logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
43m 9s

102\\ Turning Challenges into Creative F...

Rebecca Ward, CID | Interior Designer, Interior Design Mentor, Designers Coach
About this episode

An interior designer's role is to partner with clients to manifest and bring their dreams to life through personalized designs.

I love how Kelee, my special guest, illustrates that role.

Kelee Katillac, an acclaimed interior designer and author shares her remarkable journey from a childhood of adversity to becoming a respected voice in the industry. She reveals how her personal experiences of marginalization and self-discovery led her to embrace design as a tool for healing, empowerment, and community building. She emphasizes the importance of finding your "three critical moments" - pivotal life events that can inspire your design work and give it deeper meaning.

She also shares her expertise on the science of color therapy and how designers can incorporate it into their practice to promote wellness and personal growth. Spoiler Alert: there's a color meditation towards the end of the episode 😉

Kelee's infectious passion and authenticity shine through in our conversation, making it no surprise that she consistently transforms her client's visions into reality.

Whether you're a seasoned interior designer or just starting, this episode will inspire you to infuse your design work with passion, purpose, and the power to transform lives.

Tune in, get inspired, and start designing with purpose.

Featured Guest:

⁠Kelee Katillac⁠ is an interior and architectural designer as well as a preservation consultant. Her work has been featured in the pages of USA Today, House Beautiful, Designer Builder, Traditional Home, Introspective, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, The Dallas Morning News, The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of others worldwide. The books House Beautiful Pink and Gestalten’s, The Chamber of Curiosity featured her signature style. She has been a guest on CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Discovery Channel, Pure Oxygen, The Family Channel, and many others. In addition, Kelee is the author of two nationally acclaimed books and is the founder of Design Gives Back – ⁠designgivesback.com⁠, an initiative to provide rooms of hope, health, and happiness for those critically ill or in need.

Kelee's new book is ⁠Historic Style: Honoring the Past with Design for Today⁠.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

  • Learn how to use your own experiences to fuel your creativity and make your designs meaningful
  • Discover how interior design can become a truly healing profession
  • Explore how to blend historical inspiration with modern design

Check out the show notes >>> Turning Challenges into Creative Fuel: Kelee Katillac's Journey in Helping Clients Manifest Their Dream Spaces PLUS Color Meditation


NEXT STEPS:

Grab your freebies:

Take a Quiz!

Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Email me at podcast@rwarddesign.com if you have suggested topics

DM me on Instagram at @rwarddesign if you have a burning question

Leave me a rating and review! Click here

Visit my website at rwarddesign.com to learn more about my services

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Up next
Aug 18
152 | Build a Thriving Interior Design Business Without a Design Degree: Insights From Michelle Lynne
Have you always loved furniture, picking out paint colors, making spaces feel beautiful, or helping friends with their homes, but never thought you could actually get paid for it? That’s exactly how Michelle Lynne felt.In this episode, she shares how she followed a corporate path ... Show More
32m 31s
Aug 11
151 | Mindset Shift Series #3: Step Into Your Power as a Creative Business Owner
“I’m not a numbers person!” “I just want to design, not run a business!”Does this sound like you?Many interior designers have a passion for dreaming up beautiful spaces, but stepping into the role of a CEO can feel uncomfortable, like wearing a hat that doesn’t quite fit. I under ... Show More
18m 59s
Aug 4
150 | Building a Design Business From the Ground Up With Caron Woolsey
Do you ever wonder if it’s really possible to switch careers and succeed in interior design—even without a design degree?In this 150th episode, I chat with Caron Woolsey, a self-taught designer who left her job in oil and gas to follow her love for design. What started as decorat ... Show More
24m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
🎙️Episode 10 - Interior Design Meets Architecture.🎙️
🎙️Episode 10 - Interior Design Meets Architecture🎙️In this lively episode, Hayley and Cheryl are joined by architect Pippa Jacobs to explore the intersection of architecture and interior design. Cheryl, with her background as a Part 1 architect turned interior designer, bridges ... Show More
1h 37m
Oct 2024
Ep. 385: Design Rules with Elaine Griffin
We're joined this week by acclaimed designer & author Elaine Griffin, where we dive deep into the fundamentals of decorating through her 2009 best-selling book, 'Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator.' The ladies discuss proportion principles, the impac ... Show More
1h 16m
Mar 2024
100 Strategies to Grow Your Design Business with Chris Do
It's a milestone worth celebrating! The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast is proud to announce its 100th episode! Over the past 100 episodes, we've had the privilege of hosting some of the sharpest minds in the creative industry. Our guests have shared their experiences ... Show More
1h 5m
Dec 2024
Meet Rabah Saeid: Redefining Design with Emotion
This week, we’re delighted to have the acclaimed AD100 designer, Rabah Saeid, founder of Styled Habitat, on the Design Pod podcast! In this episode, we explore Rabah’s philosophy of creating timeless and sensual aesthetics, her approach to integrating cultural context into design ... Show More
49m 21s
Apr 2024
102 Running a Small Design Agency with Kristy Campbell (Pink Pony Creative)
Get ready to explore the vibrant world of design entrepreneurship with Kristy Campbell, the innovative force behind Pink Pony Creative. In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we uncover Kristy's journey from a solo designer to leading a successful design ... Show More
51m 59s
Nov 2024
135. Creativity without limits: Finding balance and inspiration, with Khyati Trehan
In this episode, host Katy Cowan welcomes Khyati Trehan, a designer and 3D visual artist at Google Creative Lab in New York, to share a glimpse into one of the most innovative spaces in the design world. Known for her unique balance of intense creative work and personal projects, ... Show More
58m 20s
Oct 2023
From Zero Sales to Forbes Lister: Reconnecting African Heritage Through Ethical Fashion with Sophia Danner-Okotie of Besida
Enroll in the Make Good Fashion Academy before doors close!------> https://makegoodfashion.com/academyReady to take the mystery out of finding a manufacturer for your fashion brand— Download my FREE guide Get It Made → http://makegoodfashion.com/getitmade Join us for an inspiring ... Show More
54m 9s
Apr 2025
Create Your Own Artist Residency
Whether you have a week or a weekend, a full studio or just your kitchen table, this episode will guide you through how to create your own DIY summer residency. Erika breaks down how to set your intentions, structure your time, choose a location, and more! This is about honoring ... Show More
15m 56s
Jul 2024
James Martin - The Future of Design Education
Join me as I sit down with the visionary James Martin in this electrifying episode focused on revolutionizing the design education industry. As a design educator myself, I wanted to chat with James about his bold plans to transform how young designers are trained and equipped for ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 2025
Meet Meshary Al Nassar & Mishari Awadhi: Crafting Timeless Spaces with Elegance and Innovation.
In this episode 12, Meshary Al Nassar Creative Director & Founder and Mishari Awadhi Managing Director & Associate Architect of Studio Meshary Al Nassar share their journey of designing spaces that transcend functionality to become deeply meaningful and timeless. They discuss how ... Show More
50m 44s