From Clothing Design to Home Remodels with 3 Tree Design House

In this episode of The ProSource Podcast, we sit down to chat with Rebecca Carlson, the owner and founder of 3 Tree Design House. We discuss Rebecca's unique journey from clothing design to home remodeling, the importance of community engagement, and the challenges homeowners face during renovations. Rebecca shares insights into her design process, the significance of education for her clients, and current trends in home design. The conversation also touches on advice for trade professionals and Rebecca's future goals for her business.

 

Check out 3 Tree Design House: https://3treedesignhouse.com/

 

Contact your local ProSource Wholesale showroom for all your home remodeling needs: http://bit.ly/3FqPjkw

What is The ProSource Podcast?

Creating a design concept for a kitchen or remodeling an outdated bathroom requires an understanding of the products and services available to those looking to undertake such a project. The ProSource Podcast breaks down the home remodeling industry and highlights the merchandise and experience that it requires to achieve your vision. Join ProSource Director of Digital Marketing Content Kevin Devine, as he speaks with those who facilitate the ideal project and offer valuable information for how to choose the ideal products and services that transform your ideas into reality.

Welcome back to The ProSource Podcast,
everybody.

Today I am joined by Rebecca Carlson.

She is the owner and founder of 3 Tree
Design House.

Thank you so much, Rebecca,
for joining me today.

Yeah, thank you for having me.

And this is really fun to be a part of,
I appreciate it.

Yes. And Rebecca is one of our trade
pro members.

And I just wanted to know,

how long have you been a trade pro
a member of ProSource?

I.. it's been a few years now. Yeah.

So for quite a long time.

Okay. Cool. Cool.

So today
we're just going to spend some time,

learning about your business, what you do,
and then we'll probably dabble

into some home remodeling trends
and fun things like that.

First, if you don't mind
just sharing, like, a brief overview

of your business,
what you do, who you serve.

Yeah.

So we're an interior
design and renovation business.

So I'm a designer
and a general contractor, so we can do

projects fully from start to finish.

And we also offer classes.

So we do a little bit where we help DIY
project plan and, you know,

give them tips and also even skills
training, to do work on their own home.

So that's kind of the part a little bit.

And yeah, that's, that's,
that's a little bit about what we do.

That's awesome.
I didn't know about the classes.

When did you start doing those?

That's actually a big part of you
know, the 3 Tree Design process.

So, we have our design phase,

which is our first tree,
our construction phase.

So roofing and finish.

That's our second tree.

And then our third Tree is really our way
of giving back

to the community and connecting.

So we don't charge a lot for the classes.

We do a lot of free, things.

And it's just kind of grown over time
into something that,

you know, is,
is a passion project for us for sure.

Now that's really cool.

I do like the concept of,
like the three separate trees,

then serving as three different pillars
of your business.

That's really cool.

Yeah, yeah.

Three sided, you know, structures,
our strongest structures.

And, we use a lot of trees and remodeling.

So that's kind of a, you know,
it's a little bit of an ode to that

because you got to respect
and try to not waste,

you know, where you can just remember
where it's all coming from.

So, so yeah, that's a little bit
about about that and then design House,

you know, it's kind of
we want to make sure that we emphasize

that is the initial part of the,
you know, process.

It's important to start with the plan.

That's super cool.

And I read on your website,
you have over ten years of experience

in design
and then over over eight in construction.

Can you share a little bit more
about your personal journey

in the design and remodeling industry,
and then maybe lean into,

like,
what led you to start your own business?

Yeah.

So I have kind of
a, you know, unique journey, to this.

So my, degree is in technical design.

So I started out basically
basically in clothing construction.

So that's where,
I started my design journey.

And my husband, Brian,
he started a handyman company.

He worked in maintenance for a long time.

So he knows really everything
there is about repairing a house.

I kind of started him.

Started with him, with that business.

I started the business, process.

So I learned how to start a business
through that,

even though it wasn't my own,
you know, business. Exactly.

And we didn't do a lot of design
at the time, but within about a year, I.

