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

Katie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I’m a big-believer that everyone deserves a functional and beautiful space. Hiring an Interior Designer has often been an unachievable goal for anyone but the 1%: those who are extremely wealthy. When I began this business, I worked with lots of friends and family members who wanted to improve their spaces but had some financial limitations preventing them from going fully custom. I saw an opportunity to bring accessible design to those who crave functional aesthetics. Because the other important part of good design is that it WORKS for your life. Whether you’re a busy family, a young professional, or a cat owner, a functional space can greatly improve your productivity, confidence, and overall satisfaction in life. As a mother and pet owner myself, I get a lot of the pressure points that come from living and managing day to day life with kids and animals, and I love problem-solving and finding creative and stylish solutions to help solve my clients’ challenges. I’m also big on education; we can splurge in one area and save in other areas. Good design can still be obtained with a thoughtful budget.

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

I was a creative in the film industry for over ten years, designing and shopping for television shows and movies. My job required flexibility; every project was different, with variations in style and tone that I would need to learn when presenting options. It was the perfect prep for what I do now: curating spaces for the individuals who live there. Just like every project was so different, every home is so different. From Digital Design packages for DIYers, or full-service design for busy professionals, I love ‘Styling for the Soul’, and delivering custom spaces on an attainable budget.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve learned that being flexible is great in many cases, but being flexible with my processes is one area I need to stand firm on. If I don’t maintain certain processes, things can get missed, especially when it comes to measurements!

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I was able to start my business part-time for several years as I transitioned. Because I previously worked in a freelance industry, I had bursts of time I was able to focus on my business in between projects. A lot of my work is done online or in client’s homes, so the start-up costs were luckily minimal, although I do have quite a few memberships and online subscription fees. This also allowed me to naturally build clientele without the pressure of it being my sole income source at first.

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits

Sarah Cofer Photography