Liz Lidgett, Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design

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Liz LidgettDes Moines Moms Blog recognizes that moms wear a lot of hats. You are a mom, wife, friend, diaper changer, nose wiper, meal planner, lost toy finder, the list goes on and on!

This summer we are thrilled to feature some local moms who are thinking outside the box and making a difference in our community through the businesses they own, organizations they are involved with, and work they do. Check out the rest of the series and read profiles from previous years here


LidgettLiz Lidgett is passionate about art and how we live with it. She started her art consultation business, Adore Your Walls, in 2013 and she recently opened Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design in the East Village.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

I live in Des Moines with my husband Nick and our son, Rocky. We also have two cats, Cat Stevens and Nelly Purrtado.

What do you consider the biggest challenge of motherhood to be? Biggest joy?

I find joy in the small, seemingly everyday moments; walks after dinner around our neighborhood; Rocky playing with his cousins, and the way he looks at Nick. The biggest challenge? For me, it’s about staying away from the comparison game with other moms and families. Comparison is the thief of joy.

Have you always loved art? When or how did it become a career?

I have loved art for as long as I can remember. I was really lucky to have parents who fostered that passion and encouraged me to pursue it. After internships throughout college and a double major in journalism and art history in college, I went on to receive my Masters in Public Art. After coming back to Des Moines, it didn’t take long before I started my company as an art advisor. Almost seven years later, I have opened my first art gallery in the East Village.

What’s the best part about your job?

There’s so much good. I’m incredibly passionate about connecting people with art they love, and helping artists create. I get the best of both worlds—working with artists and their beautiful work and the design challenge of helping people find the perfect piece for their style, space, and budget.

What’s the hardest part about your job?

Art is subjective. I may see and connect with art in a very different way than the client does. Depending on the client, we sometimes go through many rounds before we land on the perfect piece. It’s all about persistence and cracking the code for each person.

What advice do you have for moms who want to chase a dream?

There’s a couple of quotes that always come to mind. “No one said it would be easy, just worth it” and “The only way out is through.” To me it’s about taking the leap in small steps that feel much more manageable, keeping your head down and doing the work. You have to have almost tunnel vision for the things that are important to you. My schedule is very regimented each day: Working out early in the morning, breakfast and cuddles with Nick and Rocky before work, work from 8-5, dinner and playtime with Rocky and Nick, and then more work from 7-9 often after Rocky is down to bed. I get to see friends often during lunch and the weekends, but during the week, I have to only commit times that are important to me.

What have you learned since becoming a business owner?

One of the biggest things is that mistakes happen. You will make mistakes, but if you are honest with yourself, your clients, and your employees—you can make it right. You are human not a machine. And remind yourself daily (unless you actually are a doctor)—you’re not saving lives. Things can feel like life and death when it’s your own company—but most times, it’s not. Being an entrepreneur can be a series of daily ups and downs—the business owners who last often are those who can stay even-keeled and understand most things are not as bad (and not as great) as they seem.

Why do you call Des Moines home?

I am a classic Boomeranger. I grew up in Des Moines, met my husband here, and moved away thinking I would never return. As Nick and I would come back to visit our families, we saw how the city was continuing to change and grow. We felt that we could make a difference in Des Moines that wasn’t possible in Los Angeles. I feel so fortunate to live here and own a business. This community is so supportive of small business owners and people rally around good ideas and passionate citizens.

Des Moines Favorites

Favorite spot for a date night: Bubba is our go-to spot.

Best place to take kids: Des Moines Art Center

Favorite summer activity: We love to play tennis and hang by the pool.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Des Moines (truly) and then have vacation homes in Rome and Paris.

What’s the last show you watched, thing you listened to, or book you read? Currently reading Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee, watched Game of Thrones, and listening to Lizzo non-stop.

How/where do you relax? It’s rare these days but a good nap is such a wonderful luxury.

If your life had a hashtag, what would it be? #wellitsnotboring

Know a Des Moines mom we should feature? Let us know! Email [email protected] with details and we will be in touch.

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