Cindy Aplanalp.... By Design Interiors

Meet Erika

Hi there! My name is Erika Barczak and I am one of Cindy Aplanalp's assistants and the newest member to By Design Interiors family. On January 4th, I packed my stuff into a U-Haul trailer and drove the 1400 miles from Michigan to Texas. After interning for BDI in 2008, I prayed and hoped and crossed my fingers that BDI would hire me after I graduated. 

In May ‘09, I graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. While attending WSU, I studied interior design (after changing my major a few times) and I dove for WSU’s swimming and diving team. 

At the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2009, my last diving meet of my career.

While By Design has just begun to explore the blogosphere…I have been blogging since my 3-month backpacking trip around Europe. It began as a way to journal my trip and I continue to give a little of myself to the world every few days.

Starting top left and going clockwise: 1. Sacre Coeur in Paris, France 2. Leaning tower of Pisa in Pisa, Italy 3. Canyoning in Interlaken, Switzerland 4. Watching the Tour de France in Montplelier, France 5. Sunny day in Positano, Italy

Every second of the trip was an amazing adventure and I am saving every penny I earn to do it again. I swam in the Mediterranean while the full moon was rising. I climbed Mount Vesuvius then ran all the way down in sandals. I got to see Leonardo’s Last Supper and take bike rides around wine country. But the most amazing part of the trip was Couchsurfing….it’s just what it sounds like….staying on random peoples’ couches all over the world! It made me see that there are wonderful people all over the world and that it doesn’t take more than a glass of wine a big smile to get to know someone. 

Touring Marseille, France with Couchsurfing hosts.

Since I was four, I have been beading and making jewelry and that passion has continued and grown throughout the past 20 years. I love Ramon noodles and could easily eat sushi everyday for the rest of my life. I am a little bit too obsessed with Christmas music and elephants. I make my bed everyday before I leave the house and I am still waiting to pick out just the right cowgirl boots.

As far as designing goes, I love finding inspiration in the little things – a mirror, a trinket, a photograph, or even a flower. Every item means something to someone and there is always a perfect spot for it in a home or other interior. I also love color – bold, sensuous, calming, airy, intense, sexy, funky, bright – whether a little or a lot, color changes everything. Most importantly, I feel that people spend so much time indoors, why not make the most appealing, beautiful, and enjoyable environments possible. 

A few of my designs.

I whole-heartedly believe that a person’s happiness entirely depends on that person. You create your happiness. So, do what makes you happy!

-Erika