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

Alright, Laquita thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

When I decided to officially start my design business, I made one small but pivotal move — I turned my Instagram account from private to public.

At the time, I wasn’t showcasing client projects. I was showcasing my own home. Every paint color, every styled shelf, every room refresh was both creative expression and quiet marketing. I wanted people to get a glimpse of what I could do — how I thought about space, how I layered color, how I created feeling in a room.

Before landing my first true client, I took on a few projects for friends. Those experiences weren’t about profit — they were about process. I was refining my workflow, learning how to communicate vision, building confidence in pricing, sourcing, and execution. I was preparing, even before I knew for what.

Then it happened.

A message came through my website.

A young couple expecting their first child had been watching my page. They wanted me to design their daughter’s nursery.

I remember the excitement so clearly — someone I didn’t know, someone outside my circle, believed in my vision enough to pay for it. That first dollar wasn’t just revenue. It was validation. It was confirmation that what I was building had value.

Designing that nursery was more than selecting wallpaper and furniture. It was my first opportunity to fully step into my role as a professional designer. The family was a dream to work with — trusting, collaborative, open. When they saw the finished space and fell in love with it, I felt something shift inside me.

That project didn’t just give me income — it gave me clarity.

I learned what parts of my process felt seamless and what needed structure. I saw where communication could improve. I understood the power of trust between designer and client. And most importantly, I realized that my creativity could truly serve others in meaningful ways.

That first paid nursery project wasn’t just the start of my revenue — it was the start of my confidence.

And I’ve been building from that moment ever since.

Laquita, 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?

I often say I live at the intersection of structure and creativity.

By day, I serve as the Chief Academic Officer for KIPP Memphis Public Schools, where I lead academic strategy, coach leaders, analyze data, and help shape the instructional vision for schools serving over 1,000 students. Education has always been a calling for me. I earned my Ph.D in Education because I believe deeply in systems, growth, and transformation.

But somewhere along that journey, another passion quietly surfaced.

After completing my doctorate, I found myself in an unexpected season — for the first time in years, I had space to breathe and think creatively. And in that stillness, I started looking at my own home differently. It didn’t feel aligned with who I was becoming. It lacked life. It lacked intention. So I began redesigning it — not just aesthetically, but emotionally. I started asking myself: How do I want to live? How do I want my space to feel?

That question changed everything.

As I layered color, texture, lighting, and art into my own home, I realized I was designing more than rooms — I was designing experiences. I fell in love with the process. All those years of flipping through design magazines, studying beautiful spaces, and rearranging rooms suddenly made sense. I realized this wasn’t just a hobby. It was a gift I could refine.

I found a mentor. I built a website. I began taking on small projects for friends to develop my systems and process. And Laquita Tate Interiors was born.

Today, Laquita Tate Interiors is a full-service residential and small commercial design firm. I specialize in renovations and full-scope design projects where I can truly transform a space — from flooring and cabinetry to paint colors, tile selections, custom furnishings, and curated art. I love starting with a neutral foundation and thoughtfully layering in color, texture, and meaningful pieces that reflect my clients’ stories. My work often balances classic grounding elements with bold moments that create conversation.

What sets me apart is my dual background.

As an educator and executive leader, I bring systems, organization, and strategic thinking into every project. My clients don’t just get creativity — they get structure, timelines, clear communication, and a well-managed process. I understand how to manage moving parts, collaborate with contractors and architects, and guide clients through decision fatigue with clarity and confidence.

But beyond the logistics, what I truly provide is transformation.

Many clients come to me because their space doesn’t feel like them. It feels unfinished, disconnected, or uninspired. I help them create homes that feel like sanctuaries — spaces they are proud of, spaces where they entertain effortlessly, spaces their guests don’t want to leave. I design environments that support rest, connection, and joy.

I am most proud when a client walks into their completed space and says, “This feels like us.” That moment never gets old.

I want potential clients and followers to know that my brand is rooted in intention. I don’t design for trends. I design for longevity and feeling. I design with purpose. Whether it’s a bold plum parlor, a layered living room built for entertaining, or a fully renovated kitchen that becomes the heart of the home, my goal is always the same: elevate the everyday experience of living.

At its core, my work is about refinement — refining how we live, how we gather, and how our homes reflect who we are becoming.

Laquita Tate Interiors is not just about beautiful rooms.

It’s about designing the life you want to walk into every single day.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience for me looks like commitment — even when it would be easier to choose comfort.

For the past six years, I have built Laquita Tate Interiors while serving full-time in a demanding executive leadership role in education. I am the Chief Academic Officer for KIPP Memphis, which means my days are filled with data analysis, school visits, coaching leaders, instructional planning, and high-level decision-making. It’s not a light role — it’s mission-driven and deeply important work.

But when that workday ends, another one begins.

There were seasons when I would leave a school walkthrough and immediately head to a design site visit. I’ve taken client calls on lunch breaks, reviewed tile samples between meetings, answered contractor emails late at night, and spent weekends fully immersed in installations, sourcing, and project planning. Sometimes the two worlds even overlap — a school leader meeting in the morning, a flooring selection by noon.

It would be easy to say it’s exhausting — and sometimes it is — but what carries me through is determination.

I made a decision early on that if I was going to build this business, I would build it with excellence. That meant meeting deadlines. That meant clear communication with clients and trades. That meant showing up prepared, organized, and reliable — even if I had been up late finalizing a design board the night before.

Resilience isn’t glamorous. It looks like answering emails when others are resting. It looks like refining proposals after a long day. It looks like protecting your word and honoring your commitments. It looks like understanding that you can hold more than one calling at a time.

What I’ve learned is this: you would be surprised at what you can accomplish when you are truly determined.

Building LTI didn’t happen because I had endless free time. It happened because I refused to give up. I refused to let fatigue win. I refused to let doubt talk me out of my vision.

I am relentless about my work ethic. And that resilience — that ability to carry both purpose and passion at the same time — is what has allowed me to grow a thriving design firm while continuing to lead in education.

I don’t quit.

And that mindset has shaped every part of my journey.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation has been built on two things: resilience and attention to detail.

First, I do what I say I’m going to do.

In both education and design, your word matters. When I commit to a timeline, a vision, or a deliverable, I follow through. Clients and trade partners know that if my name is attached to something, it will be executed with excellence. That level of reliability builds trust quickly — and trust travels fast in any market.

Second, I am deeply detail-oriented.

Design is not just about selecting beautiful pieces. It’s about scale, proportion, lighting, texture, flow, and function. It’s about making sure the tile aligns perfectly, the paint color reads correctly in natural light, the cabinetry hardware complements the fixtures, and the art tells the client’s story. My background in academic leadership sharpened my systems-thinking, and I bring that same precision into every design project. Nothing is random. Everything is intentional.

Visibility has also played a role.

When people see my work on social media — thoughtfully styled, professionally captured, and consistently shared — it reinforces my brand identity. Features on platforms like HGTV and in magazines have further validated my work and expanded my reach. Those moments certainly help with recognition, but they are the result of consistent effort behind the scenes.

What truly sustains my reputation, though, is consistency.

I don’t cut corners. I don’t disappear when challenges arise. I communicate clearly. I problem-solve quickly. I protect the client’s investment as if it were my own. Over time, that kind of integrity compounds.

In the end, reputation isn’t built in one viral moment — it’s built in the quiet, repeated act of keeping your word.

And that’s something I take very seriously.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laquitatate.com
• Instagram: @quitatate

Image Credits

Kim Thomas of KP Fusion