Hidden Gems: Meet Kathleen Stanley of Beach Home Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Stanley.  

Hi Kathleen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey to become a Professional Building Designer began in 2002 when I moved with my husband and three young children from Raleigh to Ocean Isle Beach. My husband grew up in Shallotte Point, near Ocean Isle, so we were excited to move back home to the coastal waters we loved so much. We decided to build our first home and struggled to find the perfect house plan. Before moving from Raleigh, I worked 5 years with the construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar in Clayton, NC; I was proficient with AutoCAD and mechanical drafting. Armed with these tools, I decided to design our own home. Well, I did it – we built it – and word spread to other builders in the area, who then asked me to design homes for them. I purchased the NC Residential Building Code, studied it thoroughly, and began my journey. Today, I have designed over 300 beach and mainland homes, including several Parade of Homes-winning designs. I developed/programmed my own website to catalog many of my designs which help builders and clients search for the plan that best meets their needs. I now sell my designs over much of the United States – including Texas, the Florida Keys, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Most of my designs are built right here on the beautiful Brunswick County Islands of Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, and Oak Island. Topsail Island and the Outer Banks are becoming popular areas for my designs as well. 

After designing hundreds of homes over the past 22 years, I’m now excited to move into the next phase of my career. Along the way, my husband and I have performed several extensive remodels from bare studs to exterior stucco (yes, I learned to stucco). Combining all of these experiences, I recently became a licensed NC General Contractor. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel blessed to be able to do something I love every day. The job is definitely challenging – managing projects for up to 13 clients simultaneously can lead to long days. Owning my own business, I’ve had to develop more than just my design skills. I’ve studied marketing, web design, finance, taxes, and business law. In the end, the freedom of choosing my own schedule and answering only to myself (and my clients) is incredibly rewarding. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Beach Home Designs LLC?
Beach Home Designs LLC specializes in custom house plan design with an emphasis on coastal construction. The website offers a variety of finished house plans along with photos of completed projects. Beach Home Designs LLC is also licensed for Residential Construction. 

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I have many fond memories growing up, which led to my career as a home designer. When I was a child, I really enjoyed art class in school. Being creative, I liked to freehand sketch and carried a sketchbook everywhere I went. I’d draw people, pets, and nature. In middle school, my parents built their first house, and I was fascinated with the construction process – I remember helping my mother choose the interior accents. As I grew older, I became interested in fixing, building, and designing things. I enjoyed watching my father work on cars. I’d ask a lot of questions and help him when there was an opportunity. I became comfortable with using tools and doing handywork. When in high school, I even built a bookshelf and a makeup table for my bedroom. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beachhomedesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beachhomedesigns.oib/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeachHomeDesigns/