We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristy Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kristy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I grew up moving from one place to the next. I remember each home whether it was a rental or owned that my Mom would do her best to make each place a home. Even on the tightest budget she would figure out a way to make the space a haven. Who would’ve known that you could rent art from the public library for your home! We would hit the sales on Friday’s at the local resell shops to find treasures. I spent my teens buying up vintage clothes like Levi’s and splitting the pantleg at the ankles and inserting wild patterned fabric to make bell bottoms and bowling shoes with a chunky heel. At the time, I was living in West Texas with fellow ranch kids or oil money. Instead of trying to keep up with them wearing Lawman’s, Rocky Mountain jeans, or Guess, I decided to sport my own wares. This was the start of my passion in fashion design. I sketched girls in clothes that were unique and bold. I thought this was my calling but realized closer to my 20’s that my real passion is in designing homes for people with cutting edge and bold designs. The most important aspect of doing interior design to me is not just the bold and cutting edge but it is also providing the peace, cohesiveness, comfort, and grounding. These were all very important to myself throughout my moves and I feel like this can be the missing value when designing for others. We can provide a hotel feel to a home but I think it is my mission to tie my client’s home with their experiences, individual creature comforts, and beauty. Most of my clients travel often and stay in hotels so it is my constant awareness that they are looking for more of an anchor when they get home.

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

I worked for builders in my early career and helped client’s select their solid surfaces for their home and went to night school obtaining my bachelor degree in Interior Design. I went on to work for a small family owned design firm with a boutique store front. I learned the 1000’s of vendor lines as well as inventory. There was so much more to the business than just the design aspect. After 6-1/2 years of learning the business, I decided to adventure out on my own. I felt confident in providing a knowledgeable background in product lines, construction background, and customization. Since 2008, I have been on my own and now growing DBK. I am lucky to add to the company expertise Stacey Ownbey my operations manager who helps improve the companies operations as well as client experience. I have also brought Leigha Platter a junior in college obtaining her Bachelor degree in Interior Design as well as an associates in construction management. We have added virtual design to our company as well as the ability to purchase some our favorite vendor products from our website. We are often asked what our Interior design services provide. We provide custom drapes, blinds, custom bedding and other soft goods, custom silk arrangements (custom planters and vases), furnishing, art, reveal days with accessories, construction (new builds), remodels, and outdoor design.

I love that I was vetted to design a custom new build in Castle Pines Village with a client that hired one of my favorite architects, Mike Woodley to do design their architecture. I am still finishing up the furnishings but have completed 80% of their home. They wanted to incorporated their travels throughout Asia as well as Budapest. We incorporated so many beautiful and unique inspirations into the main home features. Mike received an award for this home as the best architecture in residential design.

I am not only proud of the work I have completed but also so grateful for the relationships I have established with my amazing clients who are now like family to me. I have also been so fortunate to work with great contractors in the industry that continue to elevate their business. We have successfully resolved issues as well as creatively bounce ideas off of one another which is key in this industry.

What my client’s should know about me: I have lived 1,000 lives in my 43 years and I am so grateful for every experience and lessons along the way. My experiences have provided me humility, empathy, love, and courage. It is an honor to share in my client’s experiences throughout the design process of their homes and offices.

Our brand is to unleash the bold version of yourself!

If we stay quiet we are unseen. There is a balance to all of this and can be reflected in your home. We want our clients to be excited! Our client’s are fearless and live for the day.
Our goal is to empower and reflect our client’s unique vision.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I grew up riding a roller coaster. My parents were not anchored in one place. They were fearless when it came to trying something new for a career opportunity or a new place to live. We moved from an island in Oregon because of the many floods in only a few years. We moved to the bigger city of Junction City and Eugene, OR. My mom was in a co-op and brought home the latest farmed of fished food home which was an adventure in our culinary palate. My dad sold insurance and liked to fly planes and play more than he liked to work. My uncle called and asked my dad if he wanted to help operate all the new nursing homes my uncle was starting up across the US. My dad jumped on it and we moved 1/2 way across the country to Texas. Our motorhome broke down on the way there so my parents had to borrow money from my grandparents to make our trek to Texas. On our way, my uncle called to tell my dad that he didn’t have a job for him after all. We moved in with aunts and uncles while my dad helped out driving trucks, installing siding, and selling mobile homes. Finally, my dad got a call to sell insurance in Midland, Tx. We packed up all of our belongings into our motorhome and made the 4 hour move to Midland. On our way our water pump hose dragged along the highway creating a spark that made it’s way to the fuel tank. My mother had a nose for smells and saved us all from the explosion in Abilene, Tx. People were so gracious to loan us their cars, money, housing and food. We made it to Midland safely and eventually grounded ourselves there. There are many more crazy stories so I have started writing my memoir. One of the biggest gains from my stories is I am resilient and fearless. There isn’t a thing that can be thrown at me that I can’t handle or learn from.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Money doesn’t grow on trees. Funny thing is money is from paper and paper does derive from papyrus or bark. Rich people come from money.

I had to unlearn that money is only to be had by people that are already around money. I learned that I provide a skill and knowledge that yields money. I also became aware that I would fight the self-talk of whether I was good enough. Had I traveled the world enough to design the most cutting edge and worldly designs that would be among the best of the best. Money is available to us all as long as we love and value ourselves. We must place ourselves at the top so we can bring others who are ready with us. Money is transportation to so many great opportunities and we should respect what it provides. Defining our boundaries helps others respect us and value us.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.designsbykristy.com
• Instagram: designsbykristysmith
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designsbykristysmith
• Linkedin: DesignsbyKristy

Image Credits
Gayle Lessman did the photo of the kitchen and the collage. Rachel Sorbet did the headshots.