——— ABOUT KELLY
My love of design goes way way back. As a girl refinishing furniture and antiquing with my Mom, I was a designer in training long before I even knew it.
My interest in architecture came to light when I bought a fixer upper in Baltimore City. The experience was a life-changer and the first of many homes I would eventually buy, renovate, and sell. Transforming a house using reclaimed architectural materials left over from the past. The result was more than I imagined, but more importantly, the house felt as though I had designed it from the start. I knew then I was on to something. The paint wasn’t even dry on my first renovation before I started thinking about the next.
In 1999 I moved north bringing my love of renovations to NYC. Today my projects include architectural planning, renovations, and decorating, some classic others more contemporary. Over the years I’ve been my own client many times over and several of my clients have followed suit. The excitement of transforming a home is catching, and it’s gratifying to see that they enjoy the process as much as I do.
“When people ask me what I do, I say I’m an interior designer, but truthfully, I’d call myself a renovator.”
One of my favorite complements came from a client before even starting work on her apartment. We were standing in my living room when she said, we want your style but ultra modern. Out of my comfort zone but determined, I considered it a challenge. Needless to say, I enjoyed proving them right.
When people ask me what I do, I say I’m an interior designer, but truthfully, I’d call myself a renovator. I take a space from start to finish focusing on the floorplan first before layering on the details. My favorite areas of creative influence are plaster moldings, doors, and cabinetry. Its satisfying to know that if I dream something up, one of my artisans can make it. This level of detail makes my renovations unique and memorable.
I believe that if you take the time to create beautiful bones in a space, everything else is easy. Decorating takes any project to the next level, but its secondary like icing on a cake. I follow a first things first approach and renovating always, always always comes first. But a successful project is more than vision, style and creativity. Having the right people in it with you is key. Luckily, I’ve got them too.