Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Webber.
Kelli, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The first homes I ever designed were Barbie’s! As a child, instead of playing with my actual Barbie dolls, I would constantly be re-decorating my Barbie’s’ house…….So when people ask me when I started in design I like to say it’s what I was born to do. It’s my passion and it shows. When I got too old for Barbie, I moved on to my own room and drove my parents crazy! I painted and re-painted my walls and trim several times, re-invented my furniture many times over and was constantly moving my furniture around. Later in life as a 20 something, every new apartment was a new project! In 2002 at just 21 years old, I landed a job selling furniture at a large furniture store and boy did I put my employee discount to work for those apartments. I often say this is where I began my journey in design.
Though I was primarily responsible for selling furniture, I threw myself into planning my clients’ spaces. I studied furniture history and learned all about furniture construction, textiles and became familiar with all the big brands. Because I was young and full of energy, I got my real estate license and began selling homes. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was staging my clients homes before home staging even became a “thing”. I didn’t stay in real estate long and there was a time I wasn’t sure what I was doing with my life or where I would end up in the world of interior design……..and then the perfect opportunity came along. That opportunity was in Home Staging. Boy did I feel ahead of my time. It was a perfect fit for me. I worked at a large design firm that supported both the Home Staging & Interior Design Industry. I rode the introductory wave of Home Staging here in New England and built a strong reputation for myself within the design and real estate communities. All of this allowed me to make the decisions to go out on my own back in 2014….and I’ve never looked back. These days my time is divided between Home Staging Projects and Interior Design Projects. Specifically, I design interiors for private residential and commercial clients and provide Home Staging Services to the real Estate community. My niche in home staging is particular to the luxury market as I mostly work on furnishing vacant homes for sale and model units. Today, I am the happiest I’ve ever been. You don’t work a day in your life if you love what you do, and that’s what I have created for myself. I love to share my passion and I know it shows.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say it was entirely smooth, but it also never was a real struggle either. There was that moment of “what am I doing with my life” but I just kept at what I loved and then the right opportunities presented themselves.
New England Staging & Interiors – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I pride myself on being a Universal Designer. I don’t have my own style of design, instead I focus on my clients’ style and make it happen. I am currently working on projects that I would list the styles as follows: a modern city loft, a contemporary urban single family, a glamorous great room, a home on the river and in the woods, a nautical master bedroom makeover and so much more. I make it fun for my clients and I help them live in a space that’s both pretty and functional without limitations.
I think it’s my passion for design, my commitment to function and my flexibility to making it happen is what sets me apart from others.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am so proud of every project that I cannot even pick my proudest moment! I can tell you that I have young children and am dedicated to showing them the importance of doing what you love!
But this question reminds me of a recent experience……..I was just out having dinner and drink with my best girlfriends one night. As we were leaving and walked past the restaurants lobby area, I paused and had a moment of complete shock……I helped design the lobby almost 10 years prior! When I was working in furniture sales the restaurant owners had come in for some help getting furniture for their restaurants lobby and waiting area. I helped them plan the space with some quality leather furniture. I had totally forgotten that I had done that because I’ve come some far since then. So me and my girlfriends sat down in the lobby and I enjoyed a private moment of “where it all began” and marked the occasion with some photos. It was truly a remarkable feeling!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nestaging.com
- Phone: 7817602404
- Email: kelli@nestaging.com
- Instagram: @kelli_loves_design
- Facebook: @NewEnglandStaging
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
