Brienna Wagner - In Good Company
Artist, Business Owner, Designer, Other

Brienna Wagner – In Good Company

The Faces Of/ March 15, 2023

“I am beyond thrilled to introduce Brienna Wagner, a true source of inspiration and talent in the world of design, interiors, and products in Lake Country. Brienna is the owner and designer behind In Good Company in downtown Oconomowoc. The space serves as both a unique design showroom for Brienna’s work and an event space for the community. She is also a mom, wife, philanthropist, exchange student host, mojito-lover and world traveler! 

Brienna specializes in interior design and creative services for clients in Lake Country. Her deep understanding of her clients’ needs and desires, paired with her experience and knowledge in design trends and innovation, allow her to create and transform spaces with stunning designs that her clients love! While her dedication to the quality of service and care her clients receive is unparalleled, her commitment to collaboration with other creatives in the process has been instrumental in how she does her work.

What inspires me most about Brienna is how her value of relationships is at the forefront of her business and her life, whether it is with clients or other individuals she has worked with or collaborated with over the years. As you’ll read below, it is all about the relationships for her, which I love. 

It was such a pleasure to sit down with Brienna at her beautiful studio and learn about her mission, how her work has evolved over the years, and how dedicated she is to her clients and this community. It truly was a fascinating conversation, and I hope you are inspired by hearing a part of her story here.” – Jessalyn Rich

This is a quote from Brienna’s website that I love:
“I love collaborating with others and thrive on the creative process. Innovation is what makes a design stand out. If something I make or influence makes someone stop & smile then I have done my job!” – Brienna Wagner

About Brienna Wagner

I am a mom, wife, business owner, and creative professional living and working in Lake Country for the past 13 years.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family consists of my patient and supportive husband, 3 children (ages 12, 10, and 7), and our old dog. Currently we have a 17 year old foreign exchange student from Albania living with us as well. Our house is rarely quiet and often full of life. My sisters also live close by so we have a lot of aunts and cousins in and out almost on the daily. We have lived here for 13 years. I started my first design consulting business over 7 years ago.
Q: Please tell us about what you do and how you got started on this path.
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Early on I recognized that I wanted various experiences before I felt comfortable going out on my own. My career started in product development and product design while living in Chicago. I thrive in the creative process and working with all types of people to achieve a common goal. I soon fell in love with the collaborative process of creating unique products sourced from around the world. It was one of the most unique, rewarding, and challenging jobs that I am forever grateful to have had. Business started to shift during the 2008 recession and I felt like I needed the big corporate experience. I moved from the city to a much quieter Oconomowoc and took a job at Kohls Corporate. As my family grew, the 9-5 grind did not fit with the lifestyle I wanted to live. So I left and started my own design firm and never looked back.
Q: What has the growth of your business/work looked since starting?

I had built a solid network over the years so it has been a pretty steady growth process. Lots of hard work went into building, maintaining, and growing that network. The past few years have been particularly busy with the launch of In Good Company. Oconomowoc and Lake Country in general has really developed and we have been right there with it.

Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment over the years?
Honestly, it’s all about relationships for me. The biggest accomplishment for me is to see how many people I have continued to worked with over the years from tradesmen, to business contacts, clients, to friends- I truly value people.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?
Time. There is not enough time to “do it all”. I have a family and own my own business so the kids and my husband are the “unpaid employees” of my business. They are so supportive but sometimes its hard to have and hold strong boundaries and balance.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part of my job is hearing how happy my clients are with the result of their home. Our environment can play a big role on our overall well-being. I am a problem solver and a helper- so its a good feeling to be able to do that for others.
Q: Do you have any future goals, or do you have anything exciting coming up that you can share with readers? 

Always something new in the works! We are putting in a new patio on the lakeside of the studio this Spring, so I’m excited to share that with the community. However, the thing I am most excited about is our continued collaboration with Special Spaces Wisconsin Chapter. For those unfamiliar- it is a 501-3c organization that transforms the bedroom of a child who is going through active treatment for cancer.

I had a call with them recently and I am working on some trend reports for their internal teams who are looking at interior trends for the year. We continue to find ways to support them and if anyone is interested in being involved in volunteering or donating please feel free to reach out. These are wonderful people with a heart warming mission. Donations will help provide the financials we need to create a dream bedroom for these children in active treatment.

If you are able to donate, please do so here via paypal (CLICK HERE FOR LINK). (Donations are Tax Deductible).  Or, you can volunteer if you’re unable to donate financially. Please reach out to me directly with your interest to help volunteer on site. I know it will be an emotional and rewarding experience for all!

Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?
Be curious and kind. Make time to get to know the people you work with- no one gets to where they want to go alone. I still love that quote “If you want to go fast, go alone- if you want to go far- go together”.

Brienna Wagner & Our Community

Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love?
I love the lakes! Walking around the lake and checking out all the cool houses is by far my favorite thing to do.
Q: Who is an interesting person you’ve met here in our community, and how have they inspired you?
There are so many interesting people here – it’s hard to choose one. The most recent is probably the owners from Harbour Honest Goods in town. They have such a cool back story and it is evident through their beautiful storefront.
Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?
I love Stone Creek Coffee in the daytime, lunches at Belfri, and dinner anywhere I don’t have to cook!
Q: What 3 words would you use to describe our community?
Welcoming, Social, Down to earth

For Fun

Q: What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, poem, or song? Why?
A Whole New Mind by David Pink- it’s a super thought-provoking book and looks at the evolution of people and what skills will be sought after in the future. Spoiler- its the creatives, the makers, the dreamers who dare to ask whats new and next.
Q: If you were a drink (can be a coffee drink, alcoholic, non-alcoholic, etc.), what would you be?

Mojito

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be with? Why?
God- no explanation needed.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
Right here in my community- hopefully traveling more often to warm destinations 😉
Q: What makes you the happiest?
Being with my family
Q: Any general life advice you would like to share?
Be open to new people and experiences, you never know where it will lead you

Where to Find Brienna Wagner

Brienna Wagner, Owner & Designer
In Good Company
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
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