We were lucky to catch up with Cortney McClure recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cortney , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Since starting my design firm, we have worked on a wide variety of projects – across many design categories. They have ranged from traditional colonials, to farmhouses, to ultra modern. I love not specializing in one specific design aesthetic for all of my projects. It allows me, and my team, to tailor the design to the client’s needs and preferences. It also exposes us to the rich history of design, as well as current trends. This approach has opened the door to serve a range of budgets, style, scopes, and personalities. We have honed our process to be very clear and systematized, which allows more room for creativity. It always helps set expectations for our clients and internal team, alike. Each project has the same level of attention, communication, and detail. We want to make sure that one-room projects and full renovation clients experience the same level of hospitality.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Cortney McClure and my interior design firm is based in Bartlesville, OK. Design has always been more than aesthetics, it is a service. I found personal joy in crafting my own home, which lead to assisting a local builder. In 2018, I established Cortney McClure Design. I was working in the oil & gas industry prior to my design career. My unconventional journey has taught me that every season of life is a preparation for the next. Being trusted with customizing clients’ homes will forever be a source of gratitude for me.

Most proud of:
I am most proud of the team and culture that we have built around our shared passion for designing beautiful spaces.
I’m also proud that I get to do what I do, in the place I love most. I don’t have a desire to be based anywhere other than Bartlesville, OK. We have projects that are in other locations but the community that we have here is what got me to where I am today.

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

My first position, out of college, was working in human resources at Conoco-Phillips. It was an incredible opportunity. I had the chance to learn so much over the years of working there but the type of work, as well as the amount of travel, wasn’t what I envisioned for myself and family. A few years into working there, we started the process of building our own home – a farmhouse on my family’s land. During that time we had our little girl and trying to balance being a mother and traveling for work was less than ideal. I remember telling my husband that I had a desire to step away from my position at Conoco-Phillips to pursue a career in design. There were a lot of unknowns but it was a strong feeling that I couldn’t shake. At first it was working on our own home, as well as starting a wedding planning company. Those two experiences ultimately led me to my design firm – Cortney McClure Design – that was officially established in 2018.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth from past and current clients is always the best way for new clients to hear about CMD. A sense of trust and familiarity is established between prospective clients and myself before an initial consultation. Bartlesville is a small town, at its core, and people share stories and experiences that adds to and builds community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cortneymcclure.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedbycortney/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designedbycortney

Image Credits
All images were taken by Kacey Gilpin. Her website to link, if needed, is https://www.kaceygilpin.com/