Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison + Aaron Gibbs
Hi Allison + Aaron , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Nearly every square inch of our home was designed with one objective in mind: hospitality. Benches instead of chairs to fit more people. A sectional instead of singular couches. Open concept, tons of parking, and an open-door policy. We’ve attempted to tastefully squeeze as many beds as we could fit into our 4-bedroom ranch (2 bunk beds and a guest bed, 2 twin beds and king). A yard packed with endless activities and, not one but two, outdoor living spaces. All of the colors, artwork, and design choices were carefully curated in hopes that all guests might feel at ease, more like family than visitors. As a kid my (Allison’s) home was broken, and I craved a space like the one we’re trying to create. Alternativity Aaron’s childhood home was a cornerstone of community gatherings. For both of these reasons, for all 9 years of our marriage, we have remained fixated (dare I say obsessed) with the idea of creating spaces of rest and gathering for others. We are passionate about offering nourishment through conversation and a good meal. We live with a constantly packed dishwasher, stocked pantry, and even a basement with full-time renters. (Yes, I know we’re crazy.) During the 8 years that Aaron was a high school teacher, and I was home with our 3 little children, we have spent the majority of our evenings hosting meals, building projects, and/or attempting to make meaningful connection with our own small family.
In the fall of 2022 Aaron & I began to feel a shift in our hearts and a growing desire to see our neighbors and friends find the kind of rest and security we’d found through our faith during an extraordinarily difficult medical season with our oldest son and the loss of my father. We decided that Aaron would leave his teaching position & we would become full-time house-church planters in our city, hosting spiritual conversations in our home weekly along with regular parties and hangouts. We decided that, to supplement our income, I would design unique porch swings and Aaron would build them. I have been passionate about and studied design since I was a small child and Aaron had become quite skilled with woodworking and handyman skills throughout our marriage, thanks to YouTube and some incredible mentors. So, we took a risk… Aaron quit his job, and we began to dive more deeply into a dream that we’ve had our entire lives, separately and together. It’s really an indescribably rich thing to feel like you’re confident and excited about your life’s purpose and, furthermore, helping to enrich the lives of others. However, it didn’t play out exactly as we’d planned…
Pretty quickly after quitting his job, (maybe even days after) we found out that our pipeline for house church training wouldn’t be available. We didn’t want to go rogue and become isolated church-planters without accountability so, after lots of prayer and seeking advice, we made the bold choice to pursue our business, Gibbs House Design, full-force. I am chiefly in charge of design and marketing from our guest-room office. Aaron oversees all construction and a large portion of administration from our backyard workshop. Within the first 8 months we have been featured in 6 publications, sold over 50 swings, and hired 2 employees! It’s been a wild ride!
People ask us often, “So why porch swings?’ and the answer is rather simple. In an era defined by hyper speed and synthetic connection, people are desperately seeking an opportunity to slow down and find a sanctuary to escape from their busy lives. As we’ve read books like John Mark Comer’s “Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,” we began to realize that much of the remedy people are seeking for their anxiety, depression, and dissatisfaction can be found in quiet places, in solitude, and in raw connection with those they love most. Trips to Target & expensive vacations haven’t been cutting it for most of my friends so… why not emulate our values through a beautiful, fine piece of furniture that you can find in your own home, away from the dishes and to-dos, for a glass of wine, chapter book with your kids, or even the best nap you’ve ever had.
To be clear: We live nowhere near Norcross; that’s just the closest neighborhood you gave us to choose from 🙂 We live in Athens.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We cannot believe that we’ve been featured at a Showhouse, already hired employees, are outgrowing our workshop, and that magazines are calling us each month! Our customers and support system have been an absolute dream! I think Aaron carries the majority of the business on his back, which is, of course, a lot of pressure. Navigating full-time work with babies nipping at our heels is infinitely more challenging than expected as a mom and pursuing a dream together as a couple is both uniting and divisive at times. It’s a new frontier to not have summer’s off anymore (gah!), for our date nights to often involve work chatter, and to navigate new challenges as the business continually evolves. Overall… the road has been hard work but very exciting, as well.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Gibbs House Design specializes in unique, fine porch bed-swings, thoughtfully designed & built by husband-and-wife team, Aaron & Allison Gibbs of Athens, GA. We are forward thinking, modern-leaning designers who hope to be known for quality swings and outstanding customer service. Gibbs House swings are a sophisticated take on a multi-generational piece of furniture, intended for finding sabbath rest or connecting with those you love most.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
We were not around then 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.GibbsHouseDesign.com
- Instagram: @GibbsHouseDesign
- Facebook: @GibbsHouseDesign
Image Credits
David Cannon Architectual
