Interview with Interior Designer Kelly Morisseau

Kelly Morisseau isn’t just a certified master kitchen and bathroom designer – she is also a brand consultant, blogger, cooking enthusiast, and author of two kitchen design books. Her passion for all things design is evident through her countless posts covering industry trends, remodeling, new home technology, room layouts, and much more.

Kelly graciously carved out some time from her busy schedule to chat with me and answer a few of my questions.

When did your passion for design first begin? Why did you decide to pursue design as a career?

My parents started with the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) when it was still the AIKD (American Institute of Kitchen Dealers) and I grew up in the business. They owned a cabinetry showroom for years and I was only supposed to work summers and on weekends after school, so you see how that turned out! I left to get my arts degree, then again to travel, and yet again to get a degree in television production, but I eventually always came back to design. Creating spaces that make people happy is completely rewarding.

What do you enjoy most about attending design conventions and industry shows?

I love it all! I’m inspired by new innovations and materials. I love talking shop and catching up with friends, and meeting new ones. I always learn something new and come away from them feeling very recharged.

 What does a typical day look like for you?

Today I started at 8am meeting some potential clients out at a job-in-progress. Then it was off to the flooring store to select some wood and tile samples followed by a quick stop by our offices to meet the boss to discuss a future whole home remodel. A lunchtime appointment and a really positive meeting with a second set of clients means no lunch but that’s okay. Back to the offices to touch base with our design assistant, answer about 15 emails, check Twitter to see the latest product news, then off to deliver some tile samples to the client’s home. Lunch comes on the run somewhere, and then I’m back to my home office to answer more emails, finalize an estimate for one client and a layout and scope for another. Final emails take me to about 7:30pm. If I have any brain left, I either brainstorm for ideas for my website, answer editorial questions or reader email. I think there’s supper in there somewhere…I think.

I see you have already authored two books about kitchen design. Could you briefly describe each one? Why did you decide to only release the second one as an ebook?

My first book, Kelly’s Kitchen Sync, breaks down the most common and costly kitchen design mistakes for both homeowners and new industry professionals.

The second, 20 Kitchen Design Questions Answered, is pretty straightforward and the result of the most popular questions from readers. It has a lot of information but isn’t large enough to be made into a physical book.

Do you currently have any other books in the works?

Yes. My next book, Kitchen Savvy, will be geared to younger or first-time homeowners aren’t quite ready for a full kitchen remodel, but are dealing with overdue kitchen maintenance. The book idea came about from a friend with a young family who said, “I don’t know where to start! We don’t know how long we’re staying in the home. This home is 40 years old. We need to fix it up but not go crazy over it. What are my options? What’s the best bang for my buck?“

I knew from writing my first book that many first-time home buyers are actually younger than the homes they’re buying. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 41% of our current housing stock was built prior to 1961. (Source.) This book will offer some concrete advice and real life scenarios to help these homeowners decide which items in the kitchen can be easily replaced and in which order.

Your blog – and your published books – seem to focus more on kitchen design. Do you favor that over bathroom design? Why or why not?

I suspect I have a book or two on bathroom remodeling down the road. I like kitchens, mainly because I love cooking and there’s so many variations on design that flow from cooking styles. There’s also more space to remodel!

What is the appeal of writing and running a blog? Is it rewarding?

I started the blog with the idea to help those who didn’t have access to a designer. I ended up meeting so many wonderful people through my blog and some great opportunities come my way that I truly didn’t expect. I research a fair amount on design, products, and materials for many of the articles, so it certainly helps keep me current as a practicing designer. Is it rewarding? Yes, unless I have a deadline and writer’s block.

I would like to thank Kelly for taking the time to answer my questions! Check out her blog, find out how to buy her books, or follow her on Twitter @Kitchen_Sync.