Today, we’d like to introduce you to Kimmie Riley.
Hi Kimmie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I’ve loved design as far back as I can remember. I was that teenager who was constantly rearranging my room! But when it came time to choose a career, I fell into real estate. I absolutely loved seeing all the homes and how they differed in style and taste. Roughly 20 years ago, I began noticing that my friends and neighbors would often praise my home decor and ask for my suggestions for their homes.
This surprised me because I rarely spent exorbitant amounts of money on pieces for my home. I loved finding treasures at neighborhood estate and yard sales! I’m dating myself here because Facebook Marketplace was unheard of then. My design choices always included an element of surprise, as I loathed the thought of my home looking like everyone else’s.
What truly changed the game for me was taking on corporate clients. These large companies would relocate their employees to other states, oftentimes leaving the homes empty before listing them for sale. I knew from experience that the home would sell for a better price if I staged it. I was fast forward to staging a few homes and the buyers asking to purchase much of the furnishings, and it dawned on me that I just might have some talent! I made it my goal to begin interior design as my profession, and here I am today.
House of Henry Interiors is a boutique design firm that still seeks out interesting pieces for each client. It is important to me to truly get to know my clients and to find out what is important to them. I find it a tremendous compliment that my clients trust me to come into their homes and to design them. A home is so personal and is where families spend their most intimate moments, so I am very thoughtful about what I choose for each project.
Also important to me? The budget of my client! I strive to keep my pricing a bit lower than the industry average because everyone deserves a beautiful home. Plus, I love the challenge! It’s so rewarding when I complete a project, and the client is in love with the result, but coming in at or under budget is just the icing on the cake!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our biggest challenge to date was definitely during COVID and not being able to go into homes!
Thank goodness we’ve passed those hard times, but we are still seeing slower-than-normal delivery from many companies trying to catch up. I’m lucky to have very understanding clients!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
House of Henry is a full-service boutique interior design firm that believes your home should tell a story- the story of you. Unmatched design & quality at affordable pricing. Everyone deserves a beautiful home.
What are your plans for the future?
Our future plans include growing the firm. We brought on Giselle Allphin this past year, and she shares my vision of creating homes that truly tell the story of the client. It’s amazing when you find someone who you can collaborate with so easily-it’s a joy having her on the team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://houseofhenryinteriors.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofhenryinteriors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houseofhenryinteriors
Image Credits
Amanda Allphin Photography
