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

Kathryn , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Being your own boss and owning a business definitely has its ups and downs, but honestly, it’s the most exciting thing. My husband and I started this company together, and it’s been a rollercoaster—exciting, stressful, and absolutely wonderful all at once.

I’ve been an interior designer for over 10 years, working with companies like Decorilla, Collov, and several other online design platforms. I also worked as the in-house interior designer for La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery, where I was consistently their #1 designer—or the designer bringing in the highest profit—almost every single month.

One day, I realized I was generating over $90k every few months for these companies, and yet I was still making minimum wage. My last online design job even promised me a raise if I could bring in another $30k in a month—and I did it! But when I asked for the raise they promised, they told me it just wasn’t the right time. So, I quit.

My husband and I sat down and said, “Let’s just do this ourselves.” He’s the brains—great with money, accounting, numbers, and logistics—and I’m the creative eye with a talent for design. We were nervous to put everything into this brand-new company, but we did it.

We’ve now been running our business for three years, and our profit and clientele have grown every single year. Our goal is to eventually onboard more designers and grow this into a full-fledged firm.

Kathryn , 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’ve been into interior design ever since I was a kid. I was born in the ’90s, and my mom used to take me to these huge wallpaper stores with walls lined with sample books. While she talked to the clerk about which wallpaper would be best for our bedrooms or dining room, I’d sit and flip through binder after binder of wallpaper samples. I loved it. I loved the colors, the designs, the patterns—even the smell of the samples! I was obsessed. I also loved going shopping with my parents for carpet or wood flooring and seeing all the different textures and color options. Most kids wanted toys—I wanted to walk through tile stores and stone shops.

As I got older, my mom and I would play Animal Crossing on the GameCube. It’s a life simulation game where you live in a town with animal neighbors. There’s no real goal except to make friends and design your home. I was obsessed! I spent years decorating my little in-game house with furniture, wallpaper, and flooring. It was the best.

After high school, I went to FIDM—the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising—in Los Angeles, where I studied both graphic design and interior design. I knew those were my talents and where I truly belonged.

When my husband and I launched West Coast Deco, I was really passionate about offering online design. I already had a lot of experience with it and loved working with clients all over the world. But as we started building the business, local clients began reaching out and asking for in-person consultations. That scared me! I had never done in-person interior design with real clients in their actual homes. I was nervous—but my husband believed in me, and I believed we could figure it out. So I did it. And then I did it again, and again. We brought in contractors, architects, painters—we started building a network of tradespeople, and with each project, my confidence grew.

It just goes to show that trying something new can be so scary, but if you take that leap, you’ll figure it out along the way. Even now, I still have moments where I doubt myself or wonder if I’m really that great of a designer—but then I finish a project, see the joy and gratitude on my client’s face, and I remember: this is my calling. And I need to be kinder to myself.

West Coast Deco still offers online design, but in-person design has become our most popular service. We also design rental properties like Airbnbs and short-term rentals, and we’ve expanded into corporate design for offices, dentists, and more.

One thing we want every client to know: no budget is too small. We’ve worked with everyone—from single moms wanting to refresh a nursery to large financial firms. We love creating beautiful, intentional designs and curating stunning looks for everyone—no matter your budget, no matter your style.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner is my husband. People always say not to work with family because it can get messy—but for us, it works. We’ve been married since 2022 and have three kids together. Sure, there are moments where we’re juggling everything at once—running a business, building a client base, and raising kids—but somehow, we make it all work.

At the end of the day, building a family business together is so much more rewarding than working two separate jobs, on two different schedules, barely seeing each other, just crossing paths in the morning or at night. Instead, we wake up together and get the kids ready together. We eat dinner as a family.

When we have client meetings or site visits, he takes care of the kids. When he has business calls or meetings, I step in. We’re a team. We both have the same drive, the same passion, and the same commitment to growing this business—and we’re both so proud of what we’ve built.

And honestly? I’m proud of us.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Right now, we run our business from home. We each have our own desks and computers, and thankfully, we’re able to sit down together—whether the kids are at school or playing—and focus on running everything.

My husband has been amazing when it comes to managing our finances. He handles the bank accounts and allocates what we need for advertising, marketing tools, and all the behind-the-scenes essentials. He keeps us on track—making sure we’re paying ourselves properly, spending wisely, and doing what it takes to keep our business visible on Google.

A lot of our budget goes into our company’s website and making sure it’s running smoothly. Luckily, we don’t have a brick-and-mortar store, so we don’t have to worry about keeping the lights on or covering storefront expenses—which definitely makes things a bit easier.

But eventually, our dream is to have our own office, start hiring other designers, and turn this at-home business into a full-fledged design firm. That’s the goal.

Until then, we’ll keep doing what we love: designing beautiful spaces for everyone—no matter how big or small the project.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.westcoastdeco.com
• Instagram: @westcoast.deco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westcoastdeco
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/west-coast-deco-camarillo?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)