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

Shelby, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you ever had an amazing boss? What did you learn from them? Maybe you can share a story that illustrates the kind of boss they were or maybe you can share your thoughts on what you think made them an awesome person to work for?

The best boss I ever had was one of my first professional jobs right out of college. I lived in Los Angeles at the time and still had so much to learn about the interior design industry. Gary had exclusive clientele in the Hollywood industry and years and years of experience under his belt. He was difficult to please and didn’t tip toe on anyone’s feelings. I’m pretty sure I went home crying everyday just from not feeling good enough or like I didn’t have a clue what was going on but I learned the most from him. He challenged me and gave me insight into the interior design world. I was able to learn from my own experiences and build talent from there. Work experience is so much more valuable than anything you will ever learn in school.

Shelby, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I decided to become an interior designer because growing up I loved to redecorate my room constantly and I loved color. I always had an artistic background and knew I wanted to pursue that as a career. I decided to move to Los Angeles for art school and during that time, had the opportunity to study abroad in London. These opportunities opened up so much inspiration and influence into my future self and career. I worked for multiple interior design firms, including high-end residential, commercial, model homes and virtual design. After having an extensive amount of experience, I decided to start my own company. I enjoy helping people visualize ideas and design aesthetic that they wouldn’t normally go for but will make them happy. I mostly enjoy the use of mixing colors, patterns and textures but also appreciate the clients who challenge me to use little color. I’m also great and picking paint colors and love how something so simple can easily transform a space. I think it’s automatically assumed that interior design can be expensive, but I want people to know that it can also be affordable. No one should have to sacrifice the beauty of design because they think they can’t afford it. There is design out there for everyone!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There have been times in my career where I have had to find jobs that I didn’t necessarily think were appealing or “good enough” due to the economy or not enough interior design work being available but those jobs helped build my experience. I’ve worked in a window treatment shop, furniture stores and even designing window displays for retail stores. The thing I realized from these jobs is that I was able to continue working in the interior design industry, as well as be able to focus on smaller details that will give me the knowledge, I need to become a better interior designer. Just because they weren’t glamorous jobs doesn’t mean I wasn’t learning something that would help shape my career. For these opportunities, I have been grateful.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’m always on the lookout for ways to learn more and become more inspired. One of the most inspiring things I did that pushed me to start my own company was a business program called Selfmade. It is a motivating online business course for female entrepreneurs to provide guidance, resources and tools to help you achieve your goals. This helped me feel confident, optimistic and impelled to become an actual business owner. I continue take classes or read books that will keep me moving in the right direction.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brassbonesdesignco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brassbonesdesignco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brassbonesdesignco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-kirby-1ab82210/