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

Katie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

5 years ago starting a business was not on my radar. My family and I had just moved from Dallas to St. Louis for my husbands job. I was going to stay at home with my kids and I wasn’t super rushed to get back to work. I quickly found myself somewhat bored and watching ALOT of Instagram DIY-ers. I purchased my first power tool and just started designing and building things for our house – custom cabinets, barn doors, millwork walls. I started my own Instagram page, which quickly caught some local traction and eventually started sharing design projects from my past. I started doing basement construction drawings for friends and neighbors who would then tell their friends and neighbors. I started to get really busy, hired some help for my kids and haven’t looked back! The first 2 years were tough. I always tell people that I am 100% confident in my designs. But I had no idea what it took to run your own business. It was overwhelming, and honestly, not a lot of fun. In the last few years things have started to click and the business side is getting a bit easier. I just hired my first employee and I hope to hire a second person eventually to do the business stuff. I just want to do the design work!

Katie, 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?

I knew from a very early age that I wanted to go into architecture and design. I remember drawing floorplans of dream houses long before I ever understood what space planning is. In 2006, I graduated with a Bachelor of Interior Design and sat for the NCIDQ (the Interior Design licensing exam) in 2009. I spent my 20’s working in commercial Interiors for an Architecture and Engineering firm in Dallas, Texas. In 2018, after relocating to a new state for my husbands job, I started drawing cad plans for a handful of friends and neighbors. Business quickly grew and now I am hired for anything from concept drawings, design development, finish selections, furniture selection or just hired to do it all!

I like to get involved with a project very early on – space planning and design development are just as (if not more!) important than selecting finishes. Once we have a plan in place, keeping me involved through construction makes sure that our designs are executed and built as planned. Think of me as a liaison between you and the contractor, it makes everyone’s life a lot easier!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Photos! Photographing a project, whither its progress photos during construction or final photos, gives me a rush that makes every single hiccup along the way worth it. Sometimes I reflect on how crazy it is that people pay good money to build things that I drew for them. While most people will just see the pretty picture at the end of a project, me and my team will be reminded of everything that went into getting there.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I have a pretty amazing group of friends that have helped me get where I am right now. They never hesitate to blast me on social media or hire me for their next project or tell their friends about me. They have been able to get my name out to such a wide local audience and I am so grateful for every single on of them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.katiegelsheimer.com
• Instagram: kg@katiegelsheimer.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katiegelsheimerhome/

Image Credits
Tara Davis Photography