It's kind of funny
because I was working for

the biggest costume company in the world,
doing really fun designs,

like for the Star Wars
film characters and things like that.

And it was a really cool job.

But, it wasn't super, like gratifying.

You know, you don't get to see things
through to completion or,

you know, clothing is kind of a, you know,
you're kind of a cog in a machine.

So I joined, with him

and we just did
latent, like, handyman stuff

for at least a year or two, before
we went into remodeling and construction.

So I got the, you know, rough
kind of get your hands dirty.

Learning of construction,
learning to use a drill, learning

to install things, learning about a house,
how a toilet works,

all the, like, kind of basic stuff
that I never knew I wanted to learn. So,

yeah, I, I really

enjoy it, and, I didn't
I didn't get to do a lot of designing.

I was doing designing on the side
basically grew that over those ten years.

So I started out a little bit,

and then I was using Adobe Suite
because of my design background,

to try to draw blueprints,
which works as a vector.

And technically it was very difficult.

And I did that for a long time.

And then I got an architectural software
that I learned, and I got my GC license,

a few years ago on my own, because
I wanted to have a design based business.

I wanted it to be the focus.

So yeah, that's really cool.

That is very unique.

I don't know if I've heard of someone
going from like, clothing design

to home remodeling,
and that's that jump is pretty drastic.

But it also kind of works because you're
thinking about designing homes.

It's I mean, it's very different,
don't get me wrong.

But I'm sure a lot of the same, processes

kind of crossover, in terms of
just like having that creative eye

and just being very, I don't know,
like elaborate with functionality too.

That's the same as clothing.

You want it to be functional,
just like a house.

That's really cool.

And so when you started learning
all these elements

of remodeling a home, oh,
things that I don't know how to do either.

Was that process
super hard to jump into or.

I'm sure having your husband
helping you was

was also very beneficial,
but I'm interested to hear about that.

Yeah,
my husband is the son of two teachers,

so he is like a very,
very good teacher, very patient.

And so that's why we still continue
to do the classes too, because it really,

it means a lot to him as well
to, you know, get people to learn

how to do things the right way,
in a way that is safe for them

and especially for their home
and their investment.

So that that's what was nice for me.

And I know that not
everybody has that as an option.

It was hard for sure because we, you know,
we did things that were,

you know, we moved removed
hot tubs from the top balcony.

Do I learned to tile
which tiling is so much fun

and amazing, but like the most
exhausting days of my life.

So I feel like,

it was it was kind of like a polished
rock, you know what I mean?

Like, I was, I was in a rock polisher, and
I didn't really realize it at the time.

But I feel like,
you know, we're we're constantly becoming,

you know, more of the selves
that we want to be because we're put

into these pressure situations to kind of
give the best results for our clients.

So with our handyman business
had five stars.

This business
we're really we have five stars.

We're trying to maintain that
because we want

it's very small, large town that we live
in, the area that we live in.

And so having a good service is literally
everything for your business and,

and have a good,

good experience with your community
and give back in a, in a positive way.

Absolutely.

And I forgot to mention this earlier, but
you're out of Northern Colorado, right?

Yes, yes.

So anyone listening to that, I'm sorry.
Yeah.

No, that's my fault.

Also,
I meant to do that and enter introduction.

But if you're in the northern
Colorado area, if you're listening to this

and you need some expertise,
you have found the right place to retreat.

Design house.

Yeah.

Who said that? Yeah.

I also wanted to make a note, too,
about the the classes that you guys offer.

I bet it's very inspirational
to hear people learn about, like,

your story, how you, you know,
you knew nothing really about home

remodeling
and all of those technical details.

And now you are where you're at now
and you have your own business.

So, I imagine that's
even more inspirational for people

that are attending the classes and
your clients that are working with you.

I bet that's really cool.

Absolutely.

Because I definitely had the perspective,

like, there's no way I could ever
and especially I met my husband, I would

he would come home from work
and tell me about his day,

and I just feel like,
I don't know how you do, I really don't.

Yeah.

