Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Francis.
Hi Nicole, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Thank you for having me! I’m so excited to be here! Yes, I’m a born and raised Utahan and have lived in Utah County most of my life. I met my husband, Michael, in 2012 through mutual friends and we clicked immediately. We are each other’s opposites, which makes him the calm to my crazy. I received my Elementary Education degree in 2017.
While going to school, Michael and I built a builder-grade house, and my love for do-it-yourself projects, decorating, and design emerged. During that time, I taught for two years as a fourth-grade teacher at a local elementary school before leaving to start my next adventure as a Stay at Home Momma.
In 2018, Little Miss made her grand entrance and we quickly realized that we were bursting at the seams of our house when we brought her home. Having our dog, cat, and lots of baby paraphernalia made our small house feel even smaller. We started looking for our next “Home Sweet Home” and we quickly realized that what we wanted, we wouldn’t be able to get in our area.
So since we tackled small-scale projects for our last builder-grade home, we decided to do it again, just on a much BIGGER scale, and with that 1776 Faux Farmhouse started! I have been so fortunate to be able to show others that a home is what YOU make it and that just because you have a builder-grade home doesn’t mean it can’t be custom-made. With my husband and littles in tow, I’m showing everyone that with a little elbow grease and hard work your home can become custom-made one project at a time!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Once my passion for DIYing emerged, it has always been my “me time” since entering the world of mamahood. You do have to take care of yourself to take care of others, and designing and transforming my home has become the self-care system that I needed. However, taking on social media isn’t always easy, especially with changing algorithms and adding another addition to our crew, Little Man.
However, I’ve learned so much about myself throughout this process. I love that I have built a community where inspiration is expressed and reality is shared. It hasn’t always been easy putting myself, my family, and my home out there for the world to see, but looking back, I wouldn’t change anything.
I’m glad I decided to document our crazy journey of making our house into our home because it has made me a better mom, wife, and person. Even though it was scary to put myself out there for the entire world to see, I’m glad I made that leap because it’s taken me places I NEVER thought I would go!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve always said that I am a mama by day and a DIYer by night! But instead of hiding my creativity, aka my projects, now everyone can see! It’s fun to create content specifically for brands because they want to have my home be their product feature.
Knowing that a brand trusts me to display their product in my home that my husband and I have transformed with our own two hands feels pretty surreal. These projects have strengthened our family unit and have made us a literal team.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I could write an entire novel on this aspect alone. It is so hard to find where you “fit” so to speak on social platforms. I would start by taking a few basic courses on each social platform that you are wanting to try and really focus your efforts on two to three of those platforms.
There literally isn’t enough time in the day to give each platform 100% of your efforts, but giving one or two your full concentration at the beginning is imperative. Once you have your chosen platforms, then do your research on people within your niche so that you can find a community in which you can begin to network, this allows you to really find reliable people within your specific niche to help you grow.
Once you start building that network, your community will happen and friendships will emerge. Some of my closest friends I have made from starting my social accounts, so don’t be afraid to reach out and build those connections.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1776fauxfarmhouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1776fauxfarmhouse/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1776fauxfarmhouse
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVLfRm0RnsGNqYGzjPmK2eg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@1776fauxfarmhouse?lang=en
Image Credits
Nicole Francis (@1776fauxfarmhouse)
