Meet Alyce Lopez | Owner & Lead Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyce Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyce, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I am a strong believer that if you want something in life you have to go after it. I was raised in a somewhat dysfunctional family (to put things lightly). I learned the hard way that if I wanted to achieve something it was going to take hard work and sacrifice. Although I can be introverted, I have learned that taking risks is the only way to achieve success. I started The True House independently with two small children at home. It was not easy. And there was no road map. But I had a desire to start a business that I was passionate about and would allow me the flexibility to embrace motherhood and marriage. I think you never know until you try, so you may as well give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen? At least that’s what I tell myself!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The True House is an interior design firm specializing in full service design in south San Diego. We offer everything from kitchen and bath design to whole home furnishings and window treatments. We have a very organic and minimalist aesthetic and love working with young families. I’m very proud of the work that we produce because it is not only beautiful, but highly functional. We love to build an intimate relationship with our clients so we can design a space that is custom to their lifestyle. Everything from the fabrics to the kitchen countertops are uniquely selected for each family and their needs. I am an entrepreneur at heart which comes with a rollercoaster of emotions.  It is extremely rewarding, but can also be very lonely at times. Most entrepreneurs can relate to the ups and downs of wanting to expand one day and quit the next. You really have to be resilient because there will be high highs and low lows. I have learned a lot over the years. For starters, I cannot let my emotions get the best of me. I’ve also learned to never make assumptions and always be willing to adapt and grow. It’s ok to not have all the answers because you can always find them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is such a great question! Well, let’s just assume we aren’t in the middle of a pandemic. It would be a Friday night and I would pick her up at the train station and have a nice gift basket with toiletries and a towel so she feels welcome when she arrives. It might have some Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups or Dark Chocolate Milanos in there too. Then I would order us some Pizzo’s gluten free San Miguel pizza with their Rustic salad. There would definitely be a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc to pair with some chocolates from World Market. They have a great chocolate wine pairing kit. We would sit outside on the patio with the fire going and have a relaxing night in catching up. The next morning we would head to The Henry in Coronado and eat avocado toast and drink espresso. Our whole family would probably come along for a beach day. I like to pack a small bag with drinks, kettle cooked jalapeno chips and watermelon. Then once we got back home we could shower up and have a rooftop dinner at Born and Raised with an Old Fashioned, tableside Ceaser and Steak Diane. Our last day together we would have Snooze for breakfast and hit up Nordstrom, Anthropologie and Zara before she heads home. We would definitely have the Strawberry salad at Nordstrom cafe with their creme brulee for lunch. After she leaves, I would definitely have to workout to burn off all those yummy calories, haha. Totally worth it though!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the wisdom and care that was passed down to me in my high school and college years. There are too many people to thank from teachers, to pastors, to friends’ parents that stepped in and taught me so much to help me move forward into early adulthood. One of my high school teachers and his wife helped me do my taxes and find a job with health insurance. They taught me how to bake and drive and even put a roof over my head when my situation at home wasn’t healthy. I really can’t imagine how different my life would be if they hadn’t stepped in when they did. A great friend of mine taught me about finances and how to live debt-free. She encouraged me in my faith and taught me all about motherhood, including how to sleep train my babies! She was a bookworm and made me read Babywise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam and The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. Those 2 books changed my life in my early 20’s. I spent so many holidays at friends’ houses and even lived with a handful of friends who took me in and supported me in my college years. They taught me how to cook and do laundry and many basic skills that I had missed out on at home. It’s true what they say, “it takes a village”. I am so grateful that these people saw a need and embraced me as their own. I hope to have the same opportunity for someone else in the future.

Website: www.thetruehouse.com
Instagram: @thetruehouse
Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyce-lopez-4bbba3b8
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetruehouse
Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/thetruehousedesign

Image Credits
Mino Pro Media