One Year, One Big Leap, Endless Gratitude. Happy 4th of July!

I Did It Scared. No Plan B. All in as Family.

One year ago today, on the Fourth of July, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life.

I walked away from a career that had shaped me for over 15 years and stepped into something far less certain, but far more aligned with the life I wanted to build.

I chose creativity.

I chose flexibility.

I chose our family as they are littles.

I chose to trust my heart.

And if I'm being honest... I wasn't fearless. I did it scared.

But maybe this story didn't really begin a year ago.

It quietly started back in 2022.

While still working full-time, I enrolled in Interior Design school because I couldn't ignore the feeling that something inside me wanted more. For our graduation project, we had to create an imaginary design studio—our services, pricing, branding, everything.

I couldn't help myself.

I built a real website.

A real services guide.

And before I had even graduated...

...someone booked me.

That one "yes" changed everything.

Later that year, our Santa Rosa Beach project was featured in Real Simple. Standing there—very pregnant with Leo, watching my very first professional photoshoot- I remember thinking:

"What is really happening?"

Little by little, dream by dream, it did.

Then came another leap of faith.

While Alper was in between jobs, I asked him to consider joining me as a client wanted help with all procurement & install. I was not able to do it, and honestly, it is his talent: project management, event management.

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What started as my dream quietly became our dream.

Today, Design & Curations is no longer just me. It's a growing team creating homes we deeply care about—and none of it would have happened without the people reading this email.

To our clients...

Thank you for trusting us with your homes, your stories, and some of life's biggest moments. It brings me the BIGGEST joy to see you enjoy your spaces.

To everyone who reads these emails, shares our work, leaves a kind comment, refers a friend, or simply cheers us on from afar... Thank you.

You have no idea how much your encouragement has carried us through the moments of doubt.

To our families and friends... Thank you for believing long before this dream looked like it could actually work.

To our incredible team—Samantha, Alexis, Rachael, and Savannah... Thank you for believing in a vision that once existed only in my imagination. Watching each of you become part of this journey has been one of the greatest gifts.

And to Alper... Thank you for believing in me before I fully believed in myself.

Thank you for leaping with me. For standing beside me through every late night, every risk, every celebration, and every uncertain moment. You helped build it.

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This past year has reminded me that building a business isn't really about building a business.

It's about building a life that feels true.

One filled with purpose.

Creativity.

Family.

And people who make the journey worthwhile.

So today, while many celebrate freedom, I'm quietly celebrating something else too.

The freedom to choose the life that felt right at this season of my life. Thank you for being part of that choice.

I'm so grateful you're here.

Happy Fourth of July.

With all my gratitude,

xo,

Burcu.