We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristy Begin-Patterson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kristy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I took was in June 2021, when I decided to leave my high-level corporate career at Apple. After spending nearly 15 years with the company, I gave my 2 weeks to start what I thought was a life centered around be a present mother (not constantly being pulled away for conference calls, travel, meetings, etc.) and rediscovering myself so I could figure out what I really wanted to do with my life.

I started working for Apple 6 months before the iPhone was released. I was making a solid 6-figure salary. I had amazing benefits (health and retirement) and I was working for the world’s most admired and innovative company. Why would I ever leave? But I walked away from it all to save myself from a mental breakdown, to rediscover who I was, and to be the mother I always wanted to be for my kids.

Less than a year after leaving Apple, my world changed even more drastically when my then husband left the home and I was left to file for divorce.

Today, I’m a single mother raising two amazing children (10 and 8 yrs old). I’ve discovered how to blend what I love most (home and interiors) with my past career in technology sales and started a 3D Rendering and Design business called, “A Home’s Journey.” It allows me the flexibility I need to be a single mother all the while supporting myself and my kids doing something that I love and is aligned with my needs and values.

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?

I grew up in Porterville, California. I was a Division 1 Scholar Athlete attending the University of California at Berkeley on a swimming scholarship. I had my sights set on the 2004 Olympics however my swimming career was cut short due to a career ending shoulder injury after the 2000 Olympic Trials. Every morning after practice, I would rush back to my dorm room to catch what I could of the Martha Stewart show. This was when she was in her prime and she captivated everyone with her amazing crafts, decor, recipes, gardens, etc. I loved everything she created and dreamed of one day being able to do something similar.

I have always loved home decor, room layouts, clean classic styles and the light & airy coastal vibes. In 2018 I decided to personally take on a few bigger home projects (our family room update + laundry room renovation) and from then on I was hooked. When I moved into my current home I taught myself how to use a table saw and miter saw and started building vanities, closet built-ins, desks and bookcases. People following me on Instagram saw my work and started asking me to come over to help them with their projects. I let people know I wasn’t going to build anything, however, I would happily design their space for them.

One client asked that I design a walk-in closet for her new bedroom addition and that’s when I realized I had to provide 3D renderings to my clients if I ever wanted them to be able to understand my “vision.” Hand-drawings weren’t my speciality and even if they were, in today’s day and age that won’t cut it anymore. Clients expect more given all of the technology available.

I didn’t have any 3D rendering skills and I didn’t have the time to teach myself Sketchup, AutoCAD, etc so I found a rendering artist on Upwork and had her do the renderings for me. My client loved the design and decided to move forward with the project. I knew then and there that it was the renderings that got my project over the finish line and moved my client from a “maybe” to a “yes!”

The business woman in me started thinking about profit margins, time, and resources and it dawned on me that I’m likely not the only interior designer out there facing the same problem — all designers should be providing renderings but like me, they probably are outsourcing or aren’t offering photorealistic 3D renderings to their clients.

So, I went on a search to find a rendering program I could learn so I could do my own renderings free of charge, but also so I could offer this service to other interior designers that didn’t have the expertise, desire or time to learn a software program for 3D rendering.

This is when I stumbled across, Foyr, and their interior design software called, Neo. Thankfully, given the intuitive nature of the technology and their many features that accomplished what I needed, I was able to be up and running in no time.

Now, the basis of my business is offering photorealistic 3D renderings and virtual walkthroughs to home professionals (interior designers, builders, real estate agents). I am extension of their team during the project and help them deliver the highest quality images to their clients.

I named my business “A Home’s Journey” because every home goes on a journey, ever-changing and adapting, to the times and to the family inhabiting it’s space. It’s AHJ who is there, hand in hand with the designer and client, to take that home on its next journey of evolution.

What sets me apart from my competition is my business experience in the corporate world and understanding how to manage client relationships. I’ve managed businesses within Apple upwards of $300M and gone toe to toe with some high level executives within the company. I understand the importance of clarity, honesty, integrity, customer service and why it’s critical to deliver an exceptional product.

How did you build your audience on social media?

The way I’ve been able to build my audience on social media has been through building a partner relationship with the software manufacturer, Foyr. I positioned myself as an advocate for their brand and started engaging with them through tagging and mentioning them in my social media posts.

From there, they reached out and I approached the relationship from a business perspective with the hopes of it being mutually beneficial in the end.

I’ve been using Foyr since 2022 and am now designated as the US Ambassador for the brand. It’s been extremely beneficial to have the backing and support of the company as it makes me a more reputable service provider.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been through word of mouth referrals and social media engagement.

There is nothing better than a former client recommending you and your business to another person. Always ask for a review. Always ask for a referral. Always take that review and learn from it but also post it on your website and social media accounts. Always feature your client’s project on your social media accounts, thus promoting the work you did for their business. It’s free marketing for them and offers them a means of sharing your post with their followers. Always think about how you can make your client look GREAT. Find ways to surprise and delight them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ahomesjourney.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_homes_journey/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahomesjourney
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyp/

Image Credits
All images are my own.