We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Knight-Willcock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Working for myself means ultimate freedom. I have spent years studying and working in the creative field – museums, art schools, galleries, design businesses – and through that I was able to gather the skills and foundation to know what to do and definitely what not to do when it came to business values, client management and pushing design boundaries. I had just moved back to southern California after living in London for nearly a decade, slaving away for someone else’s vision and I knew this was the moment to take the leap and build my own brand

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I run a bespoke design practice in Southern California that works in both residential and smaller, independant commercial projects. My degree is in fine art and design and I originally worked in the gallery/art education side which served to build on my sense for color, scale ect but its my realistic approach to interiors and my dedication to building lasting client relationships that has kept my business growing year upon year. I used to manage a massive team of designers, installers and creatives but five years ago our big move back to California gave me an opportunity to branch out on my own and now I work completely by myself! That dynamic was a bit of an adjustment but after years of building my brand, I now work with a great network of other creatives, contractors, tradesmen and installers so I’ve been able to rediscover that team dynamic again.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are some incredible views in Southern California and plenty of chances to take those in paired with a bit of physical exertion which is great to clear the mind and have really meaningful conversations. One of my favorite walks is along the coast of Crystal Cove or you can level up and hike up Moro Canyon to take in those breathtaking sights of the Pacific Ocean. After a bit of morning activity – we are probably heading straight to brunch at any of a number of amazing ma n pa neighborhood diners. Then because I’m a better daytime friend than nighttime friend we’d probably head to walk off brunch doing some vintage shopping in either Old Town Orange or Retro Row in Long Beach topped off with a cold glass of wine and an early dinner before we are back home and in bed by 8pm. Ha!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my husband Steve who has given me the encouragement, strength and freedom to build my own interior design company. His constant support and love has provided me with the confidence to truly believe in myself and what I have to offer the world.

Website: www.heatherkwstyles.com

Instagram: @heatherkwstyles

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-knight-willcock-17687352/

Image Credits
Charlotte Lea Photography

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