Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Gordon.
Kara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Sleek to Chic Interiors to Chic Interiors began in January 2013 with a couple hundred bucks in my back pocket left from a Christmas cash gift. I had spent the last decade as an elementary educator, and had just adopted a baby and quit teaching. My bachelor’s degree is Interior Design, so I had longed to get back to my passion…but life’s twists and turns had kept me from getting to design for quite some time. I spent the $300 in its entirety on a logo and brand image, and started to dabble with small projects while my baby napped or slept. In the beginning it was easy to balance, as the project load was small. But over time, and rather quickly in late 2014, for reasons unknown, business skyrocketed. I couldn’t keep up with both designing and mothering, and decided that I love both enough to balance the two. So I chose a Mother’s Day Out program for my son for a few days a week 1/2 days, and was better able to keep up the project load. This worked for a while….but the projects just got bigger in quantity and scope. Eventually it was too much, and I had to hire help. Up until recently, we were a 2-3 woman operation of moms! 2017 proved to be our biggest and best year yet! I had won several design awards and been recognized in our local design community, and our firm was even featured on CNBC’s Billion Dollar Buyer in February 2017! 2017 was a whirlwind of large projects, some notoriety, and lots of action. 2018 has been a full stop so far….as my health took a serious turn and I’ve had to have a long, slow recovery from a serious medical condition. I’m still working, a little, but had to scale back operations and staff, and am back to being a 1 woman team. I’m keeping my project load small, but with repeat clients and word of mouth referrals I’m finding this manageable as I recover. I’m definitely looking forward to the future and what it holds for my company!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been the smoothest road. While I feel that God has blessed my business on a grand scale, there have definitely been some setbacks. Learning how to operate a business as a creative is a challenge for me. I am very type A, but have never claimed to be an accountant. So while I’m organized and efficient, I’m terrible at all things money related! I’d rather be designing! Another setback was my struggle to keep up with the load by myself. Bringing team members on is helpful, but there’s a whole training curve involved that it was hard to find time for. Lastly, my health has been my largest setback. I have fluctuations in brain fluid levels, which leaves me with debilitating headaches, far worse than migraines or your average headache. But going through each of these, and more, has definitely taught me just how strong I am. I’m determined to overcome and be the healthiest version of myself, and the best designer I can be.
Please tell us about Sleek to Chic Interiors.
Sleek to Chic Interiors, LLC is an award-winning professional interior design firm that began January 2013. We serve residential and commercial clients. Our goal is to exceed client expectations by really listening, valuing the client, and then creatively transforming ordinary spaces into highly functional and aesthetically beautiful rooms. Our goal is an end result that is everything you dreamed it could be and more! We market ourselves toward middle-income families. In the design world, you’re either a DIYer, or you are wealthy enough to hire a designer. That middle ground is underserved, and we aim to serve that target market.
As one of Fort Worth’s most highly acclaimed interior designers, she’s created beautiful interiors for a variety of residential and commercial clients since starting her company in January 2013. Kara is a professional level member of the Interior Design Society and is the recipient of several design awards. She was named one of the Top 15 Designers in Fort Worth by builddirect.com and awarded Best Visual Presentation by Dallas Market Center. She also won Best of Houzz for five years in a row. Her work has been featured in several publications and blogs including “Apartment Therapy,” “Kufri Life Designer Spotlight,” and Stephen F. Austin’s Alumni magazine “Sawdust.” Most recently, her firm was featured on CNBC’s “Billion Dollar Buyer” and in Texas Lifestyle Magazine.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is when I was about ten years of age. There was just my sister, Amy, and I at the time. She was 3 years behind me in age and we were pretty good buds. My parents whipped out the video camera, and proceeded to tell us that someone was coming to live with us in December. We guessed and guessed, incorrectly of course. Uncle? Cousin? Who could it be?? It turns out, they were pregnant! Talk about a shock!!! We were going to have a baby sibling and we were so excited! My brother came along and then there were three. It’s been fun watching him grow up and being old enough to remember it all.
Pricing:
- Initial Consultations $200
- Hourly Rate $150
- Paint Palette $175
Contact Info:
- Address: Bedford, TX
- Website: www.sleektochicinteriors.com
- Phone: 713-725-4512
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @sleektochicdesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleektochicinteriors/
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/sleek2chic/__public
Image Credit:
All interiors photos are by Daniel Martinez Photography.
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
