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

Hi Kayla, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I think happiness is a complicated feeling and one that many business owners, especially new business owners, likely juggle with. Is there a fulfillment in starting, owning, grinding, and pursuing one’s interests and passions? Absolutely, for sure. Does it require an incredible amount of discipline, responsibility, and perseverance to build, maintain, and grow? 1,000%. I think that happiness comes in the unexpected moments. It ebbs and flows with each day, because no job is free of struggle and difficulty (and if someone says otherwise, they’re not exactly being truthful). I can say that I would not be satisfied doing anything else. I can say that without a doubt, even through the ups and downs, that this is worth it. And I’ll be honest, I’ve had my fair share of doubts because man, it gets tough. There’s not a catch fall for you to depend on. There’s either make it, or don’t. And that’s a very scary, motivating realization to have as a business owner. But, my dad has always said, “if you’re doing what you love then you’ll never work a day in your life”, and that’s something that has honestly pushed me when I didn’t feel strong enough to keep going. Because even if you love something, it doesn’t mean it always makes you happy. You love it through the ebbs and flows, and you work it out, you try your best, and you keep going.

If we’re taking a look at the last time I can honestly say that I felt myself questioning my path, thinking I could just quit now, get a normal 9-5, remove some responsibility from my shoulders, I would look back as far as yesterday. A bad moment, to say the least. Feeling overwhelmed with the demands of the job, the timelines and budgets and everything else that is required of a career or a project or a client, while also having an entire life to try and keep up with. It becomes loud, mentally, and those days require a tremendous amount of care. I’m lucky, because I have a support system that is happy to be a sounding board when needed, and my therapists when I ask. But, if I didn’t, I don’t know that I would’ve gotten as far as I have in the last 5 years doing this. It’s a balancing act trying to remember that you don’t HAVE to be everything for everyone at all times (even as a people pleaser), and that good things take time and alot of work. A successful project is not excluded from this in the slightest. Despite WANTING to be the best and do the best and present the best, the amount of time and grace that you have to have with yourself to get there, is something I struggle with, admittedly. Everyone wants efficient and quick and detailed and easy, and with design (realistically) this is not always what happens on the first swing. It takes processing and mulling over and time and revisions and brainstorms (like, alot of them), and really great people to bring you out of your creative hole that is easy to fall in to and not as easy to climb out of.

Like I said, happiness is complicated. But I will tell you, it’s worth it. All of it: the bad, the good, the hard days, the stress, the results, the building, the growing. From start to finish, it’s the most incredible ride, even if it is a little scary sometimes. I couldn’t do anything else. And I wouldn’t want to, not for a second.

Kayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For those who likely have not heard of me, I’m Kayla. I’m the lead designer + owner of the Self + Space LLC, a little design firm in the not so little Houston, Tx. I like to say that my specialty is making people feel at home in their own home, hence the name (the Self + Space), in the same way that we like to see ourselves represented and perceived, the home is no exception. We tackle everything from interiors, exteriors, spacial planning, virtual design, additions and renovations, you name it – there’s not much we don’t do. I say “we”, because I couldn’t do what I do without the help of my fantastic co-designer and best friend Kelly, our architect Rodolfo, and the vendors and builders and contractors we have the absolute pleasure of having relations with that help bring the vision come to life. It’s an incredible thing, taking someone’s space from a disconnected, disjoined area to a representation of who occupies the space with the use of furniture, art, accessories, character, the whole nine yards. We get to meet the best clients that entrust in us the most sacred place they share as a family, and create magic. Yes, magic, don’t argue with me on this. Every new project always has its own set of hurdles, but this doesn’t deter from the satisfaction of the end result.

One of my biggest things when it comes to clients, and client relations, is that our client(s) understand that we are always FOR them, and never against them. We are client advocates all day, even when that means coming to them with tough love and reality checks (which, let’s be honest, is not always fun). And one indicator of this, is what usually comes sometime between the design and the execution, and then again at the end, is the overwhelming support from the client where they fully entrust us with their home and the outcome. “I trust you”, probably one of the most supportive and most encouraging things we hear from clients, and it NEVER gets old. It’s like getting almost to the finish line and your client is on the other side cheering YOU on, it’s a euphoric feeling to say the least.

If I had one thing to say to potential clients or people interested in design at all, is just to trust the process, and remember your designer is human. There is so much that goes into a project; a great deal of emotional involvement and investment for both client and designer. Good things take time, and rushing the end result will only mean that things go overlooked or missed and then everyone is disappointed. When it comes to redoing any space (even if you are DIY), think about what you want to feel when you walk into the space, what emotions do you want to evoke or sink in to, how do you see yourself using the space, what do you LOVE in the space, what don’t you love? Breaking into the emotional connection that we have with spaces and being very clear on those goals in the beginning will help direct you to the best design decisions and designer selection (if you decide to go this route). We love helping clients create extensions of themselves within their spaces, and honestly can not put into words how fulfilling and satisfying it is to see how our clients grow through the process.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I don’t personally think there is anything more rewarding than seeing something that you took from start to finish inside your brain, to a sketch book, to a computer screen, to then seeing it in real life. There’s quite a connection that gets formed with this little brain child, and no project result is an exception to this. Being able to take a step back and say “I did that”, is something truly one of the most rewarding things I could ask for. Being someone who always *felt* creative, but not necessarily in ways that felt conventional was challenging to me, until I found my niche. I found the space that I could grow, I could express, I could invent and try and fail without it being a life altering ending when I inevitably tried to do something that just didn’t work. It allowed me to become the best version of myself and grow my confidence in the safest space possible, because expression is art, even in interiors.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

One thing we’ve always strived for is transparency in our process, our communication, and most importantly with our clients. We’re pretty up front about every in and out that happens within our business, and I will say it’s worked out for us in the best way. Clients understand pretty early on that they can trust us because with everything out in the open, there’s no room for the wool to be pulled over their eyes. As a classic over communicator, I personally feel better when clients are kept up to date on what we’re doing, who we’re in talks with for trade assignments, material considerations, you name it; we want the clients to know and be involved. With this intertwinement of process and clients, we find that the trust flows fairly easy and fosters a good sense of brand loyalty. Happy clients are honestly the best cheerleaders, and we’re lucky to have them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theselfandspace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfandspace_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theselfandspace
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylajacks/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/theselfandspace/

Image Credits
Corey Bomar, Kelly Waldron, Rodolfo Tanno