Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Bahena.
Hi Vanessa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an LA native who grew up surrounded by beautiful street art, a mix of cultures and the hustle and bustle of the city. Since I was a little girl, I found myself itching to create art whether it was through paint, costuming, makeup or interior design.
I attended an arts high school where I discovered my love to stage design and textiles and I realized that creating was the perfect way to release a lot of the stress I was experiencing in life.
At the time, my mother was entering hospice care after a ten years cancer diagnosis. Keeping my hands busy with art gave me an outlet for the grief I was experiencing. It was a huge lesson that deep sadness and joy can exist at the same time.
My mother’s death impacted my small family more than we could have anticipated. There was a lot of food and financial insecurity that followed. These moments encouraged me to be resourceful – when it felt like I had nothing, I knew my creativity was something I could rely on for joy. I would constantly rearrange my bedroom and living room and looking back I realize it was my attempt to be beautiful and control some aspects of my life.
Today, I dedicate myself to teaching others how to love the space they are in regardless of whether they rent or own their home. I share educational DIY content, home hacks and decor tips because I know there is power in making your home your favorite place.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the challenges of being a Home and Lifestyle creator is the lack of representation in the home industry. I grew up seeing interior styles that lacked representations of my culture – textiles, authentic recipes, art, bold color – so much of where I come from is stripped from the magazines and TV shows available to the public.
Not seeing yourself reflected in a space you really love can leave you feeling like you need to adjust to the trends of the industry even if they are not true to you. You can feel like your efforts are not enough.
I want to reassure my community that they are enough, that the “quirks” of our style and traditions deserve to be seen even if they are immediately palatable. If there is no room at the table for us – we need to (literally) build our own.
There is an added element in being a woman sharing home renovation skills that require the use of power tools or machinery. Sure it can be intimidating to step into a male-dominated space – but it’s worth it! The feeling that can come from building something from scratch, repairing plumbing or replacing flooring is empowering.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Home and Lifestyle creator sharing DIY and design content that helps others improve and beautify their home spaces. I teach my community how to tackle large renovation projects, from ceiling to floor, small inexpensive ways to update your home.
I’m not afraid to learn as I go and do things unconventionally. Whether it’s a new power tool or woodworking technique, we’re going to try it all and we’re not going to get discouraged at a learning curve.
My community always loves to see me pick paint colors for a new project because they know a very satisfying paint peel is right around the corner.
Being invited by our First Lady Jill Biden to help decorate the White House for the holidays is one of my proudest moments. As a child of immigrants and woman of color, it was surreal being recognized for doing the thing that brings me joy. I had the opportunity to browse the White House archives and decorate the State Dining Room with Christmas trees, DIY decor and beautiful florals. I hope that seeing this journey encourages my community to go after what they love, even if it’s scary or unconventional.
What does success mean to you?
Success is hearing “you inspired me to try [insert project here] even if I hadn’t done it before ”. Bringing inspiration to my community means the world to me.
On other days, success having the freedom to chase joy without compromising my financial stability. I recognize the privilege of being a content creator and I think it’s important to paint an honest picture of how content creation is a business.
I’ve experienced a lot of loss is life, losing both of my parents has taught me that our last day can be anyway so I try not to see success as a destination but rather as an ongoing journey worth slowing down for.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.firstgenhouse.com
- Instagram: @firstgenhouse
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGAComqbCSH_US9lx2WYQbw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@firstgenhouse
