We had the good fortune of connecting with Kari Heyne and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kari, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
My pursuit of a creative career has been an ongoing process. Like many women I had not worked full time since I had begun to have children. I did continue to freelance but only here and there. As my circumstances changed and I began needing full time employment again I initially I began my company, Starwood Custom Interiors, to simply put food on the table while being an accessible single parent to my children needs and not locked into a poorly paid entry level job. To fill my schedule in the beginning there were a lot of homes that I simply painted walls. My background being in the arts as a scenic painter, muralist and artist; I prayed that over time I would be able to slowly integrate my artistic skills into my work. I believed and continue to do so, that God gives everyone a gift; mine is being creative. As I have worked with clients in their homes over the years, making the properties more beautiful, I did begin to introduce my capacity to produce things such as custom art and carpentry. Slowly integrating what I dream of doing into full time work while ensuring that my families financial needs are met has been prayers fulfilled. There is a creativity in designing the custom offices and carpentry I do that I wholly enjoy as well as custom art pieces. Although I do still paint the occasional media room, my schedule being filled with murals and custom furniture is absolutely my intended goal. I am not above manual labor that provides for my family as I have worked very hard for years but the creative, the carpentry and art provides for my soul.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My professional back ground is in scenic painting for theaters and production companies. I have worked for most the theaters in Dallas at one point or another. Initially I came to Dallas to attend the Art Institute. I graduated with a degree in Fashion Design. I had been freelancing at the Dallas Theater Center as a painter while attending school. I thought I wanted a different creative career other than painting. I was at the top of my class and earned a coveted internship with Manuel (high end RTW clothing). I was hoping to be hired on at the end of my internship but instead the recession of 2007 hit and tanked most of the fashion industry in Dallas; taking Manuel with it. I applied else where but the market being flooded with experienced professionals, even my great interviews didn’t pan out. When I was finally offered a position with a mens wear company for textile research and filing; I was offered $14 hr. That’s where my heart said, “better do what you love if you’re not getting paid squat.”. So for the same hourly I went back to the theater work I loved. I worked for Dallas Theater Center for few years as paint assistant before moving up and working as the Paint Charge for Tom Addis Productions. That was exciting to see my hard work paying off as an artist. Tom Addis is known for the Crystal Charity Ball and other not for profit events for the upper echelon in the Dallas community. I adored scenic painting. The bigger the set the better. I thrive on variety and the constant change of style and set requests pushed me as an artist which I appreciate to this day. When I had my first child I stepped back a little professionally and began freelancing instead of working full time. When I began to attend a local church in Frisco; First Baptist Frisco I offered to do their Christmas set one year. They loved my work and I started doing their backgrounds for worship. Now, scrolling forward nearly a decade the church is the only place I get to do my scenic work but I still love it just as much. I never felt like I had to table my art in working for my company; I did feel like I needed to hone my residential skills before I could begin incorporating it. I feel like my background brings an exciting dynamic and level of craftsmanship to the properties I work in. One of my skills I have chosen to learn along the way as an artist is carpentry. Working in theaters I learned scenic carpentry. I’ve taught myself finish carpentry and cabinet building to be able to provide for the properties I was working in. I love being the only contractor a home owner needs to hire. From designing the particular cabinet and or desk units for their office or else where, to building them and then the paint, I complete the entire process. Along the way of learning carpentry I have met some wonderful people; makers are definitely a kind of person I enjoy working with. One in particular, Andy Hay, is someone I’m excited to be working with on a venture for quality crafted RTA furniture based out of his current start up Texas Lumber Mill. We offer custom furniture pieces, live edge countertops and installation, custom mantles and live edge shelving among other items. It’s awesome to be in not only in a good place with one company but also working towards a second. It’s been a long road but the people I have met along the way have made it incredible.
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?
I love the Dallas area because there are so many places to have a great time. If I had company visiting I would want to show them a mix of the city and suburbs places to go to. In Dallas I would definitely take them to the F.O.E. The Fraternal Order of Eagles in East Dallas is an awesome swim spot for adults. Kiddos are absolutely allowed however the multiple bars and allowed smoking deems this spot a throwback to my childhood and I really enjoy going there during the notorious hot summer days in Texas. Walking through Deep Ellum to see the latest murals and visit Twisted Root Burger Co would be my go to lunch and here in Frisco a wonderful evening would be spent in the screened in patio at DiDi’s on Main street where Scott the owner has a great live music playing and a hand crafted menu to choose from. Some of my other favorite places I would love to take them would be the Design District to shop Lula B’s, walk Klyde Warren park above Woodall Rogers and pop in to view the DMA and Nasher.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Whenever I think about the arc of my work for my company Starwood Custom Interiors, I think back to the incredible way that it began. I was in a failing marriage that had become physically violent. I wasn’t one to share my problems in the church life group I attended; but I had attended for years and people get to know people. The couples in my life group recognized the hard time I was going through and were emotionally supportive. After a particularly horrible fight at home, I didn’t realize it at the time but my life was about to be redefined. Over night I became a single parent. I suppose that’s how it happens in one way or another to anyone in that position. It’s so incredibly hard because of the little that you can do to prepare for it. Being in the abusive situation I was in, that night when I had had enough and chose to leave over staying in the violence; I had nothing to my name but two of the best little boys and a background in scenic art painting. I was a mess, so stressed out I had no idea how I was going to even begin to provide for my babies. One of the following Sunday’s at church, I shared with my life group that I was taking the boys, filing for divorce and starting my own business. That any work would be greatly appreciated. I had volunteered for the church for a few years doing their backgrounds and holiday sets, so the group knew of my capabilities. To my very grateful amazement people from the church began to contact me. It was a slow swell. Working the jobs as they came, doing my best and trying to keep my rates very competitive; my company began to grow. The members, congregation and staff of First Baptist Church in Frisco are whom I thank. With out them and those initial jobs that later became referrals; I don’t think I would have made it. What an incredible life lesson to go through a domestic violence situation, to have that awful ugly cry at a stop light because you don’t know how this whole mess is supposed to work and then to hear God- to hear him say so clearly, “If you don’t jump, I can’t catch you”. I am blown away to this day of His faithfulness and the generosity of First Baptist Frisco.
Website: Starwoodcustominteriors.com
Instagram: Starwood Custom Interiors
Facebook: Starwood Custom Interiors