Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie English.
Hi Katie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
This is my third career—likely my last, but we’ll see. While I was working as a high school Spanish teacher, my parents decided to open “Old Mill Market,” a bakery and retail store in our hometown. While I loved my five years of teaching, I was ready for something new and exciting. I joined the family business as the retail store manager, in charge of all the buying, displaying, and marketing of our retail products. After stepping foot into the retail world, I rediscovered my love for design and for making spaces feel just right.
In my spare time, I slowly began taking on projects outside of work (aka my mother’s house and my sister-in-law’s house). Between 2022 and 2023, I worked part time on my design business alongside my full-time position as retail store manager. When we decided to close our store in December 2023, I knew I was ready to jump in headfirst as a full-time designer—so I did!
Alright, 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?
It feels like it’s been a long, slow road to get to where I am today. I’ve been in business almost four years now, and things have never happened as quickly as I expected or wanted them to. I’m really grateful for that slow growth, though.
Being able to run the business part time during the first year and a half was an incredible blessing. I got to figure out the basics—my brand, my clientele, my process—all while still having a stable income elsewhere.
To me, the hardest part about being in business for yourself is wearing about 50 “hats” a day. In the beginning, you’re the admin, bookkeeper, accountant, drafter, lead designer, design assistant, social media consultant, photographer, etc., etc. Heck, I was even the painter and wallpaper installer early on in the business.
Slowly but surely, as I’ve grown, I’ve handed off pieces of my responsibilities to people who are much more qualified and skilled than I am in those areas. Every time I do, I feel lighter and closer to who I really want to be.
I tell people my goal for the next two years is to become an interior designer (aka figure out how to get rid of my other hats!).
As a side note—in the summer of 2024, my husband and I (married all of one year) decided to move to Colorado for a year of adventure. Nothing like having a brand-new baby business and relocating halfway across the country. THAT was a struggle. I had to fly back to Georgia almost once a month to meet with clients, go to market, and handle installs. It sounds glamorous, but it was hardly that. Exhausting and time-consuming is a much better description.
Thankfully, we had our “year of adventure” and moved back to Forsyth, GA, in July 2025. My mom and I recently renovated an office in town and now share the building between our two businesses—my interior design firm and my mom’s real estate agency.
As you know, we’re big fans of Home Hearted Design Co. LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Home Hearted Design Co. is a full-service interior design firm focused on high-end residential decorating, renovations, and large new construction projects. We create refined yet livable homes for busy families—spaces that feel elevated, intentional, and deeply personal, while prioritizing functionality, organization, and everyday ease.
Our firm offers a fully turnkey, white-glove design experience. From initial concept to final installation, we oversee every detail—planning, procurement, contractor coordination, and complete project installation—ensuring a seamless and stress-free process for our clients.
We manage each project through our streamlined three-phase design process. At HH, we pride ourselves on communication, ensuring our clients always know what to expect regarding the design process, financial investment, and timeline.
We serve as a strategic partner to contractors and trades, providing detailed construction drawings, comprehensive specification packages, and continued oversight through project completion. This collaborative approach ensures precision, alignment, and excellence in execution.
As a fixed-fee design firm, we price projects by scope rather than hourly billing—offering transparency and eliminating unexpected costs.
We thoughtfully source high-quality, responsibly made materials and prioritize skilled local craftsmanship whenever possible, creating homes that are both beautiful and enduring.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I speak Spanish! This skill is super helpful on many of my construction sites, since a lot of the trades I work with are Spanish-speaking. Less is lost in translation when I can communicate directly with my industry partners, and I often feel I can build better rapport with them.
Pricing:
- Average Design Fee: $7.50-$15 per sq ft for new construction (based on homes 5,000 sq ft +)
- Average Design Fee: $15-$25 per sq ft for renovations or decorating (based on a 20×20 room)
- Project Minimums for Renovations or Decorating projects- total investment minimum of $25,000.00
- Project Minimums for New Construction- total investment minimum of $2.5 million
- Total investment for typical decorating projects: Decorating: Living Room- $55,000+ Entry way- $15,000+ Primary Bedroom- $45,000+ Dining Room- $35,000+ Office- $25,000+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://homehearteddesignco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homehearteddesignco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homehearteddesignco
Image Credits
Dulce Lumen Creative House – Melody Foster
Robin Gatti Photography
