Thrive + Inspire: ‘No Room for Fear’ at Aplanap’s Chairma Design

Thrive + Inspire: ‘No Room for Fear’ at Aplanap’s Chairma Design

AN INTERVIEW WITH Cindy Aplanap, owner of Chairma Design

What's your 2021 'Word of the Year'? Thrive! Last year I learned a lot about myself, my business, the character of my team and our ability to really contribute to the lives of our clients and the design/build community. This year we are teed up to thrive!


What is the greatest lesson you learned in 2020? That the emotion of LOVE is the most powerful force in the universe. Where love dwells, there is simply no room for fear. 2020 taught me to really lean into love and not allow fear to have any place in my business or personal life.

What do people not know about you? That I purposely do something hard, scary or uncomfortable every single day so that I can just get over it and get on with it! This willingness to grow has opened some amazing doors for me both personally and professionally.

What is the most rewarding part of your career? My firm's consistent ability to take a client's intentions and dreams, and create the space for those deepest, those most meaningful and personal desires, to come to life. This is the energy behind all we create.

What sets you apart in your industry? Chairma's amazing sense of team. One of our superpowers is our ability to attract the best people, with the greatest talents and then know how to get out of their way! Architects, builders, artisans, vendors, workrooms, movers, installers, and so many more — we really seek out the talents and passions of others and then stand back and let them make their contribution by doing their thing!

Anything else? Being transparent. It's there in all the ways we work, from how we design, to how we connect with our teams, and how we relate to our clients. Our All In Cost Blueprint is unique, and honestly it reflects the way I'd like to be treated: very up-front … from the beginning and all the way through!

What makes you optimistic about the future of your business in 2021? The emotion of home. This energy is showing up so powerfully and I think it's because people are home so much now. We used to be able to get away from each other and our lives, but that's changed over the course of last year, so now the home space is even more important than it's ever been. I see such a beautiful connection between how we view the preciousness of our life, and having the awareness that we want to spend it in a beautiful and meaningful home with those we love. This not only delights me, but also causes me to feel super optimistic — after all, I am in the Business of Home!

People + Places
Cool for ‘Schools’! CIS Wants to Transport You to a Whimsical ‘Wonderland’ at Milestone Gala

CIS 2024 Gala Honorary Co-Chair Judy Tate, Co-Chair Lauren Brollier, Co-Chair Cassie Milam, Honorary Co-Chair Kirby McCool

WHETHER YOU PREFER Alice, the Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts, Communities In Schools of Houston’s A Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary GalaA Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary Galais not to be missed! Join in the celebration for a whimsical good time on Thursday, April 4th, at the luxurious Post Oak Hotel.

Keep ReadingShow less

Magdalena’s Prosciutto e Rucola

HOUSTON’S PIZZA RENAISSANCE is still on fire, and continues to march in from other cities (but we’ll take it!). And now that it’s officially spring, there are plenty of chances to get outside and play — and eat and drink — with new pup-and-family friendly communal spaces. Here are our latest discoveries!

Keep ReadingShow less
Food

A FEW SHORT years ago, the Covid pandemic had the whole world questioning if the travel and hospitality industries would ever recover. In a report released this week by Houston First Corporation, the region's marketing organization, it seems that those sectors in Houston not only bounced back, but are continuing on a strong upward trajectory.

Keep ReadingShow less
People + Places