my New York friend

During school I did my official Interior Design internship in New York.  I was naive and young and didn't quite know what I was getting into.  I found myself living in Greenwich Village with 4 other friends from college, all of whom had landed various other internships themselves.  I can remember the morning commute on my first day of work like it was yesterday.  Was the best subway route really take me through Times Square and Grand Central Station every single day?  Was it really going to take me 45 minutes to get to work everyday?  Oh yes, it was.  Was I really going to be broke in NY, eating hotdogs for dinner every single night of the week?  Yes.  Was I going to be too exhausted to have fun?  Yes.  Was it going to all be worth it in the end?  Yes. 

I spent 3 days a week at Victoria Hagan Interiors and 2 days a week at Scalamandre.  I had lost sleep over these two jobs before I ever even darkened their doors.  I was offered both internships and desperately wanted them both... I didn't think it would hurt to ask for them to accommodate this request, so naively I did just that.  And to my surprise they complied. 

My first day on the job at Victoria Hagan I was the only intern.  I did what I figured most interns do, organized project work and ran errands.  My second day at this job I realized there were going to be two other interns... both students from New York School of Interior Design.  One a guy (whose name escapes me now), and the other a girl... Laura about my age.  The guy didn't last long, maybe 2 weeks.  Laura and I were left holding the torch, and realized early on we would become fast friends.  She had received her undergrad degree at Vanderbilt... our common-bond ties to the SEC made me feel a little more comfortable in the Big Apple.    

Laura and I spent many days running around and soaking in all the interior design 2 eager students possibly could.  We kept fresh flowers in the office, kept drinks in the fridge, made copies, re-organized the sample room, shopped a lot, went to the D&D more often than we cared to, and laughed a lot.  We snuck to Tasti D-lite as often as possible, this was pre-GPS... we didn't need GPS because we had every single one in the city memorized by address.  And incase you are thinking "oh that must be like a TCBY place or something"... no, TCBY ain't got nothin' on Tasti D-Lite. 

I remember a trip to Bed Bath & Beyond when we were sent out to purchase 40 down-filled pillows... a nice little adventure out of the office.  Or so we thought.  It wasn't until we got to the check-out line that we couldn't quite figure out how we were going to get those 40 pillows back to the office.  We stuffed them into 2 taxis... a sight to be seen for sure.

The point of my story: by the end of it all I had a new friend... who had experienced something with me that I knew would forever impact my life.

Laura Casey has since started her own design business too.  They have recently moved from New York to Charlotte, North Carolina.  She and her husband Tim have 2 little boys... and the point of this whole post... she's blogging now!  I think everyone needs to check her out: LAURA CASEY INTERIORS : BLOG 

  

Comments

[Ann - Hill Country House]

Loved your story of your time and adventures in NYC with your friend. My daughter is in college now (at Vanderbilt!) and looking towards study abroad, internships, etc. (I am not sure how I got this old - I think she was just 5 yesterday)What a great post - thank you!

[Laura Casey Interiors]

Thank you my sweet friend for posting about my business and blog. I had such a great time with you that summer and you are always an inspiration to me. I always am excited when there is a new blog post from you. Can't wait to bring my boys to see you all SOONER than later. WISH we could go get ice cream together...XO Laura

[Elizabeth]

I loved your story, Erika. It's always nice to see a person look back at the start of their dreams so fondly. It doesn't hurt that you made a great friend along the way! Btw, you are so on the money about Tasti D-Lite.

Now I'm going to check out Laura's website. Not only because you rec'd it, but because I'm a Charlotte girl myself! How cool!

Thanks again for sharing, and take care!

[Katie]

It was so fun to read about your interior design beginnings! I am an interior design student in MN and I will be graduating in May. I always love hearing designer's stories and how they started out! I would love to hear how you started your own business as well if you feel like sharing!

Thanks!

[Erynn]

Oh, how I do miss the Tasti-D! Thanks for sharing another great blog!!

[Paloma of La Dolce Vita]

Thanks for sharing your story, Erika. I really enjoyed it!

[Lauren]

I enjoyed reading this, I am a young inspiring interior designer currently living in the south. And I share your ties to SEC I played volleyball from the Crimson Tide for the past two years but have chose to focus my studies and work hard on breaking into the interior design industry. Do you have any tips or suggestions on making it? thanks !

[TheUpstart]

Oh, how I miss Tasti D-Lite! I HAVE to go whenever I'm in the city for work (I live in Virginia).

Picture this...a line of suit-clad professionals waiting in line for check in at a nice, mid-town hotel. One is scarfing down a big cone of fro-yo. That's me.

Anyway, thanks for sharing the link. My reader has yet another blog on it.

[taylor brown]

AMEN, about tasti!! nothing like it...

[we had it just about every day...along with a cupcake from magnolia. come to think of it i guess we survived on sugar during our stint in the city...]

[Joyce]

Isn't it wonderful how friendships begin? I will take a peak on over... Thanks for sharing.

How are you feeling?

xoxo

[paula]

how exciting! I love your story.

[velvet and linen]

Interning for Victoria Hagan must have been an incredible introduction to interior design. How wonderful to share that experience with a kindred spirit.
I am off to check out Laura's site. I'm sure it is wonderful.

xo
Brooke

[Allyson]

You're a great storyteller- it's crazy how it doesn't seem like you were in NY that long ago, but in someways it seems like forever ago.
Thanks so much for our dinner the other night!! Sorry to be moochers!

[ashley]

Your post today made me laugh out loud! I was also an intern at Victoria Hagan. One day another intern and I carried back 9 feather down comforters from Bloomingdales. We didn't have any cab money! I'm not sure how we made it back since we had to stop and readjust our possessions every 2 feet. Thanks for sharing your story, it brought back some great memories for me as well!

[Camila]

Great story. I actually found Laura's blog a couple of weeks ago and feel in love. Then she mentioned to me that you two knew each other. I love this blog world.

[alice]

Thats so wonderful that you have kept in touch since your days as interns!
I did my internshipin NYC too (and a friend of mine was at Victoria Hagan!)and remember having to transport a huge custom lampshade to a showhouse... you would have thought it was a life or death situation with how stressful that commute was between the crowded streets and taxis!
I can't imagine if I had had 40 of them like your pillows!

[Canvas Prints]

Hi! I enjoyed reading your post, great work! You learned a lot, gained friends, met acquaintances, had adventures, and ended up all the more a better person.

[Lindsay]

I have a Tasti Delight 4 minutes from my house but I've never been! I'll have to go now. You're also welcome to come and join me any time!

[no.35style]

what an incredible life experience for you! i have not had a tasti delight...hmm, will have to try it next time i'm in nyc...i have had a cupcake, or two from magnolia, though..so good and such a cute little shop.

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[Patio Doors]

Thanks for the post. Keep the great work.

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