Today we’d like to introduce you to Kortney Cooper Dowell.
Hi Kortney, 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.
Through growing up in the south, in a home filled with tassels and all things traditional interior design, I learned early to appreciate the classics. My parents saw my love for the arts early in life and always helped cultivate my burn for creativity. Whether it I was sketching “house decor plans” or drawing a bridal bouquet their encouragement was palpable and I’m blessed to say it made all the difference. Despite having a dream of being an Interior Designer since third grade, all the exciting options in college overwhelmed me, and I ended up broadening my study to Psychology and Studio Art.
When it came time to think about grad school for psychology, I knew my heart was not there. I loved the people and nuances of life that working with patients brought, but the science couldn’t hold a candle to the fire in me for art.
While figuring out my next move, I went home to Texas. While there, I happened to walk by a flower shop I had always loved. I walked in and asked if they were looking for any assistants temporarily. The shop had just been purchased by a 100-year-old funeral home across the street, and said I’d have to go check with them first. A week later I found myself working part-time in a hilariously southern funeral home, set in an old creaky Victorian-style mansion, and the floral shop the rest of the time as I mulled over my plans for the future. I have more funny stories to tell than space to write from that job—filled with dramatic diatribes that would make the steel magnolias blush.
However, what I thought was a small detour in my path, turned out to be a pivotal change in my creative path! It was there that I began to connect with that long-lost third-grade girl whose outlet was all things creative. I knew I had to stop pushing back and walk into the serendipitous light. I fell hard for flowers, and thankfully the head Designer let me take the reigns and run as fast as my legs could carry me into the world of Floral and Event Design.
I spent the next four years, off and on, assisting several floral designers, event designers, and one Interior Designer. I then started my own Floral and Event Design business after getting married and moving to the East Coast. I owned it for three years and am grateful to say I was mentored by some of the best in the business! I had amazing clients who I’m still connected with, was published by several national publications, and learned so much about myself. I learned I was more capable than I realized when it came to bringing a vision to life. I discovered I loved owning my own business, what I wanted to do more of creatively, and what I wanted to do a lot less of!!
When my husband finished his schooling out East, I closed the doors to my business and headed back to Dallas- with a precious new baby in hand and the knowledge that there was more in store in my journey as a Designer when the time was right.
After four years in DFW, a foray into editorial styling, and another precious baby- I decided I needed to fully find that part of myself again. I’m my best self and a better mother when I can be fulfilled in that way. I knew I was finished with large floral productions and events due to family life and that being on set editorially would not be conducive to being home with my kids either. At that point, overall, I just knew that I loved cultivating creative visions for environments. So, I began to look for guidance in all the ways I could think of…
One night as I was falling asleep reading an Interior Design textbook for pleasure (haha), it felt like a light in my mind and heart lit up. I thought: “maybe now is the time to consider Interior Design…”. That next morning, I knew in my gut that that was the where I had been headed all along, and now was the time to test the waters. I began putting out the word to friends and past clients that I was getting back into creative work part-time and would be willing to help with home design projects as needed. I’m blessed to say that things picked up faster than I ever imagined!
Within about six weeks of putting out the word, a longtime friend that owns an Architecture Firm reached out about working together on his projects, and another friend hired me to design her beautiful new home in Las Vegas.
The past year has been spent designing, learning to balance work and motherhood, and learning as much as possible. As well as being filled with gratitude that my winding path culminated to lead me back to what feels like Deja vu from my dreams as little girl.
Helping families design beautiful spaces they will raise their families in and make lifelong memories feels like what many creatives refer to as “soul work.” I just couldn’t be more thankful that whether I knew it or not—-I’ve always been lost in right direction.
Alright, 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?
I’m continually learning how to manage clients in a smoother more professional, but personal way. When people trust you with a large investment— it is a lot of pressure, and I’ve had many stressful days in my previous business and my current one where those stresses feel all-consuming. Each project though, I learn so much and become more confident in my abilities to communicate and serve in a way I would want to be served as a client.
I also have a very typical artist’s brain and am not innately great at many aspects of the back side of a business. Those very technical aspects have at times been a large learning curve. They are a test in organization and pragmatism that hasn’t always come naturally to me.
As you know, we’re big fans of KCD Interiors. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
We specialize in livable luxury for families with an emphasis in new construction, renovation, and color theory. Serving DFW and beyond!
We offer:
Full Services Interior Design
Architectural Services
Virtual Design
Design Consulting
Interior Styling
Editorial styling
With a unique vision born from a background as a multidisciplinary creative, we’re able to create a layered transformative space customized to who our clients are at their core. We create homes that celebrate their memories, white encouraging their vision for the future.
We are known for our ability connect to clients in a straightforward, but warm and personable way. Gone are they days that people are willing to dish out large amounts of money to untouchable designers that don’t allow a collaborative, friendly process. We provide a luxury service (and other options for smaller projects) that our clients feel inspired to dream big by while also feeling comfortable enough to share their most personal lifestyle needs. Designing someone’s home is a lengthy process, and we believe in creating a strong relationship those who trust is paramount in fulfilling a beautifully collaborative vision.
We are also known for our clever exciting use of color and contrasting materials and styles within Modern Traditional style.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
We are so much more powerful and capable than we think we are— especially on our worst days. Trials and crisis can sanctify us and polish us into better human beings that lead with more empathy and a more positive vision for the future. Suffering without a purpose does no one any good. If we can hone in on how to find strength in turmoil, that is when the real magic will happen.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcdinteriors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KortneyCooperDowell/
- Other: https://bossladybio.com/www-instagram-com-kcdinteriors/
