Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Knight.
Hi Kelly, 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 backstories with our readers.
Growing up in the Midwest, I always had a love of art and interiors which began in high school. Taking classes in interior design, drawing, and photography led me to SCAD in Savannah, Georgia. After college, I worked in hospitality and retail interiors before shifting into residential interiors. Moving to New York City was a turning point for my career which included working for well-known designers such as Rockwell Group, Hamilton Design Associates and top AD100 firms such as Sills Huniford and later Stephen Sills Associates. It was with Stephen Sills where I assisted Stephen on some of the most luxurious and well-published residences around the United States. These projects have been published in Architectural Digest, World of Interiors, Elle Décor, and Stephen’s books, Stephen Sills Decoration and Stephen Sills: A Vision for Design. After the pandemic and twenty years in New York City, I felt the right move was to return to Savannah, Georgia, and start my own interior design firm. I’m looking to take on residential work in the low country area.
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?
If there is a career that has a smooth path, please let me know what it is! Ha! Interior design is very challenging, and you have to deal with a lot of pressure. Meeting deadlines, meeting a client’s expectation, and relying on others to complete furnishings on time to name a few. Patience is certainly a virtue in this industry.
We’ve been impressed with Kelly Knight Design, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I believe strongly that a home’s interior should be a reflection of the people who live there and the things they love. By mixing unusual fabrics, textures, and antiques with refined furniture, I create a signature blend that honors both simple architectural backgrounds and the more ornate and historic. While the practicality of materials and finishes plays a key design role, I understand that every last detail down to the small accessories, informs your space and expresses the look a client envisions. I am guided by the philosophy that my collaboration with the client’s personality and utilization of space are the best combination for a successful process. While I’ve worked in high-end residential, I realize that not everyone has an unlimited budget, and try to focus where to spend the money in a strategic way. I’m also capable of working with architects, contractors, and tradespeople and am heavily experienced in that aspect of the work. My twenty-plus years in the design world combine with an innate creative ability for identifying just what it takes to make a client’s space truly come alive.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
I wish I had done an internship during my studies and listen to your gut about the aspect of the job you like and dislike. I stayed with commercial design too long when my heart was really in residential interiors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kellyknightdesign.com
- Instagram: kellyknight.design
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-knight-724623171/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/kellyknightdesign
Image Credits
Kelly Knight Design
