Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Larrabee-Martin.
Hi Michelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My career in interior design started the day I graduated from The Art Institute of Atlanta in 1988. It took me 16 years to work my way up the ladder at a national fabric / interior design showroom. I stumbled into the outdoor furniture market when an outdoor furniture vendor from Denmark, NEW to the USA, approached the company I worked for and asked for representation. I liked the line, but the company I worked for had just filed bankruptcy, so to me, the conversation was over, and my job was no more. My husband had a crazy idea and randomly said, “Let’s just open an outdoor furniture showroom and do what no one else is doing.” Fast forward a year, and Kolo Collection opened. I’m still not real sure how – it was a blur which included a trip to Denmark, London, and Paris for a crash course in “European outdoor living”. Our company, Kolo Collection, is celebrating 21 years with 3 locations: 2 in Atlanta, GA, and 1 in Nashville, TN.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Every day is a challenge. Will your employees show up for work? Will you make payroll, rent… How do you compete with the big box companies? How do you stay relevant? How do you advertise for your business with as little money and the most impact, and how do you measure that? Who has the crystal ball???
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love to design outdoor living spaces. I want to understand our customers, how they live, and what their needs are, and then I want to find options. I love the process…I hate paperwork. On every job I work, I imagine myself and my family/friends using that space as if it was mine. I connect with our customers and end up forging lasting relationships which makes me so happy. I love when customers come by to say hi or text me they’re enjoying their space and thought of me, or when they send me pictures from a prom, wedding, or other special event. I feel like I’m a part of their family…even if I don’t see the spaces after I install them.
I think my deep dive into our customers’ lives and my passion for what they want and need is what sets me apart from most exterior designers. I believe in purchasing quality, and I believe in supporting manufacturers that care about our planet, so it’s up to me to focus on the education and design of a job instead of the sale and throwing some random cheap furniture in place.
What’s next?
The future will hold my retirement. That does not mean I’ll stop being a designer. It means I’ll pick and choose what I want to work on.
I founded a non-profit during the 2020 pandemic. Operation Feed Atl. We provide food/snacks for children suffering from food insecurity. This has changed my life. To know that we’re making a difference in the lives of so many children/families – as well as making a difference in our community; well, there’s nothing more rewarding than giving. I have dreams of how Operation Feed Atl can grow, so maybe that’s in my future. Who knows?
Contact Info:
- Website: kolocollection.com
