Exploring Life & Business with Kristen Ennis of Kristen Ennis Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Ennis. 

Hi Kristen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi! I’m Kristen Ennis, Owner and Principal Designer at Kristen Ennis Design, LLC. 

For as long as I can remember, I have loved decorating, (and redecorating) spaces. When I was a tween that meant hanging my ‘N Sync posters in just the right spot on my blue, puff-painted bedroom walls. As I grew older, I graduated to making my own duvets, (because I didn’t like anything “retail” had to offer), and wrapping my college dorm-room shelves with fabric and accent trim. I always dreamed of having my own home and a blank canvas to start from scratch. 

Years later when my husband and I purchased our first home, we quickly realized that as much as I wanted to make it ours, budget stood in the way. As a workaround, my husband and I discovered that we could do most of the needed work ourselves. Over the past 14 years, we have stoned fireplaces, added a brick veneer wall in our kitchen, remodeled two bathrooms, built furniture, tiled floors, and the list goes on… and on! (Don’t worry, we hire a licensed GC for all of our client projects, but we do find it very helpful to have a working knowledge of the trades that come into a space.) 

When my daughter was born, I made the decision to stay home with her after 7 years of teaching Spanish. It didn’t take long to start going stir-crazy. I spent nap times sewing, embroidering, painting, crafting, and just really honing in on my creativity. My husband and I even branched out and made a few pieces of furniture, which soon morphed into making a lot more furniture as others began to notice our work. After much encouragement from friends and family, Sweet Southern Sawdust, custom furniture, and home decor woodworking business was born. My husband and I began designing and constructing custom furniture and home decor items including beds, shelving, plant stands, door plaques, lanterns, to name a few. Many mornings I was up at 5 am to put another coat of stain on a plant stand before my girls woke up or my husband was up constructing the cutest little house beds until midnight. 

I really enjoyed my time designing and constructing furniture and home decor, but when we made the move to Cary, a new door opened. I was browsing Facebook late one night when I saw that a local Interior Designer was hiring! She wasn’t hiring to do the actual designing, but I knew that it was a foot in the door and I really enjoyed home improvement. I quickly jumped at the opportunity and began painting cabinets, installing backsplashes, flooring, and even whitewashing a 2-story fireplace – that was a tall ladder! After a few months on the job, the owner of the company began to realize that I had an eye for design as well. In addition, my husband and I were in the process of flipping our foreclosure home that we purchased when we moved to Cary, and she was able to see my design ideas and implementation on my own house. Overwhelmed with work, she slowly began to turn over design projects to me and I never looked back! I knew that I was doing exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I began designing for her and dove deep into my personal education into Interior Design. 

Fast forward to 2020: Covid-19 Lockdown. I had been wanting to branch out on my own for a while, but I could never find the time to do the initial leg-work involved in starting my own business. Suddenly, I had time, so with the help of my husband, and the encouragement from many friends and family, we took the plunge and officially launched Kristen Ennis Design, LLC. 

To say the last year and a half have been a whirlwind is an understatement. I started part-time virtually with a project here and a project there until the world began to open back up and I could go into homes. Steadily, business picked up and the response to my work was overwhelming and humbling. By January 2021, I was designing full-time and had the help of my co-owner and husband, Nathan Ennis, who takes care of the “business side” of things. We have been so blessed by the support and encouragement that our community has given us. That said, we’re just getting started! We have recently added a 3rd to our team to allow us to continue to grow and reach more homes and businesses in the Triangle. I truly love my job and am thankful to wake up every day excited to bring joy + beauty + function into local homes and businesses! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Have there been obstacles and challenges? Yes and no. Honestly, the business took off quicker than we could have ever imagined. We have been working hard to keep up with demand. This is a huge blessing and also a bit of a challenge for work/life balance. I went from working 10hrs to 40+ hrs. a week in what feels like overnight. It was a huge adjustment for our family to have Mommy working full time for the first time since our girls were born. We have had to be very intentional about setting boundaries with work and not taking on more than we can handle at once. We are working hard to grow behind the scenes so that we can provide the same high-quality work for more clients. At the same time, we don’t want to give up the “family feel” of the business where we get to know our clients and they know and trust us as well. It’s a tough balance! 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Kristen Ennis Design, we spend our days bringing joy + beauty + function into local homes and businesses. We specialize in a “calm, casual, elegance”, which means a style that is luxurious and timeless, but also livable. We work closely with clients to create light, bright, and clean spaces for daily life to take place. Our team works closely with each client to be sure that their home design fits both their aesthetic and their lifestyle. We take on projects from single-room makeovers to whole home renovations! 

My proudest moment as a business owner? Honestly, I have had several awards and magazine publications that I never expected in my wildest dreams. My proudest moments, however, are the random emails and texts that I receive from happy clients along the way. Upon completing a recent project, a client looked at me and said, “Wow, you made that so easy.” Another time a client texted me out of the blue that she was so in love with her room that she never wanted to leave. These are the moments that keep me going and bring me the most gratification. I am so blessed to be able to do what I love and help others bring joy into their spaces. 

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My best advice for those starting out in the Interior Design business is to be yourself and stick to your niche! My taste and style are very specific: calm, casual, with a touch of elegance. Can I “do” other styles? Sure. Would I enjoy it nearly as much? Not a chance. I have learned to stay true to my style and let clients choose me based on our style similarities. This allows me to work within my design strong-suits to achieve the best result for each and every client. It is, however, worth noting the downfall: I literally want every room that I work on in my own home. 🙂 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.kristenennisdesign.com
• Instagram: @kristenennisdesign
• Facebook: @kristenennisdesign

Image Credits
Deanna Decker Photography
Abigail Jackson