Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kristiann Colasacco. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Kristiann, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success is not linear. Often we think just because we have the vision and the idea of something that we are going to achieve it almost instantaneously because the vision in our minds is so very clear! It is crucial to understand that if you want success you must prepare for the highs and lows that will come with it. You must sacrifice time and other conveniences in order to get there. I learned this back in 2018 when I had to fully separate myself from working for an employer, a guaranteed paycheck because I felt it in my bones that it was time for me to leave the ongoing nest. I had worked for three or four firms with a minimum of two years at each in various locations ranging from NYC to northern CT. I felt I reached peak success at each with empty promises made to me and what was obvious to me that there wasn’t any room to grow. That did not sit right with me as I am a person who need creative stimulation at all times! I sat back and observed my employers, how they treated staff, how they entered conflict and handled resolutions. I made many mental notes and I took all of these moments I had witnessed and assessed how I interact with my clients under each branch. Were they happy? Where could I have improved? How could I have prevented certain mistakes from happening and handled them with more poise and grace? These are all lessons I can say I learned once and only once! I rewrote my own book on how I wanted to run and present my business and if I were to bring on any staff how I would treat them as well. I did take on several interns and the empathetic person in me over paid them costing me a ton of loss income and becoming too friendly with them in such a way where the respect of my actual business deteriorated because they were too comfortable with me. I had not figured out at that time how to put in place firm boundaries where can be a relatable, fun boss and also the CEO. I have experienced really high peaks in my success and droughts as well that can very much fill your inner monologue with doubt and fear. I do not think there is a correct answer on how to be successful, I think you have to just keep swimming and never give up. There’s no worse feeling than regret of not trying vs wondering what could have been. First you ‘Learn’ and then you remove the ‘L’.
Kristiann, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Kristiann Colasacco and I am from Harrison, New York! I have been a Interior Designer going on my 15th year and now have branched out into other creative paths as a model and Travel Designer! I have always had creativity in my blood since the day I was born. As a child I originally wanted to be a fashion designer and my grandmother would send me boxes of fabrics and lace and taught me how to sew by hand and by utilizing a sewing machine! I would sketch fashion in a marble note book and then hand sew some for a my size barbie doll I had. I sent every free moment as a child either creating sketches or actually playing with a Barbie dream house I had which for me was the biggest luxury in my life at the time! I began building extensions to this doll house with shoe boxes and building actual furnishing for it out of cotton balls, and fabric, taping Q-Tips together to create drapes and more! My father is a contractor and always worked in the field and we would build birdhouses together as a kid so I had learned how to manage tools at a young age! Fast forward to deciding my career path I felt a urge to go far away (3,000 miles to be exact) and attend FIDM/ The fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising of Los Angeles. I packed everything I could in my little Honda civic and shipped it from New York! I had never accelerated in grade school or high school, I was a C student and really struggled to learn and it was all of my creative classes that I excelled in! When I graduated Design school it was the first time in my life I graduated with honors! I knew my path was correctly paved after this. I began working in retail to jumpstart Interior decorating! I was not sure if I wanted to be involved with decor or the construction side of design such as wall and tile layouts, millwork etc. I opened Pottery barn in Westport, CT with their team and was one of the first in house designers they had on staff! I did very well and moved up pretty quickly by attaining sales in the presidents club. From there I relocated to the West Elm in Scarsdale NY that was newly opened and again one of the first in house designers on staff. I loved it and everyone involved but the side of me that needed more creative stimulation led me to NYC to work for a couple of firms. After 7 years in the industry I decided to take all of the knowledge I learned and to create my own team of reliable tradesmen that I trusted and worked with in the past on previous projects and since have built my business to be fully referral based with a one stop shop ‘Design Boutique’!
