We recently connected with Kristen Mullen and have shared our conversation below.

Kristen , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I’ve been fortunate to have a number of varied careers, ranging from education to health care to real estate. Through all of those experiences, design was my passion, my relaxation, my energizer and my escape. I loved designing for my own home, my friends and coworkers. My main motivator when designing for friends was to make interior design accessible and affordable.

For decades, interior design has felt like an exclusive club that was not available to everyone. It was important to me to bring the process to every client and focus on directing most of their budget toward their project versus costly fees. I decided that furniture and decor would not be marked up and my design fees would be clear and straightforward.

By encouraging my client’s to shop at retailers they love and take advantage of sales and discounts, they get a home they love at a price they can afford. THAT is the most rewarding part of my job and the business idea I am most proud of.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I started Kristen Dena Design in order to create fresh spaces clients love, designed for the way they live. As a wife, mom of 5 and a business owner, I know the impact that a functional home can have on your day to day life. To do my job well, I have to listen to a client’s story which is my favorite part of the process. We tackle the tasks that feel challenging like picking the perfect paint color or creating the best furniture layout. If you’re remodeling or building, we are experts at picking finishes and maximizing your budget. We are listeners first, designers second.

There are a lot of designers that can make a beautiful space or design to a trend, but there are very few designers that will design just for you. That is the strength of Kristen Dena Design.

No matter whether you are tackling one room or a whole home, we scale our process to improve your life in your home!

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

We are based in San Diego, CA and I was contacted by a potential client in Connecticut for help with her kitchen remodel. After talking about what she needed help with, I asked her what prompted her to reach out to me via Instagram. She said that she saw a video series I did on my own kitchen where I mentioned design choices I made since I was 5’10” and everyone in my family is tall. That did it! She said she was tall and was looking for a designer that would not question the design elements she needed to make the space the best for her and her family. I loved that!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Bold is not brash, when done well. Promoting the business has been the biggest source of growth for me personally and developing the ability to share with potential clients why Kristen Dena Design would be the best choice for their project. I incorrectly assumed clients would be put off by that…but instead they appreciate a direct answer as to why we are the best choice for them.

Business owners need to remember that there is room for everyone in a niche and we all have different strengths. Sharing what those are will allow you to flourish without taking anything away from other businesses in your sector. Everyone can win!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kristendenadesign.com
• Instagram: @KristenDenaDesign
• Facebook: Kristen Dena Design
• Other: Pinterest Kristen Dena Design

Image Credits
@theportraitmama @sandiegointeriorphotography