Meet Kate Duffy | Residential & New Build Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Duffy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
So many of my business opportunities and successes have come about from taking risks. Risks are uncomfortable, because oftentimes it’s the unknown end result that can hold us back. Will what I am setting out to do be successful? Will people understand what I’m trying to create and express? I’m a big believer in putting yourself out there, speaking out loud your goals and vision and taking the steps to move towards them. As I’ve done this, doors either open or close, and the intended path for me becomes clearer. If something is meant to be I believe it will happen, but you have to initiate and take steps toward what that “something” is to find out. Five years ago, I started my Interior Design business from scratch. Over these past several years, I’ve made goals each year for what I want to accomplish and have taken steps to move towards them. Not everything happened the way I thought or hoped it would, but all experiences have brought valuable lessons. As a result, I’ve grown immensely as well as my business. Externally but more importantly internally.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m an Interior Designer working in the Atlanta area, as well as outside the perimeter, on modern new builds and residential spaces. I specialize in full service design, meaning I love opportunities where I can do a full design top to bottom for the spaces my clients bring to me. I bring these spaces to life with furnishings, artwork, and architectural elements that are specific to the clients style while infusing my own twist into the design. I love to add in elements that have history with my clients, giving their spaces personal meaning and ensuring that these rooms are a continued reflection of them and their home. I started my firm in 2018 when my youngest started middle school. Having worked in the Interior Design program in college, and graduating with a BFA, I always had a passion for design. This goes back to when I was a child, as you hear so often with Interior Designers. So I went for it, started with nothing by spreading the word that this is what I was doing. I began with one client, which led to a referral for another project. At the same time, another client that was building a new home and needed input on design selections hired me. It grew from there.
Getting to where I am today has been a lesson in constantly feeding myself creatively with education, and surrounding myself with supportive creative people. I’ve worked hard to not “self sabotage” and listen to whispers of doubt that I may not be good enough or know enough. I counteract this with stepping into situations that may feel uncomfortable, and pushing myself to grow in these. This has in turn opened many doors and opportunities.
My happy place in design is boldness, bringing in a strong design element to each space I’m working on that makes the room stand out. Oftentimes clients don’t know that this is what they want or need, and I always work to propose the maximum design for a space to my clients. Go bold or go home right? Most of the time, they go for it, and love the end result. I love deep, rich colors, architectural elements, mixing colors and patterns, bringing in texture as well as a few (or several) vintage pieces, and topping it off with custom artwork!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta is such an exciting city, with so many amazing restaurants and cool places to visit and see. A few of my favorite restaurants are the Iberian Pig in Decatur, and Local Three on Northside Parkway. Ponce City Market is a great spot to stroll into shops, and stop at Five Daughters Bakery for a unique treat or Ton Ton for ramen. A must visit for my favorite cappuccino is Star Provisions, hands down! To get outside and explore, there’s so many great trails along the Chattahoochee river. Some are great for hikes and others for shaded walks. My favorite trail sits at the end of Columns Drive, it feels like I’m in another world with the canopy of trees that overhangs. Downtown Roswell is amazing for night life on the weekends featuring several great restaurants and shops. And I have to mention the amazing art scene in Atlanta, with several incredible galleries like Muse Art & Co and dk Gallery in downtown Marietta on the square, as well as the High Museum in Atlanta and the Castleberry Hill Historic Art District.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Ryan, he’s a fellow creative running an Experiential & Activation Agency in Atlanta as president of the agency. He’s been my biggest supporter and cheerleader!

Website: sicilyandmain.com

Instagram: sicilyandmaininteriors

Facebook: Sicily and Main Interiors

Image Credits
Angelica Yim at ayphotodesign