And then just kind of being thrown into it
at first, you know, it was just,

you know, it's obviously so different
now looking back on it.

But I think it does help people to know
that you can do it in a way

that, you know, you can gain
a lot of value in your investment.

Yes. And, and in your day to day life,
you don't have to live with.

Yeah.

You know, it's surroundings,

our surroundings
have a powerful effect on us over time.

So it's actually,

you know,
if you can't pay somebody to do it

all, you know, it's
nice to be able to have that option.

You know,

you learned a lot of the technical parts
of doing a home remodel, for example.

Do you do you feel like your husband
learned a lot about,

like the design process in return,
like home around you?

You guys kind of like swapped,
skill sets in a way.

Do you feel like that's the case?

Oh, absolutely. It's kind of funny.

We thought we would have our own lanes,
but really?

Yeah.

He has a great design.

I and really helps because.

And I think that's
what makes us more efficient

because we as we're coming up
with the design, we're thinking about,

okay, what how is this going to
stay working long term?

How is this going to be functional?

You know,
we do a lot of like layout changes.

We're working on one
for an upstairs primary.

And they have the trying
to move the laundry upstairs

because it's in the basement.

And then they have their kids rooms

and they're trying to make sure
it's not going to be too loud.

And then you have, you know,
making the bathroom bigger because it's

teeny and trying to fit all that
into kind of their upstairs space.

And it's really hard to do that

without being able to visualize it
and know all your code.

And and as a homeowner,
they want to do it themselves.

So they're going
to tackle a lot of the work.

But without a plan,

they end up wasting so much time and money
to get to that end result.

Not to say that they couldn't get there,
but I tried to save some hair pulling.

Like my mother is a big DIYer.

She's self-taught herself a lot
and what she does is great.

But my stepdad makes a joke like, we kind

of, you know, paid someone to do this
for cheaper.

Yeah, rather that not every project,
but some projects because,

you know,
sometimes she'll just have so much fun,

like changing her mind on this and that,
and then they end up spending a little bit

more money in the long run

because she is not sitting there
thinking about long term.

Factors or even just like a plan
on what she wants to do.

She's just like,
go, go, go, which a lot of DIY hours

I imagine are like that.

And they don't
they don't stop and like think.

And I'm sure you're very helpful
in that aspect.

It's like trying to do a puzzle
without the picture.

Yeah.

And potentially missing puzzle pieces
because you don't even know, like it's,

you know, it's just very, very difficult.

But I think people

that have the gumption to do it,
I respect that, cause obviously that's

how I got into this.

Yeah.

So, so yeah,

I think that's where we try to help people
because we most people are going to

if they're going to do it,
they're going to do it anyway.

And oh yeah, hopefully they can. Yeah.

You know, in a way that it lasts
and it doesn't, you know, we just asking

people time and money

that's kind of our after doing this
ten years, that's the best that we can,

the best
that we can offer. And renovation.

Are there any specific projects
that you guys specialize in more so.

Or do you have a personal favorite type of
space to design in the home?

For sure, yeah.

So I guess basements and kitchens
are kind of a close tie for me.

I like the challenge of the kitchen
because it's a lot of parts,

that go into it.

And typically something
where you have to rework the layout.

But basements are like a fresh blank
canvas.

No, not quite the same as a build, but

you get to really do a lot more.

When you're starting fresh with framing.

So I imagine

your kitchen would be much more difficult
to remodel than a basements.

Usually.

Not all the time,

but I'm picturing just like empty
people want to make it become alive.

When I think of basements as,
like just this empty space

they don't know what to do with,
do we want to put a bar down here,

or do we want to make it like a kids
area or, and then home theater?

And so I feel like the endless
possibilities are there with a basement,

with a kitchen,
you're like, working with stove and,

you know, plumbing and all of that,

which could be probably a headache,
but also a fun challenge as well.

It's a fun design challenge for like a GC
because you can,

you know, it's not just a picture.

It's not just making it look beautiful,
but the function of it.