I absolutely love to create, growing up in a ‘middle class, multi income ( both parents worked two jobs) home’, I felt it was truly so special to be able to create a place where people can find solace and peace after a stressful day. To ‘unpack their stress’ at the door. By gently educating my clients on unique and innovative ways to create space and accentuate what they have properly I have helped my clients understand how to change perspective on what they have to work with and how we can elevate it in cost effective ways that they are comfortable investing in. As I have grown in the industry I have traveled the world to various design shows, showrooms and have endured many creative conversations with other entrepreneurs. This truly expanded my range of creative abilities tremendously. I have been able to incorporate various textures and materials and inlay applications to make a very simple space very unique and special to each client and project. I have designed things I truly never thought I would have to, for example a custom motion sensor fountain Urinal for a client! By the grace of God me and the team on the project had our work cut out for us but it turned out beautiful and successful ( to this day think of that thing, wondering how it’s doing).
My Travel path began three years ago when a tragedy occurred in my family and I was so checked out and lost with society that my contractors actually suggested that I head to Italy to find some inspiration! So I did! My first trip to Italy, solo, riddled with fear and coming right out of Covid reopening when it was 100 degrees and masks were still required. My cell phone service was awful and I had no knowledge on how to navigate. As introverted extrovert I had to force myself to socialize and bury my personal feelings from home to figure out how to be fully present in the moment and actually survive this trip unbeknownst. The trip was so inspiring and I met wonderful people that grew my network and from there I began to take travel opportunities all over the world to source materials and meet new creatives, new vendors and new parts of myself as well! That is where ‘The Travel Chick’ was born. My newest creative venture of becoming a Travel advisor and designing trips for anyone who wants to begin their solo journey or just a fun safe Holiday! I have done a lot of really fun opportunities as well aside from Travel and design that have birthed another path I am currently strolling down as well and that is Modeling. I had two incredible opportunities last year to walk In Miami swim week and NYFW which I did and met many wonderful people in doing so and will continue down this path to alleviate some of the ‘beauty standards’ in place. Embracing my flaws that I resented for so long and hoping to encourage others to embrace theirs as well! It is never too late to start something new! I stopped letting people tell me that I can only choose one path otherwise I would ‘ Look as though I have some identity crisis’. Tune out the noise and explore all and any paths you would like!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Building a reputation in any industry comes from your character, your morals and your algorithm in life. I am someone with a unique/edgy sense of style that can often be perceived as someone who ‘doesn’t have it figured out’ in the world of business. I am a bubbly blonde and enjoy making light of situations to keep the energy flow high or at bay! I have had clients and colleagues who are very reserved in comparison to me however they were fully accepting of my edge vibe. They knew that my personality was never fabricated by instilling ‘a sales person voice or narrative’. Each client gets the exact same version of me and my personality! We laugh, we mean business and we relate one way or another. By maintaining my truth with each client and colleague it creates a mutual level of respect and fondness where at the end of the project it feels like family! This has led me to building my referral based business. I have three time repeat clients, I have contractors and architects who refer business and introductions to me as me to them as well and this has developed a important reputation in my field. Having good energy that is inviting and positive is everything in any business! Taking inventory of your ‘Algorithm’ in your life of the things you consume, watch, read, eat, listen to will impact your reactivity to clients, vendors or colleagues so I find it absolutely imperative to be self aware of these factors in order to build a great reputation!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
At one point in my career I had to make a hard decision to either stay in place and sit miserably in someone elses showroom filled with terrible energy everyday knowing I would receive a steady paycheck and commission or to take a leap of faith and go out on my own and really throw myself fully into my business! That day came and not in a peaceful manner because let’s face it, if you dont decide the Universe will do it for you and in the most inconvenient way possible! I finally had to decide to move forward in faith and seek other professionals in my industry and other industries to make introductions that would soon lead to steady clientele! I did not have a business mentor to really teach me anything and learning this took me far longer than it really could have If I had the right support system in my corner. It was the best decision I ever made. It took my business to places I never imagined as well as introduced strength I did not know I had!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://k-annkreationsdesignltd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristiannityc/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiann-colasacco-33840725/
Image Credits
Bax. Paris Photographer
Suzanne Claire Studios