At the beginning of a new year, it’s great to slow down for a minute and review all of the successes we had in the previous year. It isn’t just about patting ourselves on the back (although my team really deserves that!). It’s also a great motivator when we remind ourselves of how much we’ve accomplished. And it gives us a great way to map out the new year and what we want to achieve. Last year was an amazing one for KCI in so many ways, so I wanted to showcase our review and also let you know what we’re up to in 2023!

Looking Back

One of the most exciting events in 2022, and it happened right at the first of the year, was the first official launch of my Quintana Collection for Thompson at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show or KBIS. The Collection has become a best-seller for Thompson and we’ve already added a couple of new products, including a vessel sink and a square bar sink. It was so exciting to see the reaction of designers at the show and see the way they are using the products in their installations.

Of course my team’s focus, and the reason we get out of bed in the morning, is always our incredible roster of clients and projects. It was a whirlwind of gorgeous interiors in 2022 as we serviced 33 clients in three states, including the stunning home above in the NC mountains.

We received a lot of fabulous press in 2022, including my color-filled project that was published in 10-page spreads in Flower Magazine. You can see that project here. We also had features in two issues of Home Design & Decor, and one of my projects was featured in an amazing new book called AphroChic: Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Family Home, which you can see here. I also spoke at the Power in Your Pause women’s retreat, and I was featured on the Brand Gravity podcast in October. We already have some major press in the works for 2023, so stay tuned!

Business travel took me to Italy for antique sourcing at Mercanteinfiera Parma, to Bermuda for the Design Leadership Network educational conference, to Phoenix for the Brizo Experience, Orlando for KBIS, and sourcing trips to New York and Atlanta. These trips keep me informed on new innovations for my clients’ homes, and help me find those one-of-a-kind pieces that set my interiors apart.

Looking Ahead

So what’s in the future for KCI? We’re currently working on four new ground-up builds to be completed in 2023 and we’ve already contracted on both a new build and a complete renovation to be completed in 2024. We’re also hiring a new junior designer for our team to keep things running, so please send any qualified designers our way! We are starting to see some improvement in both lead times on custom goods and in the supply chain so we are looking forward to streamlining our installations and project management again which is what we really pride ourselves on as part of our client experience.

Whew! We definitely have a lot going on at KCI, and I couldn’t do any of it without my incredible team. Megan Sommers and April Feezor are not only talented and top-notch, but they also make our work fun. I’m so thankful to have them with me every day!

And here’s to an amazing 2023!

Kara