Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Walton.
Katie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I graduated from The University of Georgia in 2003 with a degree in interior design. I did an internship with J Banks Design on Hilton Head Island and was hired to stay on as a design assistant. In 2004 I moved back to Atlanta and took a position as a design consultant with John Wieland Homes. I spent four years there assisting buyers with finish and lighting selections for their new homes. A large portion of that time was spent working with John Wieland’s custom division Colonnade Custom Homes. When the housing crisis of 2008 hit, I was laid off literally a month to the day before our wedding. My goal was always to eventually open my own design firm, and with minimal employment opportunities for the design trade at that time, I decided to go ahead and take the plunge. I began to take on clients of my own, and also consulting with Strathmore Floors, Acadia Homes and Lehigh Homes. In 2012 I furnished my first model home for David Weekly Homes, and by 2013 Flair Interiors had grown enough by word of mouth for me to drop the consulting work and concentrate full time on my own business.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting in 2008 was by far the biggest obstacle I have had to overcome. I am so thankful for friends and colleagues who hired me for consulting work, and for clients and friends who helped to spread the word about my business. It would not have been possible without them.
I also struggled when I became a mother between the urge to be home with my baby vs the love I have for my work. The first few years of trying to figure out a balance and who I am as a mother were very tough for me. Once my daughter was old enough for preschool and now elementary school, I find it much easier to be fully involved in my work again.
Flair Interiors – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Flair Interiors is a full-service interior design firm. We are able to assist with every aspect of design from consulting on plans and finishes (both on the outside and inside of your home) all the way through to selecting and providing furniture, accessories, artwork, rugs, bedding, soft window treatments, plantation shutters and blinds! For clients who prefer to simply hire a designer for advice, rather than purchasing we offer consulting services a la carte as well. One of my favorite services is model home design and merchandising. It is such a thrill to create spaces that potential buyers dream about living in. We also enjoy working on occasional office spaces! Overall we are a very versatile firm!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I see each new project is an opportunity to grow both creatively and professionally. As such each space I finish becomes the space I am most proud of. If I had to pick right now, I would say the offices of Flowers Medical Group. The project was my second medical office (I designed their first as well) and also the largest space I have taken on. It pushed me far out of my comfort zone and allowed me to create on a scale and in a style that I had not done before. The space turned out beautifully, and my husband and I are both clients so we get to enjoy the space from that perspective as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.FlairInteriorsLLC.com
- Phone: 7708464764
- Email: katie@flairinteriorsllc.com
- Instagram: @flairint
- Facebook: @flairinteriorsllc
Image Credit:
Catrina Maxwell (personal photo only)
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