From supermodel and actress to business entrepreneur and charity leader, Kathy Ireland has done it all. In addition to her personal success, her brand was named by Women's Wear Daily as America's 7th most popular. Kathy recently took the time with us to give feedback about herself and her product line.
Her inside secret:
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! I work with a team of geniuses. I believe in developing and focusing our strengths and working with others in areas where we are not strong. For example I am lousy cook and I’ve killed more than one plant. I need help in these areas and turn to experts. For cooking and entertaining, I work with my friend Chef Andre of ACafe. For gardening and outdoor living, I work with world renowned landscape designer Nicholas Walker of JduJ. Both of these experts design extensive collections within our brand. You can find wonderful lighting specifically designed for the kitchen from ACafe. You can find beautiful outdoor lighting and indoor lighting that reflects the beauty of nature by JduJ.
Hot new design trend:
An “on trend” look that we love is the use of architectural design combined with a hint of grounding motif from years passed. This allows you to update the classics!! Revisiting classic design styles and refreshing them with modern lines and color. By doing this we bring a contemporary look to the classic designs we love.
Biggest design mistake people make:
There is a difference between being “trendy” and being on trend. Making a purchase that is trendy often dates quickly. Another mistake that is frequently made is being talked into a style for which you have no passion. That’s why our Style Guides are so powerful. Choose the part of the world that inspires you and give your home a vacation. European Country is great, if you love that continent… La Vida Buena if you love hot and spicy colors…if the South Seas bring your joy, Aloha is your Style Guide. Finally, don’t be afraid of color! Beige is lovely…but it can be very lonely if it’s your only choice.
How she works:
I often share with people, I have the best boss in the world…you! You are wonderfully tough and keep us all on our toes! You expect and deserve the best. It is a joy and honor to work for you. Thank you for supporting our brand and thank you for your input, ideas and much needed criticism. Our team is dependant upon your communication with us. We appreciate your direct approach. While we work with a remarkable team, you are the most critical part of our design team.
Favorite item in her house:
My favorite items in our home, are the beautiful works of art done with love done by our three children, Erik, Lily and Chloe. Our walls are covered with their masterpieces. Our favorite purchases include some of the beautiful lighting available at LAMPS PLUS. Lighting is jewelry for the home…lighting builds the right mood and atmosphere. It’s a joy to watch lighting change a room.
Favorite design inspiration:
Of all the great designers, God is the ultimate. My greatest inspirations come from His creations. The intricate patterns on a leaf or a butterfly…the rich earth tones of nature accented with rich and vibrant colors from wild flowers…the translucency and the movement of the sea and the golden colors of a sunrise are all powerful inspirations.
Question she gets most at parties:
The question I get most at parties is “when are we going to have the cake?” As a busy mom, most of the parties I go to are kid parties!
Decisive moment in her career:
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a mom. We started our brand in 1993 with a pair of socks. Our first child was born in 1994. My life changed dramatically. Having children was a greater blessing than I even imagined and I quickly learned how tremendously underserved buys moms are each day. Suddenly things like taking a shower became a rare luxury. Becoming a mom caused our mission at Kathy Ireland World Wide to crystallize. The birth of our first child ignited our mission of “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.”
Item she won't part with:
I won’t part with my Bible.
Pets:
Our family includes our beloved pets. They are: Sparky and Lucky (dogs), Ashley (Goldfish), Hopper (frog) and many other transient creatures.
Collects:
As we travel the world on design trips, we collect raw materials that include everything from sea shells, antique, treasures, fabrics, woods and photography to translate into the design of our products.
As a child wanted to be:
As I mentioned earlier, as a child I knew I wanted to be a mom. I also loved design and business. My first job was a combination of both. I sold painted rocks from my wagon. These rocks were multi functional…they could be used as a paper weight, objets d’ art and my granny carried one in her purse at all times as her means of self defense! I also had great interest in marine biology and teaching.
Obsession:
Obsessions of mine are our children and chocolate chip cookies.
Best recent gift:
For Mothers Day this year, Lily wrote me the most amazing poem that brought me tears of joy. Erik gave me a gift of a date…he is going to take me out to dinner on our bikes! Our five year old, Chloe made me gorgeous art work and is taking me to lunch at her favorite restaurant.
What's next:
What’s next for me is checking my emails at kathyireland.com to get our much needed and appreciated marching orders from you! You make our mission of “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms” a reality every day.