Meet Irene Kwong | CEO, owner, and creative director at Simply Gilded

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

Hi Irene, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work-life balance has always been a challenge for me, especially in the early days of Simply Gilded.
When I was first building the business, I was also raising two toddlers and working nearly full-time, which often meant long nights designing, fulfilling orders, coordinating with manufacturers, and answering customer emails—sometimes until 2 or 3 in the morning. At that stage, balance felt almost impossible.

However, as the business grew, I realized I couldn’t do everything on my own. Bringing in additional help for order fulfillment was a turning point—it allowed me to focus on other aspects of Simply Gilded and more importantly, let me step away more to spend time with my family. It’s still a work in progress, but I’ve learned that finding balance isn’t about doing everything perfectly, but instead, prioritizing in different seasons of both my business and personal life. Nowadays, I make sure to prioritize my physical health (drinking enough water, taking breaks from work to take a walk outside, stretch, cooking more food from scratch etc) and my emotional health (frequent journaling, time with family, planning more fun!).

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a self-taught artist with a big love for color and anything that sparks deep emotions. Whether it’s the soft glow of a sunrise, the magic of the auroras, or the way light dances on water—those simple pleasures and magical moments bring me so much joy! I’ve always been drawn to color, light, and anything sweet and whimsical.

That love started in childhood and was just a fun hobby for a long time. Eventually, I decided to take a leap and turn it into a business—even though it meant juggling a full-time job, raising young kids, and facing a lot of hesitation from my family. It hasn’t been easy, and I’ve definitely had moments of burnout trying to do everything on my own.

Over time, I’ve learned to ask for help. I now work with a few trusted graphic designers who really understand my vision, and that’s helped take some of the pressure off while still letting me stay involved creatively.

My hope is that people can feel the same joy, wonder, and love for color that I put into every design.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I tend to be more of a chill homebody at heart—I genuinely enjoy the simplicity of cooking at home, spending quality time with loved ones, and soaking in the little moments. That said, I still appreciate a good outing now and then, especially when it involves good food and great company!

Our company is based in McKinney, TX, but I actually lived for several years in nearby Frisco, so I’ve had the chance to enjoy the best of both places—especially when it comes to food and family-friendly spots!

In McKinney, we love visiting The Stix Icehouse—it has a relaxed vibe with comforting food and drinks, perfect for hanging out with family or friends. Harvest at the Masonic is another favorite—elevated yet still affordable, with a beautiful interior that works great for date nights or girl’s nights out. And if you’re around on the weekend, the Chestnut Square Farmer’s Market is such a charming stop with lots of local vendors.

In Frisco, The Heritage Table has a cozy, quaint atmosphere great for an intimate dinner with friends. My team also loves Babe’s Chicken Dinner House for some homestyle country cooking! Frisco also has tons of great authentic Asian options, including one of my all-time favorite hot pot places, Hai Di Lao. For sweet treats, 85°C Bakery is a must—I’m obsessed with their egg tarts, pastries, and teas! Simply Thai in downtown Frisco is highly recommended—the food is amazing, and the interior is super cute. To walk it all off, I enjoy frequenting the Frisco Commons Park. It’s a little green space tucked away near downtown Frisco with a nice little wooded walking path off to the side, picnic area and pond, and an extensive play area for the kids.

If you can’t tell already, most of my outings tend to revolve around good food! But there’s a lot more to enjoy in North Dallas too—whether it’s walking through IKEA in Frisco (yes, even just for the Swedish meatballs!) or spending time at Stonebriar Mall, which brings back nostalgic memories from my teen years.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to shoutout my husband Darren, who has stood by all the ups and downs of building both a business and a family and has always stepped up to the plate whenever needed. My dear friends and fellow business owners Marg & Cyn who have always lifted me up and rooted for me. I also want to thank the Simply Gilded Dream Team (Jeanette, Stephanie, Emily, Sally, Michael, Sandra, Cheryl, Heather, Kim, Jerica & Jennifer) – the very reason that Simply Gilded exists today. All the hard work, dedication, and true care for both our customers and each other have kept me going. And last, but definitely not least, all of my wonderful customers – they are truly my people! All their love, encouragement, and support have meant the world to me. THANK YOU!!!

Website: https://simplygilded.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplygilded/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-kwong-simply-gilded/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simplygilded/

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplygilded/

Image Credits
Personal Photo credit to Kim Hildebrand Photography. All other photos are by Simply Gilded.