20 years in software sales and financial services. Believe it or not that experience really helped me build my business. It may be surprising to know how much of interior design revolves around Project Management and this was very intensive part of my work. I apply these skills daily to my client’s projects.
My Grandfather’s guidance was that if I worked at what I love, it would never seem like “work,” and the success would follow. I have always taken those words to heart both for myself and for my clients. I want my clients to love working with me and have fun along the way. At the heart of this experience is being open and honest every step of the way, and always being absolutely transparent in terms of pricing.
Favorite Paint Color
There is no wrong color to paint your walls! However, it’s critical to make an encompassing plan and decide what, exactly, the paint is going to do for the room as you layer furniture, art, and décor. I often start by determining if paint is going to be a supporting player or the dominant player. For example, I love blue and white for furnishings as it always feels crisp, clean and relevant. To balance that combination, I often paint the walls in Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White as it gives this gorgeous color duo a clean backdrop. I want the beautiful blue fabrics we are providing to be the star, and the white paint color to help it shine.
“I thrive on the joy I see in my clients after we reveal an exquisitely transformed space that is much more expressive of their lifestyle and taste.”
Q: How does your work bring you joy?
I thrive on the joy I see in my clients after we reveal an exquisitely transformed space that is much more expressive of their lifestyle and taste. Seeing them so happy never gets old, and always makes the hard work worth it. This brings me immense joy.
Q: Most exciting work accomplishment?
My most exciting accomplishment was completing the design, implementation and styling of 27 rooms for Eva Amurri, The Happily Eva, in just one month! In December of 2018, I designed all the rooms in her home as well as her Studio; and then started ordering and implementing the spaces in April for a photo shoot and June reveal. I worked around the clock, and despite having been exhausted from the effort, I’m so proud of how it turned out, and how much she loved the experience and outcome!
Q: Best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t ever pass up an opportunity that comes your way. I have been very open to doing what it takes to grown my business and brand in the marketplace and in the design community. Also, be willing to take a few steps back financially, to take leaps ahead in the long run. Heading this advice has really helped me to surpass our goals in a short amount of time.
Q: Hardest part about being a business owner?
The pressure of having to constantly make money to keep the lights on and pay your employees. It can sometimes feel like a lot of mental stress. It quickly makes you realize that you need to lean forward in going after new business. You can’t simply wait for it to come to you.
Q: Who would you love to collaborate with?
There are so many wonderful possibilities! The one that comes immediately to mind would be a collaboration with Schumacher on a fabric or wallpaper line. That would be a dream come true!
Q: Favorite small business?
I absolutely love Fairfield County Antiques and Design Center. Vintage décor pieces and furniture are always a part of my projects. I spend hours on end looking through everything they have.
Q: How do you recharge?
I am an avid runner. It helps me de-stress and mentally work through challenging issues so when I sit down to tackle them, I am ready. The endorphins I feel from a great run can last all day, even through the toughest of meetings. While I am super fortunate that I have never had any upset or difficult clients, it can still be stressful when juggling so many homes and needs at one time. Running is my refuge.
