Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kalen Mehlman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Kalen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
Kalen’s Place.
The name of my brand needed to have the capability of “wearing many hats” and be flexible enough to embody the various creative and ever-changing aspects of my creative businesses. Over the years, my work has shifted and flowed in new directions. The Kalen’s Place brand has fluently encompassed all of them…and will continue to do so into the future.
It is a place that offers colorful, whimsical, multi-textural artwork.
A place that provided children’s art classes and specialty events for many years. And could, one day, do so again.
A place that offers unique and inspiring full-time interior design services.
A place where written content and research for television segments and written publications is developed.
A place where fabulous design materials and textiles are collected and shared with clients.
A place that is inviting, creative, sunny and bright.
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?
So much of life is about being open to reinventing yourself and your work. Seeing the universal signs and possibilities presented to you and putting them on the table for consideration is “key” to following your intrinsic interests and talents. Whether, at the time, you know it or not.
I am an artist and creative-first and foremost. Kalen’s Place originally started out of my kitchen where my custom pieces of artwork were sold across the Valley in many boutiques. As this business started to grow, and my canvases and paints were taking reign over my kitchen, it was time to look into alternate options for a unique workspace!
After some consideration and a simple design plan, I was able to turn my carport into a darling art studio on a very tight budget. I painted the walls white for colorful artwork to hang, I left the flooring concrete to capture paint splatters, and purchased/installed Ikea pieces and vintage finds for a large table to create, storage for paints and brushes, and displays for hanging finished works.
One day I received a serendipitous phone call from a dear friend whose daughter asked if she could have her birthday party in my art studio. And from this moment, Kalen’s Place began offering children’s birthday parties and special events. Using my masters degree in elementary education and my background with art, I also began offering after-school art classes for children of all ages. For many years my students came on a weekly basis to my studio to create, to laugh, to connect, to be their own unique selves.
For years I was a single mom raising two young children and therefore also needed to incorporate a more steady income stream in addition to running Kalen’s Place. A local boutique that sold my artwork was looking for a designer to help create custom children’s spaces. I was intrigued by the opportunity to “stretch” myself. I loved the “hands-on” nature of interior design, connecting with a myriad of clients, and growing my knowledge in this industry project by project as every one of them were unique in their own rite.
In time, I married my best friend, John, and was able to eventually leave the boutique and focus solely on building Kalen’s Place. I began to offer my own unique design services while continuing to host art classes, events, and parties. Over the years, the interior design side of Kalen’s Place grew and grew, adding more amazing clients and exciting projects along the way.
When the pandemic hit, much of my work came to a screeching halt…all of it but the interior design side of my business. The trade continued to work and people-who were tired of being cooped up in their houses-were eager to do any and all kinds of projects to freshen up their spaces! And I was ready for it!
I am very proud to be the creator and owner of Kalen’s Place. It is a business that has worn many fabulous hats over the years. It has flowed down a river of time that’s changed it’s directions, has ebbed and flowed with the tides, yet has stayed very true to its creative origins.
Kalen’s Place has clientele from all over the country, works with budgets that range from low to high, and honors and appreciates each client’s design aesthetic. As an interior designer, I pride myself on listening to my client’s needs and styles so that I am able to create the most lovely, unique spaces that are a reflection of who they are and how they live.
AND…I still paint artwork and create in my studio!
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Making healthy, professional and insightful connections with my clients is how I’ve achieved growth in my industry. Offering a service to a client that feels “uniquely valuable” and tangibly meaningful makes them inclined to share these positive experiences with friends and family. Listening to my client’s needs and goals is an integral aspect to effectively keeping and growing my clientele. As an interior designer, I have grown my business primarily through direct client referrals, year after year.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Creative insight, thorough design plans, honoring my client’s desired style aesthetic and budget, and keeping with the expected timelines have helped build my reputation in the design industry. I listen and I observe. Interior design is a process not to be rushed, if possible. I am mindful of this process and create ways to design a home in phases so that each living space is given the proper amount of time and consideration. In fact, I have maintained many long-term clients who have become my friends! Getting to know the families, understanding their lifestyles, and applying that to how I design their homes is pure joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kalensplace.com
- Instagram: @kalensplace
Image Credits
Rachel Smak Photography