Meet Kalee Duckworth | Collaborative Studio Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kalee Duckworth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kalee, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, it took a failed business endeavor that aided me to open the Aesthetic Collective. I have followed similar business models on Instagram and Pinterest in the past and had a vision of one day having a collaborative studio space for fellow creatives and entrepreneurs to use collectively. What started as a few Pinterest boards quickly sparked into a business plan, presentation, unpublished website, drafted contracts, and a list of potential properties, equipment lists, and more. Knowing my why, trusting my gut, and following my dream was essentially the thought process behind starting my own business, the rest just fell into place (with a lot of hours and hard work that is)! If it weren’t for me turning the page to my previous chapter in business, I wouldn’t be where I am today doing what I love and creating the business that I have been dreaming about for years.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been in the creative scene for over six years now and couldn’t really find my niche. I love creating unique spaces, collecting one-of-a-kind pieces, and helping others bring the idea in their head to life. That can be an event, a styled set for photography, flatlay design etc., my passion is making things aesthetically pleasing to the eye. My professional career has included many hats so to speak, but each different job has taught me something more, connected me to different people and helped me grow as an individual. Learning how to put myself out there and ask for the things I want was the biggest challenge I have found along the way. Not being afraid to be told no.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh fun, this now makes me want to call my gal, Shelby, and bring this itinerary to life! Some of my go-to things would be the following.

Stay:

Spoke and Vine in Palisade

Play:

Hike Polluck Bench Trail -McInnis Canyons National Conservation
Hike Mt Garfield- Palisade
SUP- Paddleboard Adventure Company in Palisade
Wine Tour- Pali Tours in Palisade
Blow out at Dry it Salon in Grand Junction
Live Music at Warehouse 2565 in Grand Junction
Live Music at Las Colonias in Grand Junction
Bestie Photoshoot at my studio the Aesthetic Collective with the wonderful K. Robinson Photography
Shop all the downtown boutiques in Grand Junction

Eat + Drink:

Moody’s Lounge in Grand Junction
Taco Party in Grand Junction
Bin 707 in Grand Junction
Cafe Sol in Grand Junction
Kiln Coffee Bar in Grand Junction
Peche in Palisade
Fidels in Palisade
Ordinary Fellow Winery in Palisade
Peach St. Distillery in Palisade
Hot tomato in Fruita
Bestslope Coffee in Fruita
Copperclub in Fruita

And these are a few of my favorite things.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Where would we be without our support systems, right?! I think the most credit goes to my family, my husband, and three girls. If I didn’t have their understanding and support I wouldn’t be able to have the business that I do. Jeremy, my husband is my rock and biggest supporter who also keeps me grounded and not too far off into my crazy ideas, he’s the realist to my visionary self. Alongside him would be our clan of little ladies, they not only have helped in the process but also give me more of a reason why- to show them that if you are passionate about something to follow it through, to work hard and diligently along the way. They themselves are becoming little entrepreneurs I have noticed as well. Lastly would be my sister, Mandy. She is someone who I look up to and try to be more like every day, she is successful understanding, level-headed, a voice of reason, and a book of knowledge when I am in need of help! Without my tribe, I wouldn’t be where I am today in business.

Website: www.aestheticcollectivegj.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalee-duckworth-1027a6235/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AestheticCollectiveGJ

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/aestheticcollectivegj/

Image Credits
K. Robinson Photography