Like,
I have a whole meeting with my clients

where we sit down and talk about
how do you use your kitchen,

what appliances, where do you put them,
do you like them on here?

I like them on the counter. Like,
do you want to drawers?

How many doors?

You know, it's important to get
so many details in such a small space.

If I was going to come to you and say,
you know, I want to remodel my kitchen,

let's just say, for example, could you
briefly walk me through the process

of what I would experience if I wanted
to start a project with you all?

Yeah.

So we typically start on the phone

with a quick call here about your project
and then, if you want to schedule

a initial consult on site, we do a free
30 minute review your project.

You can walk us through it.

We show you our software.

You know,
how we kind of help our other clients?

We have, like, video examples of our
renderings and how they've turned out.

So we go through some of that.

And then

if you want to book with us, we schedule
a measurement meeting that takes an hour

and a half to two hours
to get it into our blueprint CAD program.

And so you get like an initial concept
of your existing layout, no matter what,

as a part of the design and then we do
an initial concept from there.

Sometimes I do 2 or 3 layouts
depending on what we're trying to do.

And then once we get the preferred layout,
we basically do a review meeting.

So we go through the different layouts.

We talk about like don't like

and then we do a revision
and come to kind of a preferred layout.

Sometimes that takes a little bit
of a journey to get to that point.

But once we do,
we're kind of through the design phase

and we start to get bids
from subcontractors.

When we create a proposal
that's flat rate, not to exceed.

And then, we do a contract and we start up

that second treaty that, the roughing

and finish phase, which we divide
basically that into two portions.

And then after that you have a as a as
a warranty, as a resource going forward.

That initial phase you talked about right
before, like the official design process,

is that that's more so just you learning
what the client wants, right? Yep.

And what they're really wanting.

What they're going
to get the most out of the remodel

I yeah, like I could definitely
see that taking the longest.

So I'm sure a lot of people are like
I don't know.

Well.

And when we do the 3D so like you see it
because you think, okay,

I think I want it this way.

And then sometimes when you see that 3D
in the walkthrough, it's like,

oh, maybe that, you know,
we could do it a different way.

And, and, and I always try to do
like a devil's advocate layout.

So people ask me to do it a certain way.

Most of the time they're like,
draw it like this.

And I do every time.

And then I sit down and I'm like, okay,
how can I make this a little bit better

and give them just something
completely different

so that either they know
that their original design is the best one

or, you know, maybe there's something
that they didn't see at the beginning.

Do you have a favorite project

that you have worked on recently,
and why is it your favorite?

So we just finished a basement finish.

It was really, really fun and elaborate.

He, wanted to do,
you know, he wanted a bedroom downstairs

that he turned into a gym.

But his main, like, living space,
he didn't miss, like,

stone wall with built in TV
and multiple dry bars.

And then in the bathroom,
we did a steam shower with this just

gorgeous floating vanity and everything
that he picked was just very,

intentional.

He took his time with that process
and was really excited about it.

And so it looks very modern and up to date
and just a lot of really beautiful

textures that come together.

Yeah, that does sound very cool.

I want my house to look like that.

All my goals. Right.

So like he did some really cool
like pilot themed.

So like,
black and white old plane artwork.

But I don't know if that sounds
as cool as it, but it looks gorgeous.

No. Yeah.

So, yeah, it just turned out, you know,
it really came together well, so.

And he's adding himself into his home too,
which I think is

the coolest way to do it,

because it's not just looking
like a stock image or from a catalog.

You're adding a lot of your own

personality into the space, which is what
he did with with the plane pictures.

Maybe that's not for me, but it definitely
sounds like it is for him.

That's really cool.

Yeah. It was.

It's really well, we always tell people
to have at least one point that is,

you know, focal point
basically that is personal to them.

That's meaningful to them.

What are some of your favorite home

remodeling trends
that you are seeing right now in 2025?

Well,

I can't even believe it,

but I'm I'm getting asked to do
wallpaper again.

Wow, taking off
so much wallpaper in my house, I say

with our handyman company, just,

just thousand square feet of wallpaper.

But I am actually looking
at putting it back in.

