Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Liz Kriby. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Liz, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I started my Interior Design business in 2021. I am what I often refer to as a “retired” attorney and serial entrepreneur. I went to law school after college after having done an internship at the Providence Public Defender’s office in Rhode Island, that I loved. Through law school I worked at the legal aid clinic, and helped young offenders with their legal battles. This often included getting off drugs, finding a job, etc. and was truly as much social work as it was legal work. When I graduated from law school in 2010 I moved to Philadelphia for an internship in the Juvenile Public Defender’s office. This was a terrible time to graduate law school (or any higher education, really) because the job market was awful.

My internship fell through, but because I was there with my now husband (who was also in a temporary legal position in the area), I had to figure my way into a job for the year we were going to be living there. I did a few temp jobs, and eventually started working part-time at a clothing boutique, nannying for 2 different families, and at a small law office in the city. I was really busy. The most fulfilling part of my time was working at the clothing boutique, and I found myself being drawn to more creative endeavors.

While we were in Philly, I started a fashion blog with a girlfriend back home, The Sequined Blazer. It got a fair bit of traction, especially in Maine, and we did the blog for a number of years (talk about something I wish I had stuck with! This was the very start of the influencer movement and I could have been on the forefront!). When Kyle and I moved back home after his clerkship was over I got a job working for a small family law practice in a very rural town in southern Maine. I hated it. I wanted to be a public defender, basically a glorified social worker, in the worst job economy ever and that job didn’t exist. With my experience running The Sequined Blazer, I applied for and got a job working for a small start up in the wedding industry, and “retired” from the practice of law. We also bought a house, and I had my first experience decorating my own home. When we went to sell our house a few years later, the design I had done in our home got us a much higher asking price than we anticipated!

From there I started in on our next home, and the same thing happened 2 years later when we went to move again. People started encouraging me to go into interior design, but I was nervous and had big time imposter syndrome. I ended up by launching a product-based business instead which I ran for 3 years, all while designing the renovation and style of our new (current) home, and building a vacation home from the ground up. 3 years into my product based business I wasn’t getting much traction, and it was becoming very stressful. I took a leap of faith and put a shingle out as a designer, and the business took off. From there I took some courses, specifically in drafting and rendering, and have been going strong ever since!

While hind sight is always 20/20, and the thought that I could have gone to school for interior design 20 years ago and would now be without law school debt haunts me sometimes, I know that everything happens for a reason. I had no idea when I graduated from college that I would want to do something creative. I had never really been creative in my whole life. I just wanted a stable, professional job that I could depend on. I think starting my design business post-pandemic was also helpful, because designers are so sought after these days, so it’s easier to get clients. All in all I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be, and I’m just happy that I got here, eventually.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a residential and commercial interior designer in the Portland, Maine area. I serve clients as far south as Eliot and as far north as Rangeley, Maine. I have worked on everything from small and large scale renovations to new construction ground-up homes. I also help clients furnish their homes and design a cohesive look that fits their lifestyle and their aesthetic. In addition, I run a blog and an Instagram account to help people who don’t have the need or funds for a designer find designer approved items for their homes.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When my product-based business was beginning to fail, I needed to find a job that would both fulfill me personally and also help me contribute to my family’s financial situation. I had to trust in myself, and push down any imposter syndrome feelings and launch . I was lucky that my family supported me, and now I’m doing something I love and helping my family.

How did you build your audience on social media?

buiding my social media audience and brand is really important to me because I know how important it is to consumers. I recently restarted my social media because my engagement was very poor. I am finding that being super engaged yourself, pays dividends. Commenting on other posts – regularly! engaging with your followers (why would they engage with you if you don’t engage with them?) and being active on stories so people can get to know YOU are all so important. Having a face to your brand is priceless, and even though it can be scary, its really essential if you want to grow on social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.surfroad.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surfroadinteriors/
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lizskirby/

Image Credits

Erin Little, Kayte Demont, Melissa Gabriel