From Interior Designer to Multi-Million Dollar CEO | Aspire with Emma Grede

Today's guest isn't your typical founder. She's a creative force who has

founder. She's a creative force who has built a global brand around her taste and her point of view. Kelly Worler is one of the most influential interior designers in the world. But we're not

here to talk about her taste alone.

We're actually going to get into the brand and the business behind it. From

working an unpaid apprenticeship in New York to waiting tables to a 60 person studio and a business that spans interiors, product, creative direction,

and media. Kelly is the epitome of

and media. Kelly is the epitome of scaling with intention and precision. In

my conversation with her today, we're going to talk about risk, reinvention, motherhood, money, failure, and how she's evolved and continues to push boundaries with the introduction of AI

in a largely creative company. Kelly

built a successful business and one that's designed to last. And my loves, before we get into the episode, please don't forget to like and subscribe.

Kelly, thank you so much for being here today.

Thank you for having me. This is like such an honor and I'm so so happy to be here with you.

Honestly, I couldn't be more happy. I'm

telling you, when I said that I was going to have you on the show today, so many people were excited around me. They

were like, "Oh my god, I follow her on Instagram. She's so cool." I was like,

Instagram. She's so cool." I was like, "You have no idea." Um, but to start us off, I think so many people know you.

Obviously, you're an AD 100 interior designer. A lot of people will know you

designer. A lot of people will know you through your various commercial projects or maybe they've stayed at a hotel that you've designed, but I would love for you in your own words to just talk a

little bit about exactly what it is that you do and this kind of incredible business and the scope of the business because there's so many different facets of what you do that I'd love it to come

from your own mouth.

Uh, okay. So I am a designer and I basically have six verticals within my company and it all started with uh

design and architecture and we design residential projects, we design hotels.

I also have licensing, we do creative directions for brands, we have uh brand partnerships. Uh I also have a media

partnerships. Uh I also have a media business uh Worler World that I launched last year and it's on Substack and it's so much fun. We love your Substack.

Everyone in this office is following you you on Substack. I can't tell you.

It's so much fun. Like just sharing it.

Like I share like the tips and things that I that I'm loving, things I want to buy and it crosses over like beauty and fashion and and design and travel and architecture and like cool places to

stay and and so it's a really and like the sky's is the limit. Like I really want to like push that forward. And then

also I launched a gallery last year side hustle and this is like really like about the art of collaboration and working with different artists which is also something that I'm really so

passionate about and you know really looking at how they think and and creating unique works with them.

Unbelievable. And you also have a products business right that's in the licensing arm I'm guessing.

Yes. But we also produce we design and produce our own products. So we have workshops we have our own production team. We do our own sales and

team. We do our own sales and distribution. Uh we have, you know,

distribution. Uh we have, you know, e-commerce and and then we also have the licensing division.

I mean, it's wild. This is a it's a big old business. It is crazy. It is crazy.

old business. It is crazy. It is crazy.

What do you think it um is that's allowed you to kind of have this business where you're kind of, you know, you you have this obviously unbelievable creative brain, but you have a real

commerciality to what you do as well.

What is it in your personality that's allowed you to have like this kind of crossover and the and the breadth of business that you have?

Well, it's just being like curious and I love designing and so much comes out of our projects that we design whether it's for residential designing something proprietary. Everyone wants something

proprietary. Everyone wants something unique uh or it's for a hospitality project and you know really looking at everyone wants something unique and good

design is like paramount and the quality the craftsmanship and everyone wants something like really like that's functional something that does something

for them. Uh and it has a unique point

for them. Uh and it has a unique point of view but it's also like somewhat down the middle of the road so it appeals to more people.

Yeah. and you're masterful at doing that because I I know like the research and the stories and how like brilliantly kind of you think about things but to somebody else they just look at an

object and they're like I need that like we all were very very lucky that we stayed um at the Santa Monica Hotel and we were dying because everything that we looked at is something that you just

want to buy and take home and have in your house and it's just you know it's a mix uh like how I design is like contemporary works and a lot of things we design that

go into our projects, but it's also like vintage and classic pieces that really like create a really interesting tension in in our projects.

I feel like that crosses over so much into like the way that you present yourself from a fashion point of view as well because I follow you on Instagram like so many of us do and you've got

like a bit of old, a bit of new, something that you've collected, something that's not even supposed to be clothing. It's like so incredible the

clothing. It's like so incredible the way you put things together.

Yeah. And and it's I like I dress how I design like there's always something that is is vintage and that's very soulful and it like it has a story and

it has like patina and interest and soul like that's something that's so important but then there's something that is contemporary that like creates like this perfect like friction this beautiful friction. Can I ask you what

beautiful friction. Can I ask you what changed for you from I guess the beginning of your career when you were like more servicing clients to this part of your business that's more about your

own lines and collections? Is it

something is there like a big shift in the way that you see your business today? Yeah. So, well, like, you know,

today? Yeah. So, well, like, you know, starting out like I'm in a service business and I it's all about creating unique projects and being a good

listener and and you know, really like loving that. I love

loving that. I love basically I create uh we design someone's love story whether it's for a

brand or it's for a client. And and in doing that, we um you know are there's only so far we can go. Like I want to

stay a boutique size studio. I'm there

every day. I'm there all day long. I'm

providing the creative leadership to the team which is so important. And I also want to scale my business. And so this is where like the licensing and the

design um was able to uh be a big part of our business. And this is where I can scale. Hiring really talented uh team,

scale. Hiring really talented uh team, collaborating with them, also working with these amazing uh brand partnerships or like the the best in class who we're

partnering with. And so we create

partnering with. And so we create interesting um you know energy. We do

something new. Uh our partners push us to do something new. We push them to work in something uh maybe another material they haven't worked in before.

So uh so it's it's really like a uh you know the business is uh is constantly feeding each other. There's a lot of cross-pollination that goes on. No doubt

which is great. And design is the foundation of the business and there's so much that comes out of that.

Can you tell me a little bit about your origin story? Like how did you even get

origin story? Like how did you even get into interior design? Uh, so I um I grew up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and I

was like really curious. I came from like a lineage of women that were really strong and worked like both of my grandmothers worked. My one grandmother

grandmothers worked. My one grandmother worked in a factory. My other

grandmother worked 50 years as an legal assistant for an attorney. And I had a very young mom. She was 18 when she had my sister and I, right? And um we uh you

know grew up in a city that there wasn't a lot of culture and but my mother was so curious and she was always about like you know you and your sister have to

take care of yourselves. You have to be your own independent person. Nobody's

going to take care of you other than you. I mean that was like all what these

you. I mean that was like all what these women were always saying in my life. And

and so that came at like a very young age. And then my mother who is like

age. And then my mother who is like incredibly curious uh like loved design and so she was constantly I was going to thrift stores, I was going to flea

markets, I was going to auctions uh you know everywhere with her and I can just remember going into these you know some were like these like smelly little holes

in the wall and like digging for the treasure and I was so excited to go and I just remember opening up these magazines and like seeing fashion and seeing graphic design and opening up all

these incredible books that were taking me to another place cuz I was in Myrtle Beach like there not a lot.

