Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it.
– Diane von Furstenberg
Courtney’s sense of style is fresh and seamless; it simply flows. Since childhood, she has found joy in decorating, and now she is transforming this lifelong passion into a career.
Courtney Turk
President & Interior Decorator at Courtney Turk Interiors
Instagram: @courtney_turk
Website: Courtney Turk
I have always felt you had an impeccable sense of fashion. It’s not cookie cutter – it’s unique and inspiring. When I saw your logo – it jumped out at me because it reflected your style perfectly. Tell us a little bit how this new venture came about.
This new venture was always one that rang heavy in the back of my mind. It may come as a surprise to some with the shift from my previous career, but I have always had a passion for interior design. Each of my past career choices has led me to this ultimate goal. I grew up in an environment with a lot of artistic influences that fully supported this new venture when it came to fruition. I finally accepted that this was my true passion and I had to jump in completely to really capitalize on the talent I was sitting on. I owe a lot of my success to all the people and influences in my life.
Client consultations have always played a role in your career. How important is it to establish some sort of connection with each client?
Building a connection might actually be the most important thing with my clients, they need to trust me and my vision. I need to understand the client and their personal needs and style for each space.
In the beginning of every service I ask a lot of questions to get to know the homeowners. With E-design I even ask that they tell me a bit about their personal lives and show some other areas of the home so I get a sense of their personal reflections. With in-person consultations it is even easier to build that rapport and build a relationship throughout our project completion.
Whether it is empty or not, what is the first thing that catches your eye when you enter a room?
Aside from the architectural details of a space, lighting! From natural light to ambient, lighting every time. With proper lighting any space can be made beautiful.
What inspires you in your designing process – it is one piece/color or is it a combination of things?
My sources for inspiration can vary from project to project. I usually like to find a key component in the space that I want to create as a focal point and grow the creative process from there. For example, a living room might have a fireplace that needs attention, I will use this focal point to redesign the space knowing this is the area that needs to command attention in the room. I also like to suggest new painted walls in most cases, like a canvas would to an artist it allows for full creative range with a blank slate.
I’m a big fan of tile and stone – especially Mediterranean inspired tiles – I just love the vibrant colors. If you are using bold colors, it is better to keep them as accents in a room?
I too love Mediterranean inspired tile, they command attention in any room. Since they typically are a show stopping element, I personally like to keep other features neutral to allow the true vibrancy and detail of the tiles to shine through. However, there is no rule that says you can’t be bold in other areas, everyone’s home is unique to their personal preferences and should be a place they love being in. I would never tell someone they “can’t” just merely suggest my preference of a more muted accent.
Epoxy flooring seems to be a growing trend in interior design. Do you think that is something that will stick around?
Epoxy flooring is great in a commercial space, it is very durable and can withstand a lot of impact. Like anything it has its pros and cons, in a residential space I prefer a more traditional flooring.
What are your favorite sources to keep current with all the trends in the interior design industry?
Architectural Digest is usually at the top of my list for inspiration, but there are also some great local businesses that are regularly expanding their inventory with the latest trends.
@westofmain @LDshoppe are two great examples that I love getting inspiration from on current trends.
I like things to look beautiful and inviting, but I don’t want to live in a museum. How do you combine comfort with beauty and function?
There is nothing comfortable about a museum. Who wants to live in an environment where you can look but can’t touch. I think blending elements of classic timeless pieces with a minimalist approach is a great balance.
Everything should have a place, but if it gets tossed around a little it won’t look like it doesn’t belong. Clean kitchen counters that are clutter free for example, gives the right esthetic, but is also a liveable and realistic expectation for a beautiful looking home.
Do you use a lot of technology in your design process or do you use vision boards so clients can touch and feel fabrics and textures.
Lately a lot of the creative process is online with the new measures in place with covid. I typically start by creating a digital vision board and depending on the nature of the project we then finalize the materials in-person with various fabrics, tiles and materials.
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I love the blog on your website – it has so many useful tips and tricks and your writing style – it’s like chatting with a friend – very easy to digest. Creating original online content is a lot of work – that’s why not everyone does it. Why was it important to you to include a blog on your website?
When this venture began, the blog was the forefront of my business. I wanted to build a platform for people to find helpful and useful tips to truly upgrade their homes. There are so many different ways to enhance your living space and I wanted to share some thoughts and content to give people inspiration and new ideas. I create the content for those who need a step in the right direction, but maybe aren’t ready for a full redesign of their home with hired services. I also love sharing any new tips I have learned along the way that maybe someone could benefit from.
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When designing children’s rooms, how do you get the kids involved in the design process?
There is a fine line between doing what your child wants you to do and what you should do! My kids are passionate about making their room a reflection of their personal style. By doing a “this or that “ approach it allows the child to have a say, but not endless possibilities. An example, “do you like these curtains or those ones?” while both curtains are options that don’t compromise the overall esthetic of the home. Having slight flexibility in knowing they are expanding their minds and finding their own personal preferences is important to nurture their preferences and find a happy balance.
I also let my kids really get their hands dirty and encourage it with other clients as well. Let them paint or make mistakes that you know can easily be adjusted later.
So how did it feel when you completed your first ‘official’ project?
Surreal. I couldn’t believe what I had accomplished.
For a first official project it was a big one, still to date one of my biggest. I jumped in full force while still getting many aspects of the business in order at the same time. When it was all said and done, the sense of accomplishment would be an understatement.
I will forever hold that project dear to my heart for pushing past the boundaries and thankful that someone took a chance with me so that I could prove myself in the industry.
What do you see for the future of design?
With the world a little more conscious of their purchases nowadays, there is a wave moving towards repurposing a bit of old mixed with new. Finding new uses for pieces of furniture rather than the classic purpose they were intended for has become increasingly popular. A little less of the one stop shop and instead sourcing some out of the box decor. Detailed structural arches combined with clean sight lines, earth tones and mixed textural elements are still a staple that we will continue to see in design throughout the year.