Meet Kenan Hill | Interior Designer & Artist

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

Hi Kenan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My interior design business started very organically. Friends of mine bought an incredible house that needed renovation work, and they felt like they weren’t being heard by the interior designers they tried to work with. So they asked me to consult on the project and aid the decision-making process. I helped with paint colors, wallpaper, trim selections, cabinets, light fixtures, etc. And I loved it! At the time, I was pregnant with my second child and discerning whether I wanted to go back to school for a Masters in Architecture. At the (very good) advice of an architect friend, I decided to stick with the interior design work that I was already doing and enjoying. I officially registered my LLC a month after my second son was born in 2022, and I’ve been fortunate to have a steady stream of work ever since!

What should our readers know about your business?
I think being an artist sets me apart as an interior designer. My education (fine art painting) informs my approach to color, texture, and composition in a way that’s not just like everyone else. I’m also a sentimentalist, so I will do whatever I can to weave my clients’ life stories or travels into a personalized interior design. My utmost goal is for each client to feel comfortable in their home because it reflects them. That also makes each space unique. I’m not trying to create a perfectly cohesive portfolio of work; I’m here to elevate each client’s space to be the best fit for their needs and desires.

I think my business has gotten where it is because I listen to my clients, and then I do my best to fulfill their wishes. My husband and I jokingly refer to my work as a “design therapist” because I’m here to help clients along on their journey and sometimes I have to help find compromise between partners.

Of course there are challenges with running a small business, especially on your own while also caring for two small children. I have to wear all the hats! But the fulfillment I get from helping people better their spaces feels like a great affirmation that I’m in the right place for now.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s so much I love about Atlanta! I’d probably organize my itinerary by neighborhoods, and here are a few favorites:

Morningside/Virginia Highland:
– Alon’s Bakery breakfast
– Bring It Om power yoga class
– Faced facials
– Tuscany at Your Table panini
– Shopping in VaHi
– Kinship Butcher for dinner supplies (meat, local veggies, wine)

Midtown/Ansley Park:
– High Museum of Art
– Atlanta Botanical Garden
– Walk through Ansley, picnic at Winn Park
– Odd McLean shopping
– Walk/workout in Piedmont Park
– Rumi’s Kitchen or Tabla dinner

Poncey-Highland/Druid Hills:
– Freedom Farmers Market at the Carter Center (Saturday mornings)
– Collette Bread treats and bread
– Historic Druid Hills walk to look at pretty houses
– The General Muir lunch/brunch

O4W/Inman Park:
– Bomb Biscuit Co. brunch
– Krog Street market (especially Yalla, Little Tart Bakery, Xocolatl Chocolate)
– Glide Pizza
– Walk the Beltline
– Ponce City Market
– Delbar dinner

Decatur:
– Cafe Alsace breakfast/brunch
– Chai Pani lunch buffet
– Las Brasas for Peruvian fried chicken
– Dekalb Farmers Market for fun groceries
– Kudzu Antiques shopping
– Kimball House dinner

I could keep going, but I’ll leave it there 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my friends Cindy and Philip for seeing my potential in interior design and hiring me for my first project! And I’m so grateful for my husband, Nick, who has supported every creative endeavor and business I’ve ever pursued.

Website: https://kenanhill.com

Instagram: @kenanhill

Image Credits
Lauren Carnes Photography, Kenan Hill