Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Michelle Platt-Baker.
Aaron Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey has been a little winding, but I think it has made me a better designer. I received my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Atlanta in 2009. Upon completing my degree, I pursued a specialization in hard surfaces. I worked directly with clients designing the spaces of their dreams. I also assisted architects and designers to better understand the strengths and limitations of the materials they were specifying.
In 2014, I began pursuing my Master’s Degree in Architecture at Southern Polytechnic State University. While gaining a specialty in acoustic design, I was honing my skills as an interior designer with Coyle-Thompson-Jones. I aided in the designs of corporate office spaces and strengthened my drafting and field measure skills.
Upon graduation, my path changed in a way I didn’t anticipate. I was able to bring all of the skills I had acquired over the years and apply them. I became a member of the Habitations, LLC team. I must admit, the transition surprised me the most. I was convinced I wanted to take my design knowledge in another direction, but I fell in love with the residential design. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges each project presented. Beyond the joy in completing a puzzle, I was afforded the opportunity to help make people’s dream homes come to fruition. I have been with the company for three years now and I will never look back. This is where I belong.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is never a smooth road. I think that is the biggest lesson I learned- one that I think all people need to recognize. Nothing comes easily, but that doesn’t mean you are on the wrong path. My road was difficult. I had jobs that didn’t fulfill me. I had jobs that I wasn’t a good fit for. But they were all a part of the journey that molded me into the woman I am today. Even the struggles, the experiences that weren’t positive, got me to where I wanted to be. The fight is worth it. The struggles are not in vain. Keep pursuing your dreams, even when they feel a lifetime away. You will never lose if you keep working toward it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Habitations, LLC – what should we know?
We are residential designers at Habitations, LLC. We specialize in renovation and retrofit design. Essentially, our clients come to us with a home that they love. They adore the neighborhood and their commute, but the home itself is a little too small or has some other limitation. That’s where we come in. We can create additions, second stories, or reconfigure the interior to make the home more efficient. We find the dream home within the existing structure.
I am most proud of our desire to retain as much of the original home as possible. We believe that it is the utmost form of recycling. The home that stands on the property doesn’t only represent the materials that are used within its composition, but the labor of the individuals that built it. The history of the neighborhood. We can retain that history and build upon it. We can preserve the original home, incorporating it into the evolution.
I think what sets us apart from others is our approach. We are a family business. My father and I work very hard to create an environment of trust with our clients. We love what we do and our clients are immensely important to us. We work very hard while also infusing humor into everything we do. Our goal is to make the process as fun for our clients as it is for us.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
Women are incredibly strong. I think we lose sight of that sometimes. But we are tenacious. We can work beyond the opposition many of us have faced at some point or another in our lives. Though roadblocks are presented, we find a way around them. We continue to move forward. That makes us suited for anything that comes our way.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1954 Airport Road
Suite 218
Atlanta, Georgia 30341 - Website: www.habitationsllc.com
- Phone: 470.395.5115
- Email: AMBaker@habitationsllc.com
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