And I really love the, boldness right now.

So there's, like, color
drenching and natural textures.

Like,
words are coming back a little bit more.

So I really I'm loving that.

Yeah. Wallpaper. Very interesting.

It's it's really cool to see old trends
come back around and you're probably like,

are you sure you want to put this back up,

or am I going to come back here
and tear it down in five years?

It's so funny because,
you know, when I was a kid growing up,

the neighbor that we had,

he was like the best wallpaper installer
in Fort Collins in our area.

And now as I'm scheduling these,
he is still the best

wallpaper in the area
and is like so overbooked.

It's it's amazing.

So, you know, it's funny
how things work out like this.

What is one of the biggest challenges
that you see homeowners face

when starting a remodel, and how have you
all helped those challenges?

So yeah, so
a lot of like the mystery of the unknown.

Like who do I hire?
How much is all this going to cost?

Like how do I make all these selections
and decisions if I don't know,

you know, what the prices
and what it's going to look like?

So we try to tackle that early on
and without charging a crazy amount,

you know, a lot of interior designers,
they have a pretty high,

minimum or percentage of the project.

And we try to do a low flat rate entry
to kind of get a good plan started.

Yeah.

And I imagine
that is probably what maybe scares people

the most about a home remodel.
Is that unknown?

And maybe they don't want to seem like
they don't know what they're walking into

because they're just a little insecure
about just not knowing.

Right.

And so I think it is important to work
with a company like, like Three Tree

Design House

or anyone that really has expertise on it
to make them feel like, okay,

you don't know these things and that's
okay, because that's what we're here for.

Because I could see, like, myself
being insecure about the fact, like,

oh, I don't know.

I like it's like doing taxes, right?

I don't know, I don't know
what's going on with my taxes.

So I'm getting an expert
to do my taxes for me.

People just kind of think of it
the same way as doing a home remodel.

If they really want the most out of it.

Yeah, absolutely.

Because like our some of our biggest
competitors, they have that kind of

it's almost an arrogance of like, yes,
you know, should you even be calling us?

Do you have enough money?

You know,
before you even get to that phase?

There's there's a lot of like of that
that we don't appreciate,

especially as, like a, you know,
we're younger business owner.

So, we understand that
we can't afford a massive remodel

to our home or new homebuyers, you know,
and so we really understand from a level

I know of most of our,
clients about just trying to,

be smart

with their, you know, remodel as possible,
so and realistic to.

Yeah.

The scariest thing is like, hey,
we have this budget,

we have this big investment

we're wanting to make, but like,
how do we guarantee that

either we're not going to go over
how do we, you know, plan it

to a way that we not we're not,
you know, terrified to to start.

So yeah.

What do you see is the most common reason
another trade pro would come

2 or 3 tree design house.

For your expertise in business.

Well, we work with a lot of,

subcontractors, especially because
we do this design process all apart.

So, like, we work with other agencies,
we work with,

just to give them a flat rate plan
like this.

So blueprints, a lot of contractors
don't want to have to go

through the process
of selecting materials.

But a homeowner,
sometimes it can be very trying,

especially if you can't show them
their selection

that that like indecision sets in
and they start to panic.

Am I making the wrong choice?

Because I can't see it, and I don't have
somebody who can really tell me this.

And a lot of contractors don't want
to have to tell somebody what to pick.

You know,
it puts you kind of in a tough position.

So so we take that role on for them.

And then, you know, we use a lot of good
technology and software

and we try to pass that information
along to other people that we know.

And in the business world,

try to make the industry, you know,
improve it as much as we can, you know.

So you said you've been with Prosource
for about like a few years now, right?

Yeah.

So you kind of have a good understanding
of, of how you collaborate with Prosource.

And it's it's interesting to me

because when I talk to trade
pros, it's always so different.

From business to

business trade
from member to trade pro member.

I could definitely see that.

Yeah.

Prosource offers so many, yeah.

Great services and resources.

