Pursuit 365 Day 228: Kellie Wesley

Kellie is a creative and artistic woman whose passion is interior design. Haute House Design has won GOLD for Best Interior Design the previous 2 years in a row and won Silver for Best of Penticton this past year. Kellie specializes in custom window treatments assisting clients to create spaces that are inviting, functional and beautiful. She also loves to paint, fly fish with her sons and hang out with her dog, Kate.

When you first started your career, how did you know you were ready and what made you start?

When I first started my career back in 2003, it was exciting but overwhelming. I just jumped in with both feet, asked a lot of questions from my mentor as well as clarifying the needs of my clients when meeting with them initially. Communication is the key to a successful design project. Seeing how happy my clients were with their new spaces helped me understand that I was on the right path. This is my dream career and I’ve wanted to be a designer since I was a young girl.

What or who has been your greatest influence in business?

I’ve worked on my own as well as a few different companies. I’d say working for Nordstrom in my early 20’s was a key factor in how I treat my clients. They are excellent at customer service, training and treating their employees with respect. Nadine Alleyn, my boss, owner of HHD and friend has been a huge influence with her design knowledge, creativity and just being a joy to work with and for. She’s a rock star with a kind heart! We have an amazing team here at Haute House Design and I feel blessed and grateful everyday to work with these incredible women.

What is your number one business goal to accomplish this year?

I’ve always been big on giving back to my community. In 2013 I became a living kidney donor to a friend. I’ve raised thousands of dollars for the Kidney Foundation and volunteered many hours. Now, my focus is on mental health and working to raise awareness for CTE and dementia. This has had a major impact on my life and that of a dear loved one. I’m hoping to join the board of directors for our local Brain Injury Society this fall.

What is your favourite thing about what you do in your career and why?

I specialize in custom window treatments. My favorite thing is to design drapery treatments. I’ve had some real challenging projects lately that turned out beautiful! Recently I designed 12-foot-high sheers that spanned nearly 48 feet of windows overlooking the lake and a vineyard. This was the biggest window treatment I’ve ever done and requires a lot of math and logistics of installation. I’m happy to say the clients were thrilled with the results. There are so many moving parts to interior design and so much that is out of your control. It takes being organized, good with numbers and communicating with all the people, trades, companies, and clients that are involved in every project.

Do you have a mantra or phrase you live by? What is it?

My mantra is to always be kind. If there’s a mistake or something comes in wrong, we can fix it! This isn’t life and death, it’s design and my job is to make things beautiful with as much ease as possible. I love these words by Maya Angelou and do my best to live them everyday: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” “It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself: to forgive. I’ve had a lot of obstacles and tragedy to overcome in my life, but I’ve also learned from the heartbreak, sadness, and trials. It’s made me stronger and more resilient. I’ve always had a positive outlook on life and know that when I am in one of those life valleys that the sun will shine again.