In the heart of downtown Spring Hope, Nikki Pridgen has turned her passion for creativity into a thriving small business, Pridgensfarmhouse. What began as a love for DIY projects at home has blossomed into a charming store filled with handpicked goods, custom creations, and a welcoming community spirit. In this Q&A, Nikki shares her journey from crafting for fun to running her own business, the inspiration behind her designs, and the joys and challenges of being a small-town entrepreneur.

“What inspired you to get started?”

Everyone has a dream right? Owning my own business has been a DREAM of mine for a very long time, I was just too scared to make the jump. I was raised and taught the entrepreneurial lifestyle at a very young age by my grandma- who ran her own craft business for over 20+ years. I spent most of my childhood years in my grandma's craft shop. She made & sold grapevine wreaths, did weddings for people, tied bows for customers who wanted or needed, and she even painted & stained wooden furniture pieces that she bought from a local woodworker to resell in her craft shop.

I also loved going thrifting with my grandpa or what he called it “galavantin”.. he had an eye for finding things people would throw away or would not want anymore, and he saw another purpose in it. That is where the magic and inspiration began. The moment my grandma gave me a paint brush and taught me how to paint/stain furniture, and my grandpa teaching me that things can be repurposed.’

Into my teenage years, I was always crafting and doing DIY projects of my own. From teaching myself as I go how to use different types of power tools, to familiarizing myself and getting comfortable with using them. I even remodeled my first home in my early 20’s. My Daddy and my husband are also an inspiration for my business. I have the building gene in me from daddy and my husband loves to help me create my designs that I sketch out. It’s the process of building something from a sketch, and giving new life to something old and forgotten that sets my soul on fire!

“What is your background in interior design?”

I would say I am self taught when it comes to interior design. I have always had an eye for design, colors, and a love for staging rooms and creating cozy, comfortable spaces. That’s where refurbishing furniture comes in and brings the entire process together. My design process usually starts with a consultation, I like to meet with clients, and get to know them and their goals for the space. Once I understand what they're looking for, I work on a concept by creating a mood board with images, colors, and materials that reflect the client's vision. I then develop the vision board, and start picking out furniture, fixtures, and finishes. Throughout the process, I work closely with clients to get their feedback and make sure they're happy with the direction of the design. I have worked with so many clients throughout the years creating comfortable, functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing rooms, whether it be a remodel project or even a new home build. I joke that one day maybe HGTV will want to make a show with me!

I will say I am more drawn to the Modern Farmhouse style. If I could describe that for you- it would be harnessing country elements with a contemporary spin, clean lines, neutral color palettes, layered textures, and natural materials to create a timeless look bursting with character, although I do think it's important to mix different styles to create a space that's interesting and reflects your personality/taste.

“What's your favorite project you've ever done?”

To pick one favorite project is super hard to do. I have quite a few actually, with NUMBER ONE being my business! I renovated my shop from the ground up, literally. From the epoxy floors, to the board and batten walls, to painting every inch of the space, and designing/building my farmhouse wood beams with recessed lighting to complete the aesthetic feel I wanted for my customers. I renovated this space in 4 weeks, all while working my full time job, and quit the weekend before my grand opening! My business is so much more than a building, it’s a labor of love, and everything I have in me is put into it! My second favorite project would be creating a faux fireplace in my place of business saving and using my grandma's mantle out of her craft shop. I remember dusting it and decorating it for Christmas with garland as a little girl. Now it’s in my shop and I get to decorate it every day as I wish, with memories of my childhood with grandma.

A third favorite project would be fully designing a nursery from the ground up for a friend/co-worker of mine that I worked with at my previous job, before going into business for myself. The nursery was for her first child, and it was such a special project to be able to bring her vision to life. It was a Tuscany Texas theme, since my client was originally from Texas.

The design included burnt orange and refurbished, thrifted furniture, painted in antique white with black hardware. Finally, a light wood tone for the board and batten accent wall, also featuring a custom bookshelf for all the baby books. Lastly, it wouldn’t be complete without a real cowhide rug FROM Texas! They were all such fun and rewarding projects!

“What's your favorite thing about being in this business?”

My absolute favorite thing is building that friendship/trust bond with my customers when they walk through my doors, and also clients when it comes to design work. You are always greeted with a “Hey Y’all!” as soon as you walk in. When it comes to design, I understand that the design process can be overwhelming, so I take the time to listen to what they're looking for and explain the options available to them. I also keep them updated throughout the process, so that there are no surprises. 

Clients and customers like to watch my stories on Instagram and Facebook to watch the process of furniture transforming into the end result once I am done. As a result, my clients feel confident and involved in the design!

“What made you choose Spring Hope for your storefront?”

Spring Hope is my HOME. I grew up just outside of Spring Hope, but I always loved riding through downtown Spring Hope and looking at the shops. It’s where I started years ago, with a little vendor booth selling my refurbished furniture. Here’s a little history for you — Michael’s Showside Grill expanded years ago to include a lounge bar area. Before he did this, the space used to be a marketplace with a bunch of vendors inside, and each of us had booths with knick knacks/crafts we would sell. Now if you’ve never been to Pridgensfarmhouse, you would not know that my business shares the same wall as the lounge/bar area of Showside. Here is where the full circle moment comes in- Pridgensfarmhouse is now on the other side of the wall from where I first started out as a booth vendor! Everyday, I’m reminded of where I started. My business is my whole heart, and I have such pride in it. I am grateful to be able to provide a designer furniture store, home decor and gift shop, and interior design services for my community of Spring Hope!

“What exactly does your store carry?”

Pridgensfarmhouse carries such a variety of things! PFH houses 6 other women-owned, small business vendors inside. From refurbished modern farmhouse furniture by myself, throw pillows, table linens (such as table runners, placemats, napkin rings, dinner napkins), charcuterie boards and all the accessories, farmhouse home decor, rugs, handmade items (such artisanal soaps), handmade pottery from a local potter, natural, handcrafted holistic products, handmade crafts, handmade local candles, and handmade room & linen sprays, along with fragrance oils made by PFH (myself). It is truly a one-stop, unique gift shop!

“Any advice to an entrepreneur that's just starting out?”

I would tell them to DO IT! Follow your dream, do what you feel in your heart, and go for it. Go all in and learn as you go. Life is short, and you are never too old or young to take a shot at a business idea. Starting a business isn’t all that difficult, sustaining one is the hard part! BUT, you can do it with dedication, determination and commitment! I have found that simply having someone send you encouragement and saying how proud they are of you, or be there to celebrate a win (both big and small), can fuel your fire to keep pushing for bigger goals!

Visit Pridgensfarmhouse at 108 N Pine Street in Spring Hope Wednesday-Friday 10am-6pm, and Saturday from 10am-2pm.