Meet Candice Luter | Owner and Lead Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Candice Luter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Candice, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
The most important decision and investment I made was to ask for the right kind of help. It truly takes a team (sometimes a village) to run any successful business no matter the size. Once I opened my eyes to how much better my company could run with the right help in various areas, we were able to grow and expand in ways that I didn’t think were possible. Starting out by sub-contracting on as needed basis was the best way to get started, that way I wouldn’t have to commit for the long haul just in case the workload was varied. As I continued to scale it was much easier to see gaps in the business that needed filling or areas that I could cross train current sub-contractors to be able to take on more work. More things off of my plate means better visibility for the business overall and that is worth investing in.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In 2014 I began creating one-of-a-kind furniture and home decor designs from my home studio. This hobby continued to build momentum and reached a tipping point during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being laid off from my full-time job, I launched Candice Luter Art + Interiors and jumped in with both feet full time. Influenced by my travels, family, and life experiences, I enjoy blending mid-century modern, art deco and minimalist styles to create both residential and commercial artwork. Today, I’m proud to have work commissioned for major retailers and hotel chains all over the country.

If I can do it, anyone can. I was a financially struggling single mother that dreamed of life outside of corporate America and I made that happen little by little. I’m so proud of the work that my team and I do every single day and the community that supports our growth. I’ve learned to lean onto others for help and to allow them to stand in the gap for me when I feel like giving up. I’ve learned to show myself alot of grace because being a small business owner is HARD WORK and I’m not always up to the challenge. That is normal. Cutting myself slack on my bad days and celebrating the wins (both big and small) with the team helps to balance the workload and the stress out. We are a hardworking small company of women in the Midwest that are always up for the challenge. We are taking ground and will continue to place our city and our company on the map. Watch out world, here we come!

in 2021 she was the global grand prize winner of Etsy’s Design Awards and had the opportunity to design a home decor collection for Target as part of Black History Month which sold out in over 800 stores. She continues to add to her collections with major retailers such as West Elm, Bloomingdales, All Modern, Perigold, Lulu and Georgia, and Wayfair. Candice Luter maintains and continues to grow her Midwest studio specializing in freelance design and small batch manufacturing of custom furniture and home décor.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If someone were to visit my area I would definitely take them to the New Bohemia and Czech Village district scene. We have alot of Czech history here and for that reason, have two eclectic little districts that are full of heritage, wall murals, and fun little bars and boutiques to shop in. No chain restaurants or stores, all small businesses with people who are active in our community to make it a better place. After a day or two of shopping and eating, I would then suggest the outdoor amphitheater downtown right by the water to grab a few drinks and catch the next band in town!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Besides giving credit to God, the next shoutout would be to my team. They support the work that I do day in and day out. We are essentially a small batch manufacture and without them, the business just wouldn’t be running today. With my business scaling so quickly I needed hands (good and reliable hands) to be able to jump in and learn the ropes of production, shipping, and operations. I have the best team and truly cherish them as sisters and friends. Any award goes into the hard work that they put in day in and day out!

Website: https://candiceluter.com

Instagram: candiceluter

Linkedin: Candice Luter

Image Credits
Dan Rolling Photography