Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Anlyan.
Hi Kate, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Design and the adornment of spaces and people have interested me from the time I was a child. I was a textile major in college and worked in fashion for 20+ years before leaping into interior design. I loved the discovery and curation aspects of my day-to-day, but there was something inside me that I couldn’t fully express while building someone else’s brand. I pieces and layering in unexpected ways. The idea of Yasu Home was born in 2018, but it went through a few iterations before it evolved into full-scale interior design. I had forged wonderful relationships with makers worldwide throughout my years in the fashion industry and loved the idea of creating a shop of treasures found throughout my travels. I craved small, made with intention, and highly personalized. It brings me great joy that every space and client is different, and I can draw from every beautiful thing in the world (and some that I have only imagined!) to tailor a personalized experience for each one.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has not always been smooth, but it has been incredibly fulfilling. The obstacles have felt like opportunities. The biggest challenge I have faced and so many people- especially women face in business was overwhelming, debilitating imposter syndrome. In the beginning, I had so much blind confidence; I was doing it. I’d run down a path, and if I came to a dead end, no problem, I’d run down the next one, and so on. I didn’t care what anyone else was doing, I had my style and that was that. Bliss! About a year in, that came to a screeching halt. It was like I woke up one day, and all I could hear in my head was you don’t belong. My sister connected me to an executive coach, and I decided to give her a call. I remember being hesitant about spending the money. My business was still such a baby! Coaching seemed like a luxury for people in business longer than me! I came up with every reason not to do it, but luckily, I went for it because it was the best thing I could have done for myself and my business. Learning how to get out of my own way has been invaluable. Yes, there are still tons of challenges (every day), but I am much more at ease and capable of breezing through them. Now that I’m past the paralysis of imposter syndrome, I can see the big picture that I have the most fun job in the world.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I want the spaces I create to bring joy and comfort and set the tone for my clients’ days. One of my first questions is how they want to feel in their space. My goal is to create highly personal and functional spaces to enhance their lives, and we achieve that using texture, color, mixed materials, and special pieces that will stand the test of time. I want to help my clients fill their homes with future heirlooms that will be treasured for generations. It starts with quality pieces that have a soul to them.
What changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I feel happy to go where my eye leads. Usually, that’s to whatever feels the freshest and newest, the shiny object I have never seen before! I dare not predict my industry, but in 5 years, I hope to explore my curiosities and discover beautiful things.
Contact Info:
- Website: Http://yasuhomeco.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/yasuhomeco
- Facebook: Facebook.com/yasuhomeco
