The Interview —

Kristen Nix, Interior Designer

I always wanted to be a designer and can remember drawing dream homes and playing with fabric swatches as a child. I grew up around the business, as my mom was a commercial designer and my dad sold mid century modern furniture like Herman Miller and Knoll. 

The best part about being a residential interior designer is that every day is different. We are oftentimes pulling fabrics and finish samples, visiting job sites, sourcing new items, meeting with clients and managing orders with vendors.

I always feel nervous admitting to this for the fear that friends and clients will feel like I'm judging their homes... but if I must, I can't stress enough how important good lighting is. Always maximize natural light and focus on levels of lighting that includes overhead and eye level... and always on a dimmer. 

The architecture of the home, clients needs and the way they want the house to make them feel. Traveling is always inspiring.

An all-time favorite was a traditional historic home we renovated and designed in the Pemberton neighborhood of Austin. The clients were very educated on design and antiques, had great style, loved color, and took risks, which made the project exciting and special. Most importantly, there was great energy between the clients, the design team, and the construction crew. It was a fun project and we were sad to see come to an end.

I absolutely love my Brno Knoll breakfast table chairs. They are so comfortable, durable, and chic. I've owned them for about eight years, and they were an investment, but I would buy them all over again.

An instant blood pressure drop for me is going out on Lake Austin with friends, great music, and lots of cocktails. I also love wake surfing on the lake with my husband and ending the night at Pool Burger.

Comfort is key as we are usually walking a lot and schlepping samples. My look includes jeans, a fitted top with a tailored jacket, edgy understated jewelry, and flats. I always keep Hunter boots in my car for muddy job sites.

I'm a firm believer in keeping your overhead low and knowing your strengths. For me, investing in talented employees who can help me with the huge amount of detailed order entries and bookkeeping has been a lifesaver.

Our team is growing, which is very exciting! Taking on more full-scale construction and design projects and continuing to work with kind clients and talented trades. One day, we dream of having a coffee table book or a lighting line.