Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirby Caldwell.
Hi Kirby, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the South and studied Fine Arts and Architecture in undergrad. After a stint backcountry skiing and working in the wine industry out in Oregon, I really buckled down and immersed myself in the New York City design grind for about 10 years. You name it, I did it. Vintage furniture dealer, textile design, furniture design, and hotel design. I was a sponge and just soaked it allllll in. Basically, my dream has always been to work for myself and I could never imagine going back to a point where someone else managed my schedule and my creative vision. So when I had my first baby, I knew I had to get out of that crazy NYC grind and back down south and start creating the vision that I wanted to see the South grow into. I pitched myself super hard and the first projects I landed were a cute boutique hotel in Mt. Pleasant and a social club in Chattanooga. Never looked back from there!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth road?! No way! I got fired from my first interior design job. The principle of the firm told me I just wasn’t suited for this industry and that I gave it my best shot but should move on to do something else. I was totally heartbroken. But thank God I didn’t listen to him because the next job I landed was my dream job designing boutique hotels and clubs for an international firm. I got to travel all the time to the most beautiful places, made lifelong connections and learned so much.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Kirby Caldwell Inc. is an interior design firm based in Charleston, South Carolina with projects across the country. KCI provides design services for boutique hospitality and residential clients, as well as creative direction and custom furniture and lighting design. My design firm is known for sourcing antique and vintage pieces alongside the creation of bespoke furniture. My aesthetic has a curated, collected and patinated feel – more playful and and less overly designed. Since I am a one-person firm, my clients have the advantage of working with me directly on all stages of the project, and I think this is a huge reason for my success. I also love the collaborative process and feel there is a real importance in listening to the creative vision of the owner, architect, branding agency, craftsmen and all other involved parties. I have been lucky enough to always work with the BEST teams and am so proud of all the projects we have completed.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kirbycaldwell.com
- Instagram: @kirbycaldwellinc
Image Credits
Kirk Chambers Ali Harper
