Meet Kat Buxton | Interior Designer

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

Hi Kat, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I decided to switch careers in my mid 20s and immerse myself in the Interior Design industry, my motivation was always to be in charge of my own day to day and have freedom of time, freedom for creativity and freedom to grow in the ways I felt best for myself. I sought out a Master’s degree and my NCIDQ license so that I could set a super solid foundation and fill up my tool belt with as much knowledge as possible. I sought out really talented firms and Designers that I wanted to learn from, and that were willing to teach me and allow me maximum growth, people that supported my dream of owning my own business. Asking the experts in my industry to coffee, going to as many events as possible and working really hard allowed me special encounters with very talented Architects and Designers; and it landed me jobs that I knew would help me understand the industry better and how to eventually open and run my own business. My former boss became not only my mentor but also my best friend. I was able to learn the ropes from someone who was an expert and fully supported me in starting my firm. My thought was to always be honest and upfront about who you are and what you want, and the universe delivered – especially since I was willing to accept defeat and failure along the way to show me which ways not to go.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are a full-service design firm focusing on high-end residential projects in Boulder, CO and nationally. We approach projects with honesty and clarity. Our clients appreciate our transparent process and our capacity to execute stunning results while using a less formal approach.

We are most proud to be a part of such a sacred process alongside our clients. Creating and curating spaces for people to live in is not something we take lightly and we are always honored to be chosen along for the journey.

Getting to this place in business was no small feat, and we are always learning as we grow. I spent the beginning of my career immersed in formal education and training so that I could become well versed in the industry and have a solid foundation to grow from. I learned from the best in the business and still reach out to my mentor often. I have learned that connection and honesty are what really matters, the designed space flows effortlessly and the experience of the journey alongside the client is exciting and beautiful if you are having fun. The business side of things is always a challenge, I am a trained Interior Designer so I learned early to hire out for the nitty gritty things like bookkeeping and financial planning; leaning on experts in those fields is everything, it lets me focus on what I do best.

At the end of the day, Interior Design is not just a pretty room or home or office, it is the result of extremely complex problem solving and teamwork like you have never seen. We thrive in creating an honest process that doesn’t feel stuffy or overdone, and we have back end systems that we are always improving to make our client’s experience more enjoyable. The best part of what we do is feeling our client’s joy, not just at the end in the completed space, but throughout the process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It would always start out with outdoor time, a hike most definitely, maybe start with classic Chautauqua or Anne U White trail, venture to Peaceful Valley or Cerrain St Vrain depending on the day. We would have coffee at Boxcar or Beleza, walk down Pearl St to shop a little with a detour to Rebecca’s Apothecary. Eat at Cozobi Fonda Fina, my new favorite spot or Bramble and Hare. Stopping in Trident for tea and maybe some live music in the back for some fun. We would hit up the Farmers Market and get all the goods to make a home cooked meal, cooking and eating delicious food is my happy place. My favorite things to do are be outside, stare at the mountains, and enjoy a super yummy cup of coffee and a meal. In my past life, I worked at and managed some incredible restaurants so one of my passions is to find the best local spots and Boulder has so many!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Brianne, Principal & Owner of Brianne Bishop Design.

Website: https://WWW.ELLIOTTDESIGNSTUDIO.COM

Instagram: ELLIOTTDESIGNSTUDIO

Image Credits
Erin Konrath Collective, MBER Creative, Chris Dougherty