Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 64

L A S T W ORD
of kids. Plus, those two little fi recrackers keep me
inspired and on my toes every day to be my best.
FAMILY AND BUSINESS
Designer Lauren Clement shares how she balances personal and
professional as well as a few pet peeves
LAUREN CLEMENT IS THE OWNER of Charlotte, N.C.-based Lauren
Nicole Designs, and she has 14 years of experience in residential and commercial
design. She works closely with her clients to ensure their fi nal project
is a refl ection of their tastes and needs and is actively involved in the interior
design community. Clement followed in her mother's footsteps and learned
how to run a full-time design business while parenting two girls of her own.
KBB got a chance to talk with the designer to learn what it's like to run her
own fi rm, what challenges her and lessons she's learned over the years.
What do you like most about your job?
My favorite part is seeing, hearing and feeling the response of my clients on
reveal day. Th ere are so many teeny tiny details that go into each and every
project, and it is not easy work to bring a job to completion. So to see and
hear and feel the joy and gratitude once we have made over a space means
the world to me. And that's not just because it looks amazing but because of
what it means to the effi ciency of their daily lives. I so enjoy learning what
clients need to function and creating a plan that exceeds both the functional
and style requirements. My motto is Family + Function = Fabulous!
What is most challenging about it?
Pre-COVID, it would be a work/life balance, but today it is all the struggles
we are all aff ected by with the supply-chain issues. Our day-to-day struggles
have grown exponentially, and while we are so grateful for the business we
have, the frustration factor has grown leaps and bounds in the past 18 months.
TOP PHOTO Lauren Clement
reworked the existing kitchen
to be more functional with
better storage, more useful
cabinetry and a better appliance
layout. The additions of
the blue shade on the cabinets
and abundant undercabinet
and recessed lighting make
the space, but the real gem
is the Louise Gaskill island
chandelier.
Photography: Dustin Peck,
www.dustinpeckphoto.com
Tell us about your experience being an ambassador
for brands.
I absolutely love it! I naturally want to promote
companies I love working with and I feel strongly
that everyone should know about. It is also fun
to get to know new companies and work with
their teams to bring new products into my portfolio.
We are such an industry of connections
and networking, and the ambassador program is
a natural way of connecting and supporting our
fellow industry members.
What's it like to design products?
In June of 2021, I launched my fi rst furniture collection
with Charleston Forge called the Paddock
Collection. It is an amazing company to work
with, and because it is located in Boone, N.C., all
products are American made. Charleston Forge
is very designer- and custom-friendly and creates
a gorgeous and sturdy product - one that will
remain in a family for generations. I also have a
custom paint line with Benjamin Moore where
I've introduced more than 20 colors. Th ere are also
new projects on the horizon, so stay tuned!
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Draperies that are not hung properly and rooms
that are not well lit.
What's something you'd like to check off your
bucket list?
Designing a successful line of fabric and wallpaper.
By CHELSIE BUTLER
What's it like running your own full-time design business and being a parent?
It is defi nitely no easy task! It requires a lot of scheduling, help from my husband and parents with my
kids, help in my business as well as supportive clients. Basically, it truly does take a village, as the saying
goes. As tricky as it is managing these two full-time and important jobs, it is so worth it. I am so lucky
to be able to work in a fi eld that I love and that brings me so much joy and also be there for my two
daughters. I get to be 'me' for part of the day and then 'mom' for the other part. I do fi rmly believe that
being a mom to my two amazing girls has helped me in the world of interior design. I say this because I
think like my clients from the standpoint of function - what it means to design a space for a family - and
I can put myself in their shoes pretty easily when tasked with the challenge of designing for a busy family
64
What is an important lesson you've learned during
your career?
LISTEN. It is good to listen to other professionals
in the industry, but mostly I mean to listen to
your clients' needs and desires. I will never forget
the feeling when a client says, " Oh my goodness
Lauren, thank you for listening to me! " Th e design
world is a very personal space, and creating a very
personal relationship with your client and going
above and beyond is the best way to establish a
positive reputation for yourself.
What's your advice for someone new getting into
the industry?
Jump right in! Get your feet wet, soak up every
ounce of knowledge that you can. Th is is a handson
business where you learn the most by doing.
Yes, classes, seminars, reading are all helpful, but
diving right into design work and attending industry
events are the best ways to learn, make new
connections and immerse yourself in the design
world. And ask questions - lots of them!

/ NOV.-DEC. 2021 / KBBONLINE.COM / Th e offi cial publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)
http://www.dustinpeckphoto.com http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021

Editor's Note
KBIS Note
NKBA Note
Happenings
Trends
NKBA Thirty Under 30
KBIS 2022
Tech Savvy
Hot Topic
Favorites
Before & After
Wellness Design
Dealer Dish
Color Find
What's Hot
Learning Corner
Last Word
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Intro
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Cover1
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Cover2
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 1
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 2
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 3
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 4
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 5
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Editor's Note
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 7
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - KBIS Note
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 9
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - NKBA Note
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 11
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Happenings
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 13
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 14
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 15
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Trends
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 17
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 18
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 19
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - NKBA Thirty Under 30
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 21
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 22
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 23
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 24
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 25
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 26
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 27
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 28
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 29
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - KBIS 2022
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 31
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 32
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 33
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 34
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 35
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 36
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 37
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Tech Savvy
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 39
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Hot Topic
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Favorites
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Before & After
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 43
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Wellness Design
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 45
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Dealer Dish
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 47
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Color Find
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 49
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - What's Hot
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 51
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 52
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 53
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 54
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 55
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 56
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 57
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 58
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 59
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 60
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 61
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - 62
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Learning Corner
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Last Word
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Cover3
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2021 - Cover4
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