For us, my husband found Prosource,

and told me about
and we had a small office showroom

at the time, and it was so hard for me
to get the brands in and compete

because our area, you know, it's
just it's hard for the small guys

to compete sometimes
and be able to show those samples that,

and we like to show them in our clients
homes anyway,

we don't really like to have a storefront.

And so Prosource
is kind of the perfect, thing that helped

keep our overhead down
and give our clients kind of this,

luxury service of picking their,

quality, you know, reputable materials.

And then in doing it
in a way that's a great partnership.

And it wasn't,

you know, I wasn't sure
until I went in and met with Melinda.

And she's just amazing
from the very beginning.

And so it was like,
just kind of a match from that point.

And we have our clients come in
and having us at the showroom,

you know, it just adds a lot depth
to our, our business with them.

It's really nice and convenient.

But what advice
would you give to other trade

professionals, business owners
that are looking to either,

start their business
or grow their business?

Lean in to connecting with your community
because that's something that

in construction,
you know, you get so busy,

it's really easy to put your head down
and like, focus on your client only,

but connecting with other contractors,
connecting with like, homes

versus network, like,

we've gotten so many connections
of other subcontractors through them.

So that

can help
just along with keeping your business,

you know, more consistent with volume
and all that.

Yeah.

I mean, I think the events
you guys hold are very smart

because it's like you're dipping
your toes into that community.

And that's not only helping your clients
learn more about the industry,

but it's also selfishly helping you guys
because word of mouth is everything.

Right. For a business.

And I know you're getting you're helping
both sides.

You're helping your clients,
but you're also helping her business.

I think that is a very smart thing

for businesses to do as little events
or free classes like that.

Reflexes are great, even just information.

Our Q&A is, you know, have a

yeah, you know, doing things where
you're just getting information out there.

Because a lot of people are afraid to ask.

It just makes you feel
it makes you think about things also.

So I think that's good to get more
feedback in these types of classes

and learn more about what people need,
and learn

more about what
people are wanting in their home, too.

So it's just it's
been really, really cool.

We really enjoy that aspect of it.

How do you see your business
growing in the next five years, and

do you have any exciting plans
or goals set in mind for three three?

Yeah, so hoping to grow,

our design and renovation
build side to do bigger projects.

We'd like to really focus
more on like the high end design

if we can, because our program
really allows you to reach

for the maximum, design
without being worried about,

you know, what, what is the cost
and how is this going to actually work?

So we would really like to do some bigger
projects as it relates to that.

And in the next five years,
we just we hope to grow with our team.

So we have a really wonderful team
of subcontractor

experts, and we have what
we call our recommender team.

So they're kind of our commission
based, contractors

that they make referral commission
by finding projects and connecting us.

And so having a bigger group of, of those

that are kind of
like our little birds out there,

you know, keeping their ears open
for people that need help.

It's kind of our, our plan right now.

Where can listeners
follow your work and learn

more about working with you all
if they're interested?

Well, we are on Instagram.

So our three tree design house,

and Facebook,

and we try to do construction
con every year.

We also just do these classes.

So if you're, if you follow us on
social media, we'll do announcements.

When we're doing,
you know, just our little pup classes,

you can also reach out to schedule
private quests.

For our website.

I have really appreciate you
joining me on today's episode.

It was really exciting and interesting to
hear about your journey in this industry.

It's very unique,

like I mentioned earlier,
and I also think, like

I mentioned, just very inspirational.

I think that if you're not born
into a family, that's what the home

remodeling industry and you just have like
a little bit of interest into it,

you can do it right.

With with enough, passion and hard work,
you can

maybe find yourself
opening up your own business like you did.

Yes, absolutely.

Definitely be empowered to to do it
because it's,

you know, it's
just step by step and learning.

So I really appreciate it.

Mollie, I appreciate you having me on
and your questions and I guess thank you.

Thank you for joining us today
on The ProSource Podcast.

Please like and subscribe to us
wherever you get your podcast.

Also follow us on social media,

check out our website
at prosourcewholesale.com, and visit

your local ProSource Wholesale showroom
for all of your home remodeling needs.