We were lucky to catch up with Kenzie Perry recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kenzie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.
If I were starting over, I would have ventured away from incorporating lifestyle products through my interior design brand. However, I am completely grateful for the experience to learn what works and doesn’t work in hindsight. I created my design brand by impulse during the pandemic. Other than admiring a few successful, well known designers and brands online, I was naive to a lot of things. I could have arrived to where I presently am, if I focused on one good idea and exclusively promoted the product. In pursuing lifestyle products, capital could have been saved by testing products first or offer a made-to-order option.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Kenzie Leon Perry and I am the Creative Director for Ze Haus Design Studio. I am a licensed interior designer, specializing in hospitality, commercial and residential spaces. In addition to designing spaces, I am also a visual artist and product designer, creating wallpaper and fabric collections for my brand.
Born and reared in Miami, Florida and having had worked as a Sr. Designer for an all-inclusive resort brand in the Caribbean for half of my career, I love nature and the tropics. My design aesthetic coined Tropic Art Nuvo is inspired by the tropics with emphasis on artistic elements such as hand painted murals and custom wallpaper designs, blended with eclectic styling featuring bold colors, prints and patterns. My goal is to save the world from white walls and boring interiors, by infusing spaces with soul, character and personality. The heart of what I do begins and ends with the concept.
I studied music for a short period of time at Florida Memorial University and completed my B.S. in Interior Design at Florida International University, graduating with high honors and receiving my professional license with the State of Florida very early on in my career.
Since launching Ze Haus in 2020, I’ve been featured by Panaz Fabrics, Curated Quarters Magazine, Business of Home, Lonny Magazine, Spoonflower and Aphrochic Magazine. I was also named 1 of 28 Black Tastemakers by Angela Belt and I am the Southeast Grand Prize Winner of Jaime Stern Rug Design Contest for 2021.
I give back to my community by raising scholarships for my alma mater, Florida International University’s Festival of the Trees event and mentor graduate students annually. Currently, I am completing an art series entitled People & Plants, which focuses on the relationship between humans and nature.
In my leisure time, I enjoy singing, writing and recording music. I also enjoy thrifting, traveling, yoga, meditation and entertaining family and friends in my home.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I am most passionate about the black and Caribbean diaspora in my city, and it has been my mission to design products and create artwork inspired by the creative soul of the people who laid foundational roots of art, culture and history. The design collections I have been creating reflect historically designated black and Caribbean cities in Miami. Each design consisting of wallpaper and artwork, tell a story and creates home products that people and business can enjoy, a reflection of city and home as one.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I built my social media audience by joining a “homes tour” group. Essentially, it’s a large group of home design influencers who support each other by liking, following, and commenting on each others posts. The leaders of the group arrange specific days for the group to engage on social media. The benefit of joining this group stimulated instagram algorithms for my design brand content to be seen by others outside of the group. My audience grew rapidly within one year.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ze-haus.com
- Instagram: ze_haus
- Facebook: @zehausinteriors
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ze-haus-design-studio/
- Twitter: ze_haus
Image Credits
Justin Helmick, Howwls Photography for photos 3, 4 and 8