It was like escapism for you and it was escapism and and I was absolutely loving it and I you know just kind of dreamed of like you know just doing

something creative. And when was the

something creative. And when was the first time you sort of understood that this, you know, sort of like need to, you know, have beautiful things and be in these thrift stores and find like little treasures. When did you

little treasures. When did you understand that that could parlay into a career, you know? So, I went to I left when I

you know? So, I went to I left when I was 18. I went to school in in Boston.

was 18. I went to school in in Boston.

like I just wanted to get out and uh so went to school in Boston and I was uh waiting tables while I was in school and because you know I paid my way through

college and I was going to school I was going to work and then going to my studio space at night and like I just knew I wanted to like at some point like

have my own business like I didn't know exactly I was studying graphic design I changed my major to architecture in college.

Oh wow.

And then I um was just you know just working really hard like you know all the students were going to Europe for vacation and I was working and I loved

it. I was doing like internships and

it. I was doing like internships and things like that and um then I ended up after I graduated I moved to New York and I ended up getting a job working with a very famous like kind graphic

designer uh Milton Glazier. He he

actually designed the I love New York logo. No. Oh wow. He's like iconic. He's

logo. No. Oh wow. He's like iconic. He's

really he's amazing.

That's insane. What training ground that must have been for you?

And and I also had visibility to he was also designing restaurants and he was like really a multi-disiplinary. It was

my first kind of visibility.

How old were you at this How old are you at this point?

Uh I was uh like 21.

Oh wow. So like super formative. This is

your first job out of college and you're like really in the thick of it with somebody. Was he iconic at the time?

somebody. Was he iconic at the time?

Yes. Yes, he was iconic and he was doing like a lot of like album covers and like restaurants and things like that, but I was working for free because it was an apprentichip back. Yes.

back. Yes.

And and uh so then I was also waiting tables. um which is like like I think

tables. um which is like like I think like one of the best jobs like that you could do like I think the combination of waiting tables and working for free could like

be for almost like I don't know like nine out of 10 of the really successful people I know and and you know what it's like things go 360 because like I know how to design

a restaurant because I know in depth how they operate like I just know so well because I worked at them for so long.

Well, also it's that combination of like understanding like how to service people, right? Like what matters to

people, right? Like what matters to somebody as they come into a place and what the graphic design layout of a menu is and how people feel comfortable in a space, how long do they stay in it. It's

all very formative. Like I always say that I am a good host because I worked in a delicateesscent and I really understood like if you did a good coffee, you could get someone to stay and have like a piece of cake and then

they'd buy something off the shelf. But

the whole thing was like, you know, like you're learning, you're picking up all of these signals if if you're smart enough to do that. So when you come, so you're in New York, you're working this unpaid in apprenticeship, I guess. How

long do you stay in that job?

Like I stayed in that job for I think it was like 10 months. Okay. And then I knew like and living in New York when you have no money is so tough as you know. And also like I grew up on the

know. And also like I grew up on the beach and I wanted to be in nature but I also wanted to be in an urban setting where there was like culture and I could learn and a friend of mine from Boston

uh said you have to come to LA and check it out. So I came to LA and he actually

it out. So I came to LA and he actually had like a place in Malibu where I stayed. He was like there was an

stayed. He was like there was an apartment there's actually apartments in Malibu and by Yeah. by the pier.

That's insane.

And so I I stayed with him for like um three days and I was like hooked. I was

like, "Oh my god, I have to be here."

And then I went back and like packed my [ __ ] up and then I moved to to LA.

That's unbelievable. That's

unbelievable. So, take me back to the moment where you decided to strike out on your own because again, this business that you've created, like I always talk about you as having like this one

career. You've got all of these

career. You've got all of these verticals. They're all so kind of like

verticals. They're all so kind of like inextricably like you. like they feel like it's like such a you're the person that created these things. You've create

created this business in your own likeness, but I guess it didn't start that way. So, I'd love for you to take

that way. So, I'd love for you to take me back to the beginning and tell me what it was like as you decided to go out on your own.

Well, it came it kind of happened unexpectedly because I so I came to LA and I was like, "Okay, I got to find a place to live and I had no money because I also had credit card debt cuz I was like working for free and it was just,

you know, the whole thing moving out."

And so I got a job working at a restaurant in in uh West Hollywood. It

was like a lot of people from the film business came to this restaurant and I became friendly with this couple and we would talk design and go to museums and I would tell them I was going to the flea market and and they were like,

"Hey, why don't like do you want to help us with our house? We just got a house in Venice in the canals and you know we'll give you like the living room and like you work on that and uh like there

was no budget." So, I'm like, "Yes."

Like, I'm going to do this. And I was doing everything. Like, I was painting.

doing everything. Like, I was painting.

I was going to the the paint store in the morning, finding the painter, painting, going to the flea market with a flashlight in the morning at like 5 in the morning where you find all the like

good stuff and like like having a cart, putting things in my car, like I was doing everything cuz I wanted this project so bad to to just be amazing.

Did you think about it as like a a formative project or were you just doing your mates a favor? Like was there a point in your mind where you're like, "Oh, this is going to be like a some kind of showroom for me or like a you know

No, I wasn't. I was just doing what I felt in my heart like I wanted to make the clients happy. It was kind of like the perfect storm." So, I did the one room and then I ended up doing the

entire house and then, you know, they had friends over uh and uh I ended up getting other projects and so I was like like [ __ ] I have my my own business.

But I was still working out of my apartment. I was doing I was still

apartment. I was doing I was still waiting tables like I because you're nervous. It's like what is the next job

nervous. It's like what is the next job I'm going to get? Like I didn't know.

And so then I started getting a couple calls and then I was like this is amazing. And I ended up hiring um an

amazing. And I ended up hiring um an assistant who actually worked at a vintage store that was like so great and and he was helping me in my apartment.

So this really was like born out of a passion and you just like throwing yourself in and then word of mouth. Yes,

that was it.

There was no Instagram. There was no like advertising.

So, there's no way of publicizing your work. It was like if you got invited to

work. It was like if you got invited to that couple's house and was like, "Oh, this is like a lovely living room or a lovely home," they would say, "Oh, Kelly did this."

did this." Was it a scary decision? Because again,

I speak to so many young founders and I think that people that are sitting here listening to this at home that are dreaming of like jumping into something that they really love but it's not quite

like the thing that they dream about is not quite matching their you know day job if you like. Was there trepidation from you like giving up waiting tables or like oh my god I would have

nightmares. I'm like oh my god I still

nightmares. I'm like oh my god I still have dreams I'm not joking that I had to go back to waiting tables. Like, is that crazy? I still have dreams like that.

crazy? I still have dreams like that.

I'm sure you'd be really good at it.

You're a great host. There you go.

You've always got that to fall back on.

I do. Exactly. You've always got that to fall back on. All right. So, you start and I and I want to fast forward a bit because I feel like I I want to dig into the business that you run today. But how

did you go from you and this assistant that came from the vintage shop to having like a 60 people studio now? So,

so when I finished my apartment and it looked amazing, I'm like, I'm going to get a photographer and we're going to shoot it and then I'm going to submit it to a magazine because that was like like how we all the people operated there to

like have their work in a magazine. And

so I did and I got a call I remember from El Decor. I was like, "Oh my god, I was so excited." And they published it and it was uh like the like the upand

cominging new like designers. Yeah. And

then I also uh started working with uh this developer who's now my husband um on on like he was buying all of these like uh historic apartment buildings in

LA like really cool ones and and I met him through a friend and he was like hey can you help me with like designing the lobbies and the corridors and like some of the common areas and did you immediately go like yeah I

can design a like corridor or I always like I always would say yes obviously no fear there's nothing in you that feels um fear, imposttor syndrome, like

anything that would stop you from just going for it.

No, cuz I take risks. Like that's like what I'm about. And how that's how I grow. I continue to do things that are

grow. I continue to do things that are tough and I'm scared, but you just do them.

Where does that come from, Kelly? Where

does the ability to just like take a risk because I want to become better. I

always want to be better. I always like want to one up myself, right? I always

want to just get better and I'm curious and I'm determined. I'm I'm ambitious. I

love what I do. Like absolutely live and breathe what I do.

It's just it's amazing. I mean it's amazing to me because you would have been such a young woman at that time and I'm guessing that the competition like here in LA there would have been so many

options and fabulous people that were doing like big celebrity projects and you're just like and it was scary. I ask a lot of questions like I can remember like my first big project was in Brentwood. It

was actually new construction and they you know the contractor there was like budgets there was timelines and it was like very structured and like there was

a lot of things I didn't know and so I asked I remember the contractor was like amazing and I just I wasn't afraid to ask questions and not not um let people

know. I didn't exactly know the answer

know. I didn't exactly know the answer or how to operate and I just watched a lot. I spent so much time at all of

lot. I spent so much time at all of these all of our sites and I really watched like the plumbers and the electricians and and you know everyone pouring the foundation and really

understanding like construction and design because I didn't come I wasn't working at a studio. I wasn't working in architectural office before. So a lot of it you know you learn to learn on the

job. Yeah. On the job. Did you do you

job. Yeah. On the job. Did you do you think that that um still happens to you now? Because obviously you have a lot of

now? Because obviously you have a lot of different parts of your business. Do you

still start a new thing or go into a new category and feel like you can ask a lot of questions or do you feel like you need to have all the answers at this point?

No, I I still ask questions. I mean,

because we still get uh presented with challenging projects and we work on like really large projects and some of them are historic renovations and there's just a lot of questions. You're always

presented with something new. Yeah.

And so, you know, when when I was working on the residential projects and then I had this opportunity to work on a hotel, it was my first hotel project and

I um I got an office on Labraa, very small office. I had like two people and

small office. I had like two people and uh the the developer who is now my husband, he now had investors to buy a hotel. So, there was a hotel, the Avalon

hotel. So, there was a hotel, the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills and and we had a platonic relationship at that point. He

liked me. I had a boyfriend. Yeah, for

sure. He would tell my friends.

It was sweet.

You're like, "Oh, okay. That's sweet."

And um so I was like, I have to do this hotel. Like I really want to do it. It's

hotel. Like I really want to do it. It's

like this cool 1950s like boomerang shaped building. Like Marilyn Monroe

shaped building. Like Marilyn Monroe lived there. It had all this history.

lived there. It had all this history.

And um so he's like, "I don't know. I

have investors." And I was like, "Well, let's like just see what you can do. I

really want to do it." So he went back and they said, "Well, if if Kelly does the model room, every hotel you do, you have to do a model room and outfit it like we actually you sleep there. You

want to make sure everything is perfect before you like, you know, do 200 rooms or something."

Yeah. And so um so I did the model room.

I actually moved from my office on Labraa with my team of only like three people. We actually took a room at the

people. We actually took a room at the Avalon and we like just lived and breathed it cuz it was a it's a new beast. It's a completely different

beast. It's a completely different animal like just where all the vendors where things are made, fabricated like it's just a very more complex um like business designing a hotel and so I did

the model room and that was the deal.

You have to do the model room if we love it and then you find an architect who's actually done a hotel before and I did that found amazing architect they helped and it was a huge success. So this is

like my big moment where I you know it was a very sexy project and it got a lot of like global press and um and I got another hotel after that Maison 140 this

hotel in Beverly Hills and like things were getting like that's like the beginning of the beginning the beginning of the beginning.

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Is there like something a lesson or something that you learned from those early days just as your kind of reputation was being formed that informs

how you run your studio today? I wonder.

I mean, I do it's the same like I'm present. I'm there. Uh there's like

present. I'm there. Uh there's like structure. I'm like, you know, organized

structure. I'm like, you know, organized and I still like like let curiosity lead me and and I, you know, I'm so open to

like many possibilities and and you know, when after we finished those hotels, I got a call from uh a big publisher in New York and she was like,

"I've seen your projects. I've been

watching you and I want to do a book."

And so I did I did a book. I never

thought in a million years. And it's so funny like I look at it. It's called

Modern Glamour and it looks like Instagram. Like it has photos of me

Instagram. Like it has photos of me shopping. It has like quotes on like

shopping. It has like quotes on like pages and it was like it was a it was a best-selling book. It was like really

best-selling book. It was like really exciting.

That's crazy. So, how are you thinking at that point? Right, you've done a beautiful and very like revered hotel project. You've got your next big

project. You've got your next big project that's coming down the pipe.

You're asked to do a book. How are you thinking about structuring your business at that point? because I feel like you're kind of like obviously in this moment where you know like the spotlight's on you. There's a lot of

different ways that that can go and obviously you've taken it so far as to like build this business but like I also think like when you have a business that's rooted in design fashion like

they go in style and they go out of style and yet you've got this incredible thing that feels that it's like got a lot of longevity. So did you have a thought about I'm building this type of

business that's going to get me to here?

Like I just I'm curious about the thinking and how the whole thing kind of gets shaped up and comes together.

Like I had no playbook. Like honestly

nothing. And I wasn't like I honestly never dreamed I'd be working on the stuff that I'm working on now. Really?

No. Never. And it's like I just like I always say like you're just like surfing the wave and you're just like getting on the opportunity that feels good. Like

that's so important. like things that feel authentic and things that really feel like meaningful to me and that they'll be an end result. I mean,

granted, when I started it was like I was taking any job. Yeah.

Um but, you know, I just make sure like that that the the projects we're taking uh the you know, our partners, but there really wasn't. I just was like slow and

really wasn't. I just was like slow and steady and and it's still that way. I

mean, this is like I've had, you know, an amazing, you know, career and it's just like it's a hard work. It's like

being there. I'm literally at my studio every day. You are?

every day. You are?

Yes. And I'm in like I don't have a separate office. It's an open air studio

separate office. It's an open air studio and we have like these big workts in the middle of the studio and it's constant cross-pollination. I'm like talking to,

cross-pollination. I'm like talking to, you know, the furniture department. I'm

talking to the marketing department, the sales, the finance, the architects. It's

just constant like um chess game like really.

I'm curious about what type of leader you are because it does feel like you're very like handson and I wonder what like decision making looks like for you. Like

how have you figured out like what type of leader you want to be within your studio?

It's still like a work in progress. like

I show and I set an example through passion, through hard work, dedication, um and also like working well with my

team, like collaborating and being open to new ideas and like all of that is um uh you know just like a big part of of what I do and and I'm always like I'm

constantly learning how to lead better.

Like I don't like confrontation. And

like I had a long time of like this person is not performing. Like I have to talk to them. Like I had a butterflies in my stomach. I hated it.

Really? You do?

Like I I just never liked it. Like I

just don't like telling somebody they're not performing. It's like

not performing. It's like what do you do in that case? H like I mean sometimes you just like you just let it go and it turns like it just is

it turns sour like you can't you have to like this book this radical cander um which has been like an amazing book I've gotten better for sure but I still have

to continue like to to work on that. No.

And I first of all, I love that you say that because I think it's a it's a very female trait actually that in specifically in leadership, but it's one

that I think so many people have, right?

They don't want to be seen as someone that is like mean or [ __ ] or not saying like, you know, like, you know, just not being kind, not being empathetic. I I mean, I don't have a

empathetic. I I mean, I don't have a problem with that.

I always felt like I'm totally fine telling you what you don't want to hear, but it isn't something that comes naturally to a lot of people. But

obviously to be as successful as you are, you've had to figure that out. Like

you you've got no choice. Otherwise,

you'd have an office full of people that aren't doing what you need them to do.

Yeah. And now you like just over the years like you learn like certain things to look for when hiring people and like the questions to ask. that I hold myself to like such a high standard that I want

like the team that I surround myself every day to be as hardworking, as passionate, as excited like we're working on fun stuff like amazing

projects and like we every we should just be like, you know, like so so like I feel so blessed that I have these like great projects I'm working on and and I

put in the time, I put in the effort and um and the creativity and you know, You want to surround yourself with those people.

Totally. What are the qualities that you look for in team members or team leaders that come and work with you?

Somebody that like like really is passionate. Like that's the first thing

passionate. Like that's the first thing I look for. And somebody obviously that has um like great taste level and they're good at their skill set. So if

they're a furniture designer or they're an architect um you know or like you know our salesperson like have they are like the top you know really like

passionate about what they do and I want somebody that wants to be there like I don't it's like you know people like I want to work remote I want to like no like we're here I'm here every day and I

want everyone to work together. I want

everyone to sit around a table because that is where amazing ideas happen. That

is where like the the shared passion and the unexpected um you know unique qualities of a project appear 100%. Do you um can it work remotely in

100%. Do you um can it work remotely in your business?

So I always was about like if you want a job at the studio like you have to be there. Mhm.

there. Mhm.

It's very difficult to find great talent, top performers, talented people, people that want to work hard like that

is like there's many different uh skill sets there. And so, uh I started looking

sets there. And so, uh I started looking at um we just hired somebody um an architect from Paris. Um he's going back and forth. where ours also are bringing

and forth. where ours also are bringing in some other outside uh team but they actually are all very like like senior senior yeah I think there's a difference actually and I think there's such a

benefit of early in your career having that proximity because a you need visibility for with your boss right it's like you need to be in the room and you need to be seen so that you can be

promoted but there is just no um I don't know there's just no replacing proximity like especially in the creative businesses where like I need to be around you. I need to hear what's like

around you. I need to hear what's like informing your decisions and I just need to like watch how you move. Like I

there's just nothing especially in the early part of your career, there's nothing that can replace that kind of proximity.

No. And as like as a you know the kind of the creative leadership like I want to have everyone there so we're all learning from each other. like I love

continuing to learn from you know the a junior designer in my studio to a director and you know everyone has something to offer. So so now I'm like

we're bringing in people from like other parts of the world working remotely but they still will come and they'll like stay a month with us. They'll go back.

So it's like kind of back and forth back and forth a little bit. Um, I'm

curious to talk to you about money and how your relationship with money might have changed like from when you started to now.

It uh, you know, I always like invested in myself. I had no money. I had to work

in myself. I had no money. I had to work hard for everything I had. And um, uh, and I love that. It's given me so much

opportunity. I um, I love to spend. I'm

opportunity. I um, I love to spend. I'm

not a saver.

Uh, and and I leverage like my uh credit cards to build like my business and get me where that I am now. And I don't want

to get in debt again. That was not fun.

And I had got a financial advisor that helped me just I mean I who knows you could have 10 credit cards. My god.

Totally.

And it it sounds like you knew. Did you

get yourself into a tricky situation?

Yeah. But it was so liberating when I was able to like pay that off.

It's very usual because I think that like the options for capital are really, you know, reduced when you're a woman, especially when you're a woman in a creative business. It isn't so easy to

creative business. It isn't so easy to go out and raise or to get people to understand what you would have done. So

you probably just had to do what you could do to get the money to, you know, do a very expensive business. Now, yeah.

Now, I would say like I I reinvested I reinvested in team like hiring like the best team and like over the years like you can't hire like these like director

level people. And so it you know takes a

level people. And so it you know takes a long time to build a business when you have team that isn't maybe as like skilled as you'd want them to be. But

now I like I invest in my team. I in

invest in hierarchy. Like having like the right hierarchy in every department is so important because I don't have to be in the weeds. I don't there are you know we obviously have bottleneck. It

happens in a studio but having directors now really helps. I'm tell everyone I'm always available. You can text me

always available. You can text me anytime. Call me on the weekend like I'm

anytime. Call me on the weekend like I'm available always. Come grab me. I'm at

available always. Come grab me. I'm at

the studio all day. So you know you can interrupt me. I'm totally fine with

interrupt me. I'm totally fine with that. and um and so really investing in

that. and um and so really investing in the team and um uh in technology uh investing in that as well.

I've read a little bit about this. You'd

spoken a lot about um I want to make sure we cover I'm going to get back to money. Don't worry because you know I

money. Don't worry because you know I love that but I did read a lot about what you're doing in AI because you're really like I think I must have read about it on Substack or something like that. But you've really embraced AI in

that. But you've really embraced AI in your studio.

Yes. and and you know we were early adopters like I was so interested in it.

It was like like during the the NFT when all that was happening and when chat like yeah like four years ago like super early and I remember learning and reading about AI and just starting to

listen to every podcast like educating myself and um and I still do I listen to podcast on all the time.

Is that what you mean when you say you invested in yourself like you invest in your own learning and understanding?

Yes. And then I'm on we're investing in team to help us implement AI and strategies in the studio. And um we uh so when I first used AI it was probably

like three and a half years ago in the studio and I started it in a very like kind of like small department and uh really started working with the team who was really interested in it and now we

use it. It's like companywide every

use it. It's like companywide every department is creating the most incredible efficiencies. It it enables

incredible efficiencies. It it enables us to be more creative because we have more time and it is a new creative spirit on our team always.

Did you have any push back from your staff who feel like wait a minute I came here to do a different type of job. This

is replacing me. I won't be needed at this place anymore. What does that look like?

No, I think people are open especially in the creative in the creative realm.

We use so many different tools and it is so like it's like so exciting. Like I

would say I'm like I'm a I'm a tech enthusiast and now there's like OpenClaw. Do you know OpenClaw?

OpenClaw. Do you know OpenClaw?

I know a little bit about it.

Yeah. Which is unbelievable.

Well, we're just starting. We're

actually investing in um in a team member that's going to help us. Um but

OpenClaw is like this new platform u or it's this new tool that basically will will be an agent. It will operate for you. It will work all night. It's like

you. It will work all night. It's like

having an assistant.

There's some security like ramifications right now. It's so new. was only like

right now. It's so new. was only like two weeks new.

So, what would you use it for? Like to

create a a new project or like how does it work?

Like we're looking at it to um like we the use cases that we're doing now is um okay we're looking for art for a project

and we want the because this is a big big time consuming effort is like curation.

Absolutely.

Curating like we curate globally for our projects but it takes a lot of time.

Oh my good. So you can use it for something like Yes. Yes. So we're so with the use cases

Yes. Yes. So we're so with the use cases that I have right now are like um uh abstract art and you know we want like

uh you know pastel colors and we want it about like 48 in by 48 in and then like fill a folder scour the globe. This is a

this is also the price and these are maybe the galleries and then it will work like 24 hours a day. That's insane

cuz you could pay somebody to do that for weeks or a month to find you the right pieces.

That's how long it takes. So, so we have some other use cases that we're doing right now and um so this is like such a game changer. Like I'm and I'm so

game changer. Like I'm and I'm so excited. I'm so fired up for this.

excited. I'm so fired up for this.

Is there any part of it that that worries you or scares you for the future of your business? because I understand you know certainly for us we you know have really embraced AI but I think by

the same token there's an awareness that so many more people in the business become redundant and yet we keep them in the business because there's nowhere else like where else are people going to

go but is there any kind of worry for you that some of the kind of human and the tactile element of things that you do gets lost or no because everyone at the end of the

day everyone wants something that's comfortable and how's technology somebody everyone wants something that is emotional and

has the hand the craft how how a chairs is fabricated how it's assembled and and it's like so much of it is in the execution like you can have a great idea

on paper and come up with the most amazing design and a and you know with uh with AI but it's all in the execution like what is the assembly what is the

material what is the hand and that's never going to replace. Yeah, AI will, you know, pack boxes and things like that, but is it really going to create like this like emotional response, this

like experience that leaves like, you know, a lasting memory like what a human can do?

And you think no, no, no. Can't replace you.

no. Can't replace you.

Although I haven't had the massage by the robot, he my trainer had a massage by a robot the other day. He said, "No, I'm going back

other day. He said, "No, I'm going back to I'm going back to Cecil, our lady."

I was like, I could have told you that, bro. That's crazy. I just couldn't deal

bro. That's crazy. I just couldn't deal with the malfunction thing. I'll test

anything in the business, but not not on my body. No, thank you. Although, I

my body. No, thank you. Although, I

would I kind of liked the idea of that manicure thing. Have you seen the little

manicure thing. Have you seen the little robot manicure? It's not really AI, but

robot manicure? It's not really AI, but it's a robot manicure. I was like, well, that would save us a lot of time. I know

for sure. I thought that would be really handy. All right, let me take you just

handy. All right, let me take you just back to this money question because again, you're in such a creative business. Is there ever a time when you

business. Is there ever a time when you think I have to take this project because the money would just be too godamn good not to?

Uh, no. Because I like I feel like financially secure and now I want to work on projects that I'm so passionate about and that I'm going to learn from.

And like we have the opportunity to work on this like really small tiny little hole-in-the-wall restaurant by very passionate chef and there's no budget

but it's like I'm going to do it like working in Mexico City working with a creative partner that's so passionate like things like that I love and that I'm going to learn from. I'm working in

like you know an interesting uh you know culture and so it's so exciting. Um and

but there's no part of you that has to balance that and say, "Oh my god, like I really need this massive hotel thing to come forward so I can do that little thing in Mexico City."

Yeah. I mean there there is a balance like part of our licensing business helps to afford us to make smart decisions like we're you know like um

our our licensing business is like about 200 million a year.

Unbelievable. and in retail and um and we do very well in our interiors and architecture and we do creative direction and brand partnerships for you

know many different brands Airbnb, Chase, Lancome, like all these which are also like really fun. So there's many different arms of the business that um

that are exciting and I love all the opportunities. How much do you care

opportunities. How much do you care about the money piece of it? Was there

ever a part of you that's like I want to build like a billion dollar something like does that ever come into play in the way that you think?

Yes. I still like I'm actually working on fragrance.

You are like for Yeah.

Is that your billion dollar baby? I want

to smell like you. When I look at you I'm like I want to smell like her.

Definitely. That's going to that's that's that's it. That's the one.

Yeah. I'm so excited. So we're working on that now. That's a whole different thing.

And like I've dreamed of doing this for so long, but you have to do things in sequence. Like sequence is such an

sequence. Like sequence is such an important word. Like, you know, I could

important word. Like, you know, I could have done it, you know, 10 years ago, 20 years ago. I, you know, have now so much

years ago. I, you know, have now so much more knowledge on on so many different aspects of launching like a new business. I did fashion. Oh my god. I

business. I did fashion. Oh my god. I

did fashion at one point. It was a disaster. It was like so stressful in my

disaster. It was like so stressful in my life. It was a very like kind of wrong

life. It was a very like kind of wrong road to go down, but you learn and I um I just feel like it's like the right time.

I so appreciate you saying that because I really believe in this idea of chapters and having like you don't always get your opportunities at the time that they'll necessarily work. But

sometimes you just got to shoot your shot and like do them anyway. But there

is this kind of preconceived idea, especially for women in business, that if you mess something up that it kind of messes everything up. like you get your one chance and if you don't get it all perfectly right then you know it all

kind of goes up in a poof of smoke when the reality is we know for so many men they make huge mistakes and lose lots of money and have a lot of failure and they just kind of like dust themselves off and go to the next thing. So I

appreciate you saying that you've made mistakes and there were things in your business that didn't work out. What um

did you learn from that situation in like with the the failure of fashion just that like you know when it's time

to like wrap it up and I I so remember like a friend of ours who had a fashion business and very successful sold it. I

can remember being with my husband Brad.

We were Earth Cafe. I so remember and he came in he was like you guys just have to stop. And I just knew I was like and

to stop. And I just knew I was like and I've been thinking about it and so we just did it and it was not fun because we had to let people go who I really loved and and they worked hard. We all

worked really hard and um so it was just tough but it was um it was humbling. It

was like one thing that you have to be able to going back to what my mom said like you have to be able to rely on yourself in any circumstance. And now

like I can be presented with anything that fits under my umbrella. I'm

confident. Yes, that anytime anyone can leave like I can figure it out.

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I wonder if you have any um any advice for like young creatives about how they can both protect their ideas but also like take feedback in because it's such

an important thing when you're coming up that you hear feedback and that you use it in a in a useful way but it can sometimes be really hard to hear it. How

have you dealt with that?

So like as a young I think you just have to be open and be a good listener and just run everything through your filter and like during the time when I was starting out and it was like this is

trending like this is what you should be doing and yeah I can like do that and follow the herd but how are you going to stand out like you're not like you have

to follow like what is in your heart and what like you believe in. And as as a young designer, I think it's important to obviously know what's going on. Like

I know what's going on in pop culture. I

know what's going on, what's trending, and and you just have to like kind of take that, but also you have to have your own voice. Like that's so important

or you're just going to be um you know, just part of the crowd.

100%. Um you're a mother obviously which I love because you know you've got these wonderful kids and I wanted to ask you

about um having children and what part of like I always think that they my kids somehow did something to me as it relates to my ambition and I wonder if

you had any like you know did your ambition sharpen did it soften like what happened to you as a businesswoman when you had kids? Well, growing up, like I

wanted to just like be something, love what I do, be uh my own boss. Like

that's what I wanted to do. And so I never felt like kids were in the equation. Like I really

equation. Like I really Me too.

I wanted Did you grow up like really wanting drug?

No. No. And I knew like that. I wanted

to just I was just ambitious.

Yeah.

And I just didn't think that you could do both.

and I um you know met my husband and it was really important to him and I was curious about it like I'm I'm just a curious person and I was like well do I

see myself with kids like maybe and it was I love my husband and it was like important to him so I'm like okay let's we'll have one and um and I got pregnant

unexpectedly cuz I probably would have been pushing it continuing to push it we were engaged Um, and I had Oliver, my first son, and like

everything changed. It was like the most

everything changed. It was like the most magical, beautiful, like how you can love something so much, and I'm so vulnerable with them. And, um, and it's

like the the best thing. I have Oliver and Elliot, um, who are, uh, 21 and 22, and I have Crosby, who's three.

Love the gap.

The gap's going on there, babe.

Same husband. I would love that and just a bit of a gap. You were busy. I'm

imagining nothing.

It is the best thing in the world. And

so having um having like my my family, you know, and my husband, I take them on my journey with me. I take them everywhere. I go to museums. Like trust

everywhere. I go to museums. Like trust me, they are like I don't want to go like this and that. And I'm like no.

Like like and it brought me back to my mom. I was educating my eye. Even though

mom. I was educating my eye. Even though

like, you know, you don't know what's going on, you're still educating.

You're taking it in.

You're taking it in.

And um we travel together as a family. I

I include them in like everything I do and they're interested and they and they like it. And so having my family uh

like it. And so having my family uh involved and it helps that my husband and I, we have separate businesses, but like we help each other. So there's like

a great uh kind of family interest in like the everything we do.

So there's two entrepreneurs in your house.

Yes.

That's amazing. Me too.

So as your business is accelerating, I guess and you work with your husband too. I

listen to your podcast with very similar story.

I know. And I was really like like he's great like you guys like great energy and it's fun but it's it's definitely challenging. It's fun and it's

challenging. It's fun and it's challenging and we had a similar situation that having kids was very very important to me and to him I should say and I was like oh okay like you know I probably just kicked the can down the

road and then I had a kid and I was like oh my god it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Um but it's interesting I um I wanted to ask you as your career was accelerating like what

parts of motherhood were like the most challenging for you?

was probably like during that time I would say of when my business is really

growing is having to um like I would work on the weekends a little and they would come to the studio, they would paint and do different things, but

um you know just the the amount of work that it takes to be your you know to be a founder and to have your own business and really wanting to push and Um you

obviously I missed like certain things but one thing I did is like I was so focused on work and family and it was

very focused like I'm at home. I didn't

go out at night. Uh I didn't go to parties. I was home with my kids. And um

parties. I was home with my kids. And um

that's one thing that I made the conscious decision. And like people are

conscious decision. And like people are like you never go out like you're never at these like things for work. And it's

like, well, I have a family and like that's like the most important element of my life. Family comes first always.

But that was your trade-off. It was like work and the family and then there ends up being very little for social and friends and you know other stuff.

Yes. Something.

So you have to you have to give. You can

definitely do both. I think I I'm an amazing mom. I have an incredible

amazing mom. I have an incredible relationship with my kids and I'm there for them like and um you know you can have both. You just have to know how to

have both. You just have to know how to manage your time.

Yeah. Um do you think that motherhood has changed anything in the way that you lead or the way that you think about building your business

as a mother? I would say just especially like with the junior team like just more

like compassionate and uh really um you know more communicative and and very you know I try and be very warm like I feel

like I'm a warm person and and um you know really want to include like our our junior team at my studio uh and and just

knowing like they're just starting out and um you know my my older boys, they're just starting, you know, new businesses. You want to push them.

businesses. You want to push them.

Yeah.

I push them. I hold them to a high standard like I hold myself, my husband and I both do. We hold, you know, our entire family to a high standard and um

and it's how I operate at my studio as well.

Totally. I mean, I'm guessing that your kids are growing up with a very different life than you did in North Carolina. Yes.

Carolina. Yes.

A little bit different.

So different. Like so different. But

they see like and that was something that we really had to, you know, just make sure like they had jobs. They, you

know, you say no. Like we were strict parents. And uh they see how hard Brad

parents. And uh they see how hard Brad and I work for what we have. And that

obviously always like sets a good example. And um uh and I think including

example. And um uh and I think including them really giving them visibility to what we're doing and they see that we're happy. They see that we're happy in our

happy. They see that we're happy in our career and like that's what I want for them and um to do what they absolutely love.

It's so important because you're to succeed you have to work 247 and have that grit and determination and um passion. Um, I love that you say that

passion. Um, I love that you say that because I read somewhere that you've kind of like reframed this idea of balance as integration rather than separation. And when I read that, I was

separation. And when I read that, I was like, does she mean with the family? I

wonder if like how does that show up like in the way that you structure your days and you you have your family and your business? What did what did you

your business? What did what did you mean by that?

Well, just in terms of like I I get up super early in the morning so I can work out like 4:30, 5 because I like to have like time. It's the only time I have to

like time. It's the only time I have to myself and uh and I have to answer the emails that I didn't get to during the day and uh and then I work out and I

always have woken up my kids every morning and spend time with them in the morning and drive them to school and they would come to my office. I mean,

they still Crosie comes in my office, you know, in the middle of the day on his way home from preschool and, you know, he sees he sees what's like going on and and happening and um and then I'm

at home. I go home and I, you know, in

at home. I go home and I, you know, in the car, I'm still on calls and like doing everything I have to do. And I get home and have dinner and and I'm focused and hang out, you know, with my family,

my husband and and the kids. And then

when you know they go to sleep, I put them to bed and and I go back to work for a little bit.

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Um I I want to hear the rest of the routine. If you're up at 4:30 in the

routine. If you're up at 4:30 in the morning and you're waking waking this little kid up and you're back home for dinner, like what are the non-negotiables? Like give me an idea of

non-negotiables? Like give me an idea of the things that you have to do to keep yourself sane and productive and like just in the life that you want to live.

Like you want to hear all the details.

I want to know that what you got like Yeah. Give it to me.

Yeah. Give it to me.

I mean so I get up I look at my aura ring. I get up very early look at my

ring. I get up very early look at my aura ring. I go I do my my red light

aura ring. I go I do my my red light cap.

I do.

And um how good is the red light cap?

Yeah, it's so good. I know. I was just told today I have a lot new more new growth.

Every time I go to the hairdressers, I'm like, "Do I have new growth?" I bet they just tell me now just to shut me up.

Um and then I um I go downstairs and I make my triple macchiato. Uh and I go through like emails like that. I want to make sure I get back to, you know,

everyone. And then I go to the gym. Like

everyone. And then I go to the gym. Like

that is a non-negotiable. I work out every single day. Twice a day. Yesterday

I did three. Yesterday I did three.

No, you don't. You're psycho. You work

out every single seven days a week.

Twice a week. Twice a day.

So I'll do like I I have a weight, you know, trainer who we lift like really heavy weights.

Hold hold hold. You you work out every single day twice a day and sometimes three times.

Yeah. Yesterday was unusual. Like on the weekend sometimes cuz I play paddle and my schedule like a meeting in the morning. I work out super early and then

morning. I work out super early and then I do my sauna like it's like 5:30.

Oh my god. She's like the longevity queen. You show me this thing. All

queen. You show me this thing. All

right. Wait a minute. The She's up.

She's emailing. Triple macchiato. The

red light cap's on. She's getting her workout kit. You're doing a workout

workout kit. You're doing a workout sauna after a workout.

And the workouts at home like Yeah, you you don't have time to do because I for 20 years went to Barry's boot camp like every single day, but now it's like amazing being at home and then

I do my workout and then I go directly to the sauna, do my sauna, do my uh I do 20 minutes. Yeah, 20 minutes and then I

20 minutes. Yeah, 20 minutes and then I do shower.

Is it a wood sauna or is it an infrared sauna? I need to know. It's just hot

sauna? I need to know. It's just hot sauna. Colds. The

sauna. Colds. The

cold. Okay.

And then and then I take a um a like really cold shower which is like so amazing. You just feel I we have the

amazing. You just feel I we have the cold plunge but like I don't know. I

hear it's not great for I'm I'm a little on the fence. Like I

can do it like around my cycle but like there's certain times when that [ __ ] I'm just not getting it. It's a lot. I'm

just not getting it. It's a lot. But I

do the cold shower. I feel great. Then I

go get a Crosby and then I read books to him. We hang out like have quick

him. We hang out like have quick breakfast and then he gets ready like we have amazing nanny who helps um I get ready for work like super fast shower like

you're putting that whole look together my green juice like I have my green juice uh and then uh go downstairs wait a minute you have to go back for me because you've always got a look on it's

not like you put jeans and a t-shirt on you're just like throwing something together or you've got your outfits like ready and you're no like and sometimes they work and sometimes Sometimes they don't.

I mean, I like it. I always think even if they don't work, they kind of work cuz you're you and it's like, oh, it's a weird like furry shoe. It just that kind of happens. Okay, fine. Outfits on

of happens. Okay, fine. Outfits on

taking the kids to school.

I go to school and then as soon as I drop CY off and then I like I'm on a call like just like on the call, work, Zoom call, like I mean I'm not watching

but I'm listening. Zoom call and then go to the studio and then I'm like goes directly to a meeting and it's like one after the next like go to meeting meeting being in you know you know

yeah you're like back to back to back and then it's like 10 to 1 and then I leave I'm going now to my my second workout I do my second workout and like it's a

reset what's the difference between the first workout and the second workout training one and then cardio some are cardio some are zone two summer zone I've um Pilates

with a trainer or without a trainer.

Uh no, with a trainer. Some days I do myself. I do cardio by myself, but I do

myself. I do cardio by myself, but I do heavy weight training.

Or Matt Pilates?

No, on a reformer.

And um and then I'll go there and I started doing jump rope. Like I really want to get good at jump roping. So I

started jump roping and like doing like tricks because it's really good for your body. And then I do like farmers walks

body. And then I do like farmers walks there and then we do regular Pilates. So

I do all that. And then she's my Pilates instructor. super close to the studio.

instructor. super close to the studio.

So then I go back to the studio and like eat like super fast.

Yeah. In a meeting.

What are you eating?

And then like usually it's salmon and a green salad.

Okay. She's disciplined this one. Okay.

Got it. So salmon and green salad.

And I eat like I'm so laser focused on eating healthy and like knowing what I put in my body. I have a smoothie. I

forgot about the smoothie.

Smoothie. A protein smoothie. Yeah.

Protein smoothie. On the way to taking Krazu to school. I have like the smoothie and the macchiato.

Yeah. Because you need this energy otherwise it's like you would just fall apart.

Yes.

Wow.

And I'm nuts. I have like snacks and things like I'll have to and I drink a lot of water.

Is there like some when you're doing the meetings like do you have rules in work like some kind of meeting hygiene or a time like how does it work in the studio or are you just more like free and easy?

No, just free and easy.

Free and easy. Okay.

So free and easy.

Free and easy. And then like home dinner you must like what time do you go to bed? And then I go to bed actually I go

bed? And then I go to bed actually I go to bed at like 9:30. I go to bed earlyish.

Yes.

Okay.

I go and especially like after just everything that I've done like and then like I we read a Crosby and I'm just like also like getting tired.

Okay. Now I've got your whole routine down. That was a very important part of

down. That was a very important part of this interview and I'm extremely happy about it. We're going to shift here gear

about it. We're going to shift here gear a little bit. So I want to understand like what matters to you most like when you start to think about your legacy and and and almost like the body of work

that you've created.

What becomes most important to you to be able to like kind of look back on like that like for my legacy? I would

say that I like created great and beautiful environments that people have had memories in and that made them feel good and made them feel

happy because that's what I want to do is I want people to feel good and nurtured in their spaces and represent them. And uh also like we you know

them. And uh also like we you know design hotels and you know I have people coming up to me like oh my god like I was at your hotel and I got married got

interag incredible weekend and it was such an amazing memory for me and that is so meaningful like I love hearing that. And

then we designed a lot of product and designing product that people can pass down to, you know, their uh their kids and just continue to use and having

these pieces in the world are like really um uh you know, just mean a lot.

Yeah, it makes a lot of sense. What are

you most intentional about preserving in both kind of the brand and the business as you continue to evolve?

To just continue to get better and um to continue to learn and to

uh produce like really great designs and and grow. Like I want to evolve. Like I

and grow. Like I want to evolve. Like I

I really want to I see myself doing this until I'm 100. Hopefully all this shit's going to pay off my routine.

And uh you know I just um listen if it ain't paying off for you, it's not going to pay off for any of us.

I hope it works out.

And you see like I was just with Martha Stewart and it's like she's telling about her day and I'm like [ __ ] like she is such an inspiration. First of all, beyond. I

inspiration. First of all, beyond. I

couldn't I couldn't agree more. She

toxic. Like she really does.

Like she's such an inspiration and when you, you know, love what you do, like you want to just do it till the end.

Totally. I really understand that. What

projects are you like most excited about now?

Um designing the torch and cauldron for the LA 28 Olympics. Like

first of all, we need you to do that.

There's never BEEN A FEMALE.

WHAT?

YES, there's never been a female.

Oh, is there like a voting booth or something I can get involved in to happen? I'll tell them. I'll tell I'll

happen? I'll tell them. I'll tell I'll tell my friends over at Team USA or I don't know, like some sporty thing that I do, but I so want to do it.

First of all, we need you to do it.

There's never been a woman No. No.

No. No.

And it's like I'm like synonymous with, you know, design and Los Angeles and and I I'm so well suited for it. So, if not you, then who? I need you to do that. I

think that that would be so major.

I would be so excited.

Yeah, that's that's a pretty kind of like, you know, big I know. That's so Yeah.

I know. That's so Yeah.

So, before we wrap, a quick reminder that Start with Yourself is available for pre-order and tickets for the live shows are available now. Starting April

15th, we're coming to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, DC, Boston, Atlanta, and London. Visit

immigr.com for tickets and full tour details. I cannot wait. I just have a

details. I cannot wait. I just have a few more questions left for you. These

ones are rapid fire.

Kelly, get ready. Don't worry. I crap at rapid fire. I just like go on for 15

rapid fire. I just like go on for 15 minutes. So, the team know when I say

minutes. So, the team know when I say rapid fire, it means nothing. Um, okay.

What is one interior decorating rule that applies to every room in the house?

Do not buy all your furniture in one place.

Oh, I love that one. Is that like the like the basic [ __ ] of um of interior design if you curation? It's about also like you want

curation? It's about also like you want things to surround yourself from travels and things that take time to curate your your everything that you're surrounding yourself with because then it's more

soulful and it's meaningful.

Damn right. What is something that you used to aspire to that you no longer aspire to?

It's tough but it's perfectionism.

Like I'm working very hard. My husband's

like just get it done and get it out there. Like you can't make it perfect

there. Like you can't make it perfect and you can't you have to set things free and you like tweak it and massage it, you know, as it's uh been set free.

Fair. What's the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night? I think I know

night? I think I know the first day or ring. I got to get my sleep score. And then

sleep score. And then does it affect your day if you have a bad sleep score? Like you feel it. Like

it's so right. Like you do feel it.

Wow.

But I just like forge through. I just do it.

And then the last thing I do is I kiss my husband. Like we always like even if

my husband. Like we always like even if we're pissed off at each other, it's like you still kiss.

Damn right. What is a book that's changed your life?

The book that changed my life is a book by Rick Rubin, the creative act. And

like I design from a place of of creativity, emotion, and things that feel so just so natural and and I'm not

connected like I can envision something visually in my brain and like it's not like I'm thinking philosophically about how I got to the solution of a design

problem. And so it really helped me to

problem. And so it really helped me to think um a little deeper.

I love that. All right, my last question for you, Kelly. What are you aspiring to right now in your life?

I'm aspiring to uh just continue to learn and to inspire people along the

way and uh being just a great mom and uh just myself, I guess.

I love that. Just yourself. There she

is. One of one. Kelly, thank you so much. I love this. It's amazing.

much. I love this. It's amazing.

Thank you.

Thanks for joining me on the Aspire podcast. For more strategies on how to

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