Interview with VoyageDenver Magazine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Register.

Hi Mary, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I started my interior design company in the fall of 2023 and we focus on residential renovations, new builds, and virtual consults. Going back to the very start however, I graduated from Colorado State with an Interior Architecture BS and Construction Management BS. Design was always a interest of mine however, construction paid more so I took that route post graduation. Gotta pay the bills, right? After 7+ years of working for General Contractors, I had made my way up to Project Manager and felt the burn out HARD; it was time to take a break. A recent move took my husband and I to Chicago – it was the best time to start my own company to provide flexibility for future moves and children, and checked the “passion box” for work. I wanted to share my knowledge and experience and provide others with better living through design and construction.

I provide design services all over the country with three projects in the Denver and surrounding areas. My community in Denver and the front range is strong after living there for 8 years. I’m blessed to be working in the area.

Since starting my company in 2023, I’ve consistently felt excited to do something I love that also increases others’ quality of life. When the client sees their new space, their face lights up with excitement and in turn brings me so much joy.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

As I’m sure most entrepreneurs would agree, it is not smooth. But I believe true entrepreneurs enjoy the bumpy ride; they know it will be rough and that excites them.

At the beginning I helped my sister with her new apartment in Minneapolis. That project became the ‘spark’ so to speak and that spark became a small flame when another project in my same apartment building came up. That flame became slightly bigger when a few more projects came into the pipeline. Once my friends, family, and their connections heard about my company, I did get a slew of inquiries and project starts. However, those are now come and gone and the last year I’ve really worked to market myself to keep projects forthcoming.

An inconsistent pipeline is one of the scariest thing to an entrepreneur. It an take many months of networking to get a project lead which may not turn into a viable project. The process can be taxing and frankly demoralizing. Best analogy to this is the game of golf. You can have a terrible front nine and never want to play again – then you get two birdies and play great on the back nine and that joy stays with you through the next set of challenging games. The game of golf resonates very well with owning your own company.

As you know, we’re big fans of Alpenrose Interior Design + Consulting. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?

Alpenrose Interior Design and Consulting is a residential design firm that specializes in renovations, virtual design, and project management. We prioritize function yet have aesthetics closely in tow. What makes us stand out compared to other design firms is that I have a background in construction which is a substantial advantage for a few reasons. First, if you’ve ever renovated a home, you open up a wall and there can be many surprises with structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. These surprises can change budget, schedule, and the overall design in seconds. With my construction experience, we can mitigate many of those issues and prepare the client of the remaining risks. Everyone feels more prepared and at ease as projects start and during the project as well.

Another benefit when working with Alpenrose is that we provide multiple services under one roof relieving the client of management of multiple trades. We design, source the architect and GC, procure all materials, and manage the project from start to finish. We are here to make your life easier.

Additional services include ‘renter renos’, a term I’ve coined. For this service, I redesign and decorate renter’s homes or apartments to help them feel at home and comfortable in their space. Many of our upgrades can be taken with the renter when they move to include light fixtures, wall decor, furniture, etc. We’ve been able to help many clients during tough phases of their lives and they are so appreciative of our work. They often have no idea living in a unique custom space would be so life changing and life enhancing.

The aspect I’m most proud of is our emphasis on doing things correctly. In the current DIY world, many homes have lost value due to poor quality work that will need to be replaced quickly. Alpenrose Design’s work will last for many years to come because we use good quality materials and have professionals install. Trust me, it is worth the money.

What was your favorite childhood memory?

It’s difficult to choose my favorite childhood memory but a predominate memory was walking though homes that were being framed. It was often a Sunday afternoon activity when our family went on walks. We would walk though homes and I would imagine what each room would look like and used for. My dad is an engineer but that is the closest family member to the construction and design world. I truly believe these walk-throughs sparked my interest in design starting around age 9.

A more innocent memory is eating ice cream on a hot summer’s day and jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler underneath to cool off.

Pricing:

• We bill hourly for our design work.

• We provide an hour estimate based on the project’s scope.

• We bill on a bi-weekly schedule to keep it easy and consistent.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alpenrose.design/

• Instagram: @alpenrose.design

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alpenrose